Many people make the mistake of believing that maintaining teeth health, i.e., keeping them free of plaque and snow-white – is all you need to ensure the best oral health. However, they often miss an important element of your overall oral health – the gums.
Here, we provide expert tips on how to improve gum health and how to identify poor gum hygiene or gum disease. Maintaining gum health is easier than you think, which can help you enjoy a happier, healthier life, without any health issues or pain.
Why Is It Important to Maintain Gum Health?
The gums are the mucosal tissue surrounding the tooth base, which provide a perfect seal over the tooth root to protect the teeth inside the oral cavity. The gums help support healthy tooth roots while preventing bacteria damage to the teeth that may lead to inflammation or other health issues.
What does that mean? Your gum health or dental care is directly associated with your overall oral health. Improper care of the gums may result in irritating or painful oral health issues – and the situation may even aggravate, if left unattended.
A common outcome of poor gum health is gum disease – the mild status of which is called gingivitis that may advance to a more serious condition, known as periodontitis. Gum disease happens due to imbalanced oral microbiome, i.e., good and bad bacteria in your mouth, resulting in oral health issues such as tooth loss and receding gums. Research has also shown potential links between gum disease and other health conditions like cardiovascular ailments, respiratory disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
What Are Some Common Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Neglecting gum health may result in some specific symptoms which signify the beginning of gum disease, including:
- Bleeding gums
- Red or yellow gums
- Inflamed or swollen gums
Eventually, other dental problems may arise, signifying gum disease, such as:
- A bad taste in the mouth
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
Also Read: How a Dental Health Examination Can Detect Early Signs of Teeth Diseases
Gum disease consequences can be grave, which may result in tooth decay accompanied by pain and other oral health problems. Therefore, it is important to take great care of the gums by maintaining gum and dental hygiene.
How to Improve Gum Health?
If you are wondering: “How to get healthy gums?”, the good news is that you just need to take some simple steps for naturally maintaining and enhancing your gum health. Luckily, these require little effort and can be integrated easily into your dental care regime, which can help you maintain a clean and healthy mouth.
- Brushing Your Teeth Twice Daily: Brushing the teeth twice daily is one of the major steps towards maintaining and enhancing gum health. Consider using a fluoride toothpaste brand and a manual or electric toothbrush. Brush for a minimum of 120 seconds every time, covering each quadrant of the mouth for 30 seconds. You may also consider using a mouthwash. However, one should avoid using the same soon
after brushing the teeth. - Cleaning between the Teeth: This has always been emphasised by dentists. Either using an interdental product such as Tepes or dental floss, cleaning between the teeth is a fantastic way to improve gum health. It removes plaque before it hardens and becomes tartar, which may result in gum disease.
- Replacing Your Toothbrush: Replace your toothbrush every 1-3 months, or when it starts looking frayed. Also, use a brush with soft bristles to avoid injuring the delicate gum tissue.
- Getting Regular Check-Ups and Cleaning: Regular check-ups mean potential issues can be diagnosed and prevented well before time. A dentist can help you to prevent gum diseases by removing plaque build-up in the mouth.
At Eccleshill Dental, we offer advanced gum treatments and general dental care, comprising dental hygiene checks and teeth cleaning. With flexible appointments to match busy schedules and gentle care for nervous patients, our dental professionals can help you maintain optimal gum health.
Other Ways to Ensure Superb Gum Health
In addition to the tips for healthy gums discussed above, there are some other measures you can take to maintain good gum health. For instance, some people make use of specific essential oils like clove or thyme oil, to ensure healthy gums and teeth. Besides, your lifestyle choices can hugely influence your oral health.
A Healthy Diet
Wondering how to make gums stronger naturally? Know that the food you consume can significantly affect gum health. Foods rich in some specific nutrients are known to promote gum health. The nutrients that might help preserve gum health are:
- Vitamin C: Found in leafy greens, citrus fruit and berries
- Vitamin B12: Found in eggs, milk, meat and fortified cereals
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in fish and flaxseed oil
Moreover, there are some foods that may adversely impact gum health. Studies have shown that consuming too much of alcohol may damage the gums, disturbing the oral microbiome balance, which may lead to gum disease.
Also Read: Your Path to a Brighter Smile: Teeth Whitening Options for New Clients
Quitting Smoking
Smoking significantly raises your risk of developing gum diseases as smokers have greater likelihood to have bacterial plaque, which causes gum inflammation. Smoking results in oxygen deficiency in the blood, making it difficult for the infected gums to heal and increasing the risk of gum disease. As a matter of fact, smokers are twice more likely to have gum disease, compared to non-smokers.
Therefore, quitting smoking can remarkably improve your gum health while lowering the risk of gum disease. After quitting smoking, it is advisable to see a dentist for restorative teeth and gum health treatments.
Act Now to Improve Your Gum Health
Owing to the impact of gum health on our oral and physical well-being, it is super- important to keep one’s gums healthy. Follow the suggestions above and start priroitising your gum health today.
Need expert advice or a professional cleaning?
Visit Eccleshill Dental in Bradford for personalized gum health treatments and dental care. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping you achieve and maintain optimal gum health. Call us today at +44 1274 633406, or email info@eccleshilldental.com to book an appointment. We are here to help you keep your gums healthy and your smile bright!
