5 Ways To Create Healthy Looking Gums

Your gums protect your teeth from more than just sensitivity to hot and cold. Without your gums your teeth would not be able to stay in your mouth. As time goes on they may begin to break down or recede. Without proper brushing and flossing routines, they may be puffy, swollen and bleed when you brush and floss. This is not normal and can be reversed with these 6 habits.

1.     Brush regularly.

2.     Visit the dentist for a routine cleaning. Once you have this completed they can let you know if you have periodontal disease or gingivitis and need to consult with a periodontist.

3.     Eat healthy foods. This cannot be stressed enough when it comes to your oral health. Fresh fruits and vegetables with a high concentration of water and low concentration of natural sugar helps to keep food from sticking to your teeth. The longer food is on your teeth the more at risk you are for bacteria to run rampant damaging your gums.

4.     Floss at least 1x a day. While recent reports have suggested that flossing may just be a great idea, there is no other solution that removes food from between the teeth and keeps your gums free from food.

5.     Do not put off seeing the periodontist. Once it has been recommended that you visit a periodontist the sooner you get an appointment the sooner you can be on your way to healthy gums.

For more information on how to keep your gums healthy contact Dr. Rice and her team.

Recommit To Your Gums

Periodontal disease can cause major damage to your smile, your gums and your self-confidence. The first time you brush and your gums bleed it may be easy to blow it off. You might think a little bleeding is normal, but it is not. Any bleeding at all is a sign of gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal disease. 

Your periodontal health is critical for the health of your entire body. If you have periodontal disease, the infection can lead to damage to the rest of your body, including your heart, lungs, and liver. This month recommit to the health of your gums by following these three rules. 

Brush your teeth 2x a day for at least two minutes. When you brush you should do so in small circles. Vigorous brushing can cause damage to the gums and cause further problems. Pick out a new soft toothbrush every six months, as the bristles of the brush lose their effectiveness over time. 

Floss 1x a day. Flossing is the only way to remove any food from between the gums. When you floss, you want to wrap the floss around your fingers about 1-2 inches apart. Move gently between the teeth. Dr. Denine Rice states, “You should avoid pushing hard.” If you are struggling with breaking the floss, you can try waxed floss as this helps it glide between the teeth. 

Visit the periodontist if you're experiencing bleeding and swollen gums. Once you have periodontal disease, treatment is the only way to fix the problem. Don’t let time pass where you do nothing.   

Call Dr. Rice & her team today for more information.

6 Ways To Improve Gum Health

Your gum health is critical to the health of your mouth and your body. Both can spiral out of control if you do not get help with your periodontal disease. Don’t wait to improve the health of your smile. 

1. Brush and floss daily. Brushing helps remove the plaque that sticks to your teeth after you have consumed something. The longer bacteria stays on your teeth, the more opportunity there is for the damage to occur. Flossing helps remove any food between the teeth.
2. Visit your dentist regularly and your periodontist if you have periodontal disease. Regular dental cleanings help remove the plaque that sticks to the teeth that routine brushing and flossing are not able to get. Your dentist can also take routine x-rays in order to identify any problems that may be brewing.
3. Fix broken or missing teeth as soon as possible. The jawbone is stimulated by the grinding motion made when eating foods. If you have teeth that are missing, the bone is not regenerated and eventually your jawbone can begin to weaken. This can cause more problems for your smile.
4. Eat healthy foods that improve the look of your smile. The more water a food has in it, the better for your smile.
5. Drink water. Without water to rinse,  bacteria can grow. Bacteria impact the gums and then can cause them to recede.
6. Use mouthwash. Mouthwash can improve not only your breath, but also it can help to rinse away any bacteria that you have on your teeth. And some mouthwash contains products specifically to help with gingivitis, if this is something impacting you. 

Get going today and improve your gum health.