It will come as no surprise to learn that keeping your gums healthy requires many of the same steps as keeping your teeth healthy. Here's a few pointers from our Surrey dentists on how to keep your gums healthy.
You may understand how the following habits help to keep your teeth healthy, but here’s how they keep your gums healthy too. Taking care of your gums naturally goes hand in hand with taking care of your teeth.
Flossing Daily
Flossing ranks just above brushing your teeth when it comes to your gum health. The benefit of flossing is that it allows you to clean out the crevices between your teeth and gums that your toothbrush can’t reach.
Cleaning the crevices between your teeth regularly prevents plaque from building up, which might otherwise lead to gum disease.
Brushing at Least Twice Daily
Plaque buildup is especially abundant along the gum line, so when you’re brushing your teeth, make sure to move your toothbrush over your gums as well as the surfaces of your teeth. Keeping plaque off of your teeth helps keep it off your gums, too.
Regular Cleanings & Checkups at Your Dentist's Office
Ideally, you should be visiting the dentist for a cleaning and checkup every six months, so that developing problems can be treated before they become more serious. Your dentist can detect gum disease symptoms early, provided you see them regularly.
Professional cleanings are really the only way to remove tartar (hardened dental plaque). As vigilant as you are about brushing and flossing, tartar will still eventually build up, and it needs to be removed by a dental professional.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is strongly linked with the onset of gum disease. It weakens your immune system, and this makes it harder to fight off a gum infection. Smoking also makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged. So think of your oral health the next time you feel the urge to light up, and ditch the smoking habit!