Keeping your gums healthy requires many of the same steps as keeping your teeth healthy. Here are a few tips from our Langley dentist on how to go that extra mile to keep your gums in optimum condition.
Taking care of your gums goes hand in hand with taking care of your teeth. You already know how the following habits help your teeth, but here’s how they keep your gums healthy, too.
Flossing Daily
Flossing ranks just above brushing your teeth when it comes to gum health. Flossing cleans the crevices between your teeth and gums that your toothbrush just can’t reach.
Removing the debris trapped between your teeth and gums helps you to prevent plaque from building up in these tight areas, which might otherwise lead to gum disease.
Brushing Twice Daily
Brushing the plaque off of your teeth helps keep it off your gums, too! Plaque buildup is especially abundant along the gum line, so each time you brush your teeth be sure to move your toothbrush over your gums too.
Regular Cleanings & Checkups
Provided you see them regularly, your dentist can detect gum disease symptoms early. You should be visiting the dentist for a cleaning and checkup every six months, so that developing problems can be treated before they become serious.
It's important to note that professional cleanings are really the only way to remove tartar (hardened dental plaque). As diligent as you may be about brushing and flossing, tartar will still eventually build up, and it needs to be removed by a dental professional.
Quit Smoking
Your gum health is yet another good reason to quit smoking: Smoking is strongly linked with the onset of gum disease. Smoking weakens your immune system, and this makes it harder to fight off a gum infection if one does develop. Additionally, smoking makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged.