Paying attention to your gums is very important if you wish to maintain the best oral health possible. This firm, fleshy part of your mouth is the foundation for your teeth, so keeping it in great shape will give your teeth the best chance possible to stay strong and problem free.
Also known as “gingiva,” this tissue that surrounds the base of your teeth plays an essential function. It protects the underlying bone and root system that connects to your teeth and acts as a barrier to harmful bacteria. When you have healthy, pink gums, the underlying structure is nicely protected. If your gums become inflamed or infected, this can compromise your overall oral health.
We are all aware that regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups are important to staying cavity-free, but these practices are also essential to maintaining the health of the gums and avoiding the very common problem that this part of the mouth is prone to: gingivitis. This condition is often reversible, but if left untreated it can cause serious oral health complications and progress into periodontitis.
The Basics of Healthy Gums
No matter how busy you might be, taking time every day to pay attention to your gum health is crucial. A good oral health routine will look like this:
- Brushing at least twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing once per day
- Rinsing once per day with an antimicrobial mouthwash
- Getting a professional dental cleaning twice per year
- Avoiding a high-sugar diet
The Role Diet Plays on Your Gums Health
A high-sugar diet with lots of simple carbohydrates is not good for your teeth or gums. This type of food creates a sticky plaque that can be difficult to remove. We also know that sugar is a leading cause of cavities. Remember that there is often hidden sugar in common food items such as salad dressing and sauces, so it’s important to brush soon after eating these types of foods.
Eating plenty of crunchy vegetables such as celery and carrots is great for maintaining healthy gums. Not only do these foods help to scrape plaque off the teeth, but they also take longer to chew, which creates extra saliva in your mouth. Saliva has antibacterial properties which help to keep your mouth clean. It also flushes bacteria away from the gums.
The Importance of Flossing
While brushing is the most important thing you can do for your teeth, flossing is the most important thing you can do for your gums. Food particles that become trapped under the gumline can lead to inflammation if they are not removed in a timely manner. Flossing gently scrapes between the teeth right up into the gums where a toothbrush can’t reach.
We like to see patients floss at least once per day, but you may wish to floss more often if you tend to eat foods that get stuck in the teeth. Always extend the floss as far up into the gum line as is comfortable. Let your dentist know if you experience bleeding of the gums when you floss.
Using the Right Mouthwash for Your Gums
Not all mouth rinses are created equal. Some are little more than mint flavoring and food coloring. There are some good whitening and fluoride mouth rinses on the market, but in terms of healthy gums, you will want to find a mouthwash that has antibacterial properties. A good antibacterial mouthwash will kill any bacteria hiding along the gum line. Ask your dentist or hygienist what brand they would recommend for you.
Getting a Professional Cleaning
No matter how good a job you are doing with your at-home gum care routine, it is very important to schedule regular dental visits for a professional cleaning. Even if you are brushing and flossing several times per day, plaque formation is very subtle and can sometimes evade even the best cleaning techniques. Once plaque forms, it soon hardens into tartar which can only be removed manually using professional cleaning instruments.
Ideally, patients should schedule a professional cleaning twice per year. This not only allows us to keep your mouth in the best condition possible, but it also allows us to spot any signs of gingivitis or other oral health concerns before they become a major issue. Gum health problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis are often reversible when they are caught in the early stages.
Understanding Gum Disease
Gingivitis is not always the result of poor oral hygiene. It can be caused by hormonal factors, such as a surge of estrogen during pregnancy. Gingivitis that is related to hormonal factors will usually resolve on its own, although it’s still important to pay extra attention to your gums if you are pregnant or nursing. Gingivitis can also be a complication of diabetes.
While this condition is usually treatable, if it is allowed to progress too far it can lead to periodontitis or even tooth loss. Your gums are what anchor and protect the roots of your teeth, so if it becomes compromised, your teeth will suffer.
Symptoms To Look For
In the early stages of gum disease, the warning signs will likely only be visible to your dentist or hygienist. Because this condition can often be painless, it goes under the radar if your dentist does not examine your teeth every six months. You may notice some light bleeding when you floss, or increased sensitivity to hot and cold, but early gingivitis often does not have any significant warning signs at all.
As gingivitis progresses, you may notice that your gums appear to be red or swollen. The tissue around your teeth may feel tender to the touch. At this stage, your gums will almost certainly bleed when you floss. Other symptoms include bad breath and a receding gum line. At your dental visits, your hygienist can measure the amount of recession that has taken place and track this at future appointments.
What Can Be Done About Gingivitis?
While the oral hygiene measures noted earlier should be enough to reverse mild gingivitis, if the condition has progressed then your dentist may recommend taking some additional measures. This could include performing scaling and root planing, which is a more intense dental cleaning that reaches further up into the gums. Your dentist might also fix or remove any dental work that has become difficult to clean or maintain.
At this stage, using an antimicrobial mouth rinse will be more important to help reverse the damage of gum disease. You may need to use it several times per day until the condition is under control. If you smoke, your dentist will advise you to stop as this habit can impede the body’s natural healing processes and worsen infections. A healthy, mouth-friendly diet and drinking plenty of water to keep the mouth hydrated are also very important.
Your gums play an important role in maintaining your overall oral health. In addition to practicing your normal oral care routine, be sure to get regular cleanings from your dentist and keep an eye out for signs and symptoms of gingivitis.
Are You Searching For A Martinsburg Area Dental Office for You Or Your Family?
If you’re searching for an experienced dentist please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.
