Gum Maintenance Techniques
Saddleback Dental Centre Offers Gum Maintenance Tips
Saddleback Dental Centre can suggest a host of gum maintenance techniques for patients in Edmonton, AB, and the surrounding area. While most people associate oral health with clean teeth and an attractive smile, maintaining healthy gums is just as important. Gum diseases can have far-reaching effects on one’s overall oral health. Not only does it involve swollen, tender gums, but it can ultimately lead to tooth or bone loss and facial structure issues. All the elements of your mouth work in concert with each other, so it is critical to attend to them equally. Our tea
m of dental experts can help you understand why gum health is so important and how you can achieve it. Call us today to discuss gum maintenance.
Gum Maintenance is Vital to Your Oral Health
Though it is unlikely anyone will compliment you for healthy gums as they would for a pearly-white smile, gum maintenance is just as necessary as teeth care. Furthermore, because gums serve as the setting for your teeth, you cannot have a sustainable healthy smile without healthy gums. If you allow plaque and tartar to build up on your teeth and it gets beneath your gum line, a host of issues can result, including periodontal diseases. Periodontal disease has varying stages of severity, with symptoms that include chronic bad breath, bleeding gums, loose teeth, receding gums, and more. When your gum line recedes or your teeth loosen, your entire mouth is vulnerable to infections and further decay. You may also lose bone density, which can affect your facial structure and the strength of your teeth. Therefore, proper gum maintenance is essential to your overall oral health.
Ways to Maintain Healthy Gums
Fortunately, because the elements of your mouth are so interconnected, many of the strategies you employ to keep your teeth clean and white can also help you maintain healthy gums. Saddleback Dental Centre has a shortlist of gum maintenance strategies that can ensure long-lasting oral health. It includes:
Brushing Your Teeth:
It is an activity that should be second-nature, but brushing your teeth is critical to maintaining healthy gums. At a minimum, you should brush your teeth twice per day, but it is even better if you can brush them after every meal. By using fluoride toothpaste and brushing up to the gum line, you will remove plaque and bacteria that can contribute to periodontitis and gingivitis.
Flossing:
At least once per day, you should floss. While brushing is effective, there are several nooks and crannies in your mouth that a toothbrush may not reach. By gently addressing the areas between teeth and up to the gum line, you can further eliminate plaque buildup.
Rinsing:
After you have brushed and flossed your teeth, use an antiseptic mouthwash for additional care. While many associate mouthwash with simply freshening breath, it has much more important benefits. By swishing mouthwash around your mouth for 30-60 seconds, you can remove any remaining food or particles that brushing or flossing may have missed and kill bacteria that cause plaque and gum disease.
Regular Dental Cleanings:
Take advantage of Saddleback Dental Centre’s general dentistry services in Edmonton, AB. During each visit or checkup, our team will examine your mouth and identify any areas for concern when it comes to gum disease. With biannual appointments, we can monitor your teeth and gums to discern more accurately when there is an issue. By catching any problems early, we can ensure simpler treatment with non-invasive procedures.
Practice Healthy Habits:
It is best to avoid sugary foods and drinks, though brushing and flossing can protect your teeth and gums if you decide to indulge in your favorite sweets from time to time. However, smoking is highly detrimental to your gums and should be avoided. Tobacco use has been linked to the onset of gum disease. To make matters worse, smoking weakens immune systems and makes it more difficult to fight gum infections or heal damaged gums.
Contact Saddleback Dental Centre for Gum Maintenance
Unhealthy gums can quickly sully a fresh, white smile. Your gums serve as a foundation for your teeth, so improper gum maintenance can lead to loss or decaying teeth and a range of other dental problems. But Saddleback Dental Centre can help you understand proper gum maintenance techniques and ways to ensure lifelong oral health. By brushing and flossing your teeth daily as well as visiting our Edmonton, AB clinic for regular cleanings, you can achieve healthy gums. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.