It won't be a great surprise to learn that keeping your gums healthy requires many of the same steps as keeping your teeth healthy. Here's a few tips on how to keep your gums at their best.
Taking care of your gums and taking care of your teeth go hand in hand. You already know how the following habits help your teeth, but here’s how they keep your gums healthy too.
Flossing
When it comes to gum health, flossing ranks just above brushing your teeth. Flossing allows you to clean out the tight crevices between your teeth and gums that brushing just can't reach.
Daily flossing prevents plaque from building up in these tight areas, which might otherwise lead to gum disease.
Brushing
By keeping plaque off of your teeth you also keep it off your gums. Plaque buildup is abundant along the gum line, so make sure your toothbrush moves over your gums as well when you brush your teeth.
Regular Cleanings & Checkups
Provided you see them regularly, your dentist can detect gum disease symptoms early. You should visit the dentist for a cleaning and checkup every six months. That way your dentist can detect any developing problems and treat them before they become more serious.
Professional cleanings are the only way to remove tartar (hardened dental plaque). No matter how vigilant you are about brushing and flossing, tartar will still eventually build up, and need to be removed by a dental professional.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is strongly linked with the onset of gum disease! Smoking weakens your immune system making it harder to fight off a gum infection. Smoking also makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged.