Keeping your mouth healthy involves more than just keeping your teeth sparkling white and making sure you have no cavities. While making sure your cavities are taken care of as soon as possible and having a sparkling white smile are important to having a healthy mouth, there is a component of oral hygiene that tends to slip under the radar. You may see it in mouthwash commercials and know a few of the buzzwords around what can happen if you don’t take care of your gums, but it’s important to really know how to best care for them.
By taking care of your gums, you’ll help to ensure your teeth have healthy roots to allow them to thrive. Left untreated, unhealthy gums can lead to serious oral health problems down the road. To get a brief overview of how to best take care of your gums, follow these 3 simple steps.
1. Brush Your Teeth Thoroughly
While brushing your teeth carefully and often is a great and necessary way to take care of your teeth, it also helps your gums tremendously. By making sure you’re brushing well you can help to ensure nothing is building up around your gum line that can cause your gums to become infected further down the line. If you don’t brush well your teeth will be the first to show the lack of care but will quickly be followed by your gums. If you feel any pain in your gums during regular brushing, make an appointment to visit your dentist as soon as possible.
2. Floss Frequently
To treat your gums where they need it most, it’s crucial that you floss your teeth at least once a day to maintain healthy gums. While you may think you are doing a great job of brushing, and you very well may be, flossing will be able to get rid of some of the bacteria you may have missed while brushing. Most people dislike flossing because of the added time it takes in the bathroom but once you get used to it, it really only takes a minute. By investing this small amount of time into your oral health routine, you’ll be taking steps to reduce your chances of gingivitis or gum disease greatly!
3. Visit Your Dentist
Even if you do not have any pain or discomfort with any of your teeth, it is still always a good idea to visit your dentist twice a year. Your dentist will be able to get rid of any plaque build-up on your teeth that may be impossible to get rid of with just a regular toothbrush and dental floss. In addition to this cleaning, your dentist will be on the look out for anything that appears to be a potential issue.
For More Information on How to Keep Your Gums Healthy and Shelby Twp. Dentist, Dr. Robert Antolak
To learn more about gum disease and taking care of your teeth get in touch with Shelby Township dentist, Dr. Robert Antolak by calling 586-247-3500 today!