Keeping your gums extra healthy simply requires a few tweaks to your regular oral hygiene routine. Here are some tips from our Surrey dentist on how to keep your gums in tip top shape.
Caring for your gums goes hand in hand with caring for your teeth. You probably already understand how the following habits keep your teeth strong and healthy, but here’s how they help to keep your gums healthy too.
Flossing
Flossing is the most important part of your oral hygiene routine when we're talking about gum health. In fact, flossing even ranks above brushing your teeth. Flossing cleans out the crevices between your teeth and gums that your toothbrush can’t reach, preventing plaque from building up in these tight areas. Plaque buildup can lead to gum disease.
Brushing
Thorough brushing helps to keep plaque off of your teeth, but it also helps to keep it off of your gums as well. It's important to note that plaque buildup can be especially abundant along the gum line. That's why, when you're brushing your teeth it's a good idea to gently move your toothbrush over your gums as well!
Regular Professional Cleanings & Checkups
Dentists are able to detect gum disease symptoms early, but it's essential that you see your dentist regularly. Be sure to visit your dentist for a cleaning and checkup every six months. Regular visits mean that any developing problems can be spotted early and treated before they become more serious.
Professional cleanings are necessary for removing tartar (hardened dental plaque). Regardless of how vigilant you are about brushing and flossing, tartar will eventually build up, and need to be removed by a dental professional.
Quit Smoking
If you need yet another reason to quit smoking consider your gum health! The onset of gum disease is strongly linked with smoking. Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight off a gum infection. Not only that, smoking makes it more difficult for your gums to heal once they’ve been damaged.