Your gums aren’t just for decoration. They help anchor your teeth in place in your jaw, providing protection for them against harmful bacteria, and even protect your mouth from the pressure created by chewing. Unfortunately, however, if you don’t take good care of them, they can become infected, causing a condition known as periodontitis, or gum disease. If left untreated, this can eventually lead to tissue recession, tooth loss, and jawbone deterioration. Here are a few ways you can keep your gums healthy and strong so they can continue to protect your smile for a lifetime!
Floss
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is the best way you can protect your gums against the ravages of oral bacteria. Flossing is the fastest and easiest way to do this, because it clears away food debris, plaque, and those harmful bacteria that can colonize in your periodontal tissue and cause infection.
Brush Your Teeth
Although it won’t completely protect your gums, it is still extremely important to brush your teeth twice a day to help keep them clean and reduce the amount of dangerous oral bacteria in your mouth. Be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a fluoridated toothpaste twice a day for best results.
Take a Supplement
There are many vitamins that are beneficial to your periodontal health, such as vitamin D to reduce inflammation, vitamin E to shield your gums against free radicals, vitamin C for collagen production, and vitamin A to moisturize and protect the mucous membranes. If you’re interested in learning more about which specific vitamins would work best for you, be sure to discuss them with your doctor or dentist first.
Don’t Smoke
In addition to staining your teeth, injuring your lungs, and giving you foul breath, smoking, vaping, dabbing, or chewing tobacco products are all extremely harmful to your periodontal tissue, too. They not only cause dangerous dry mouth which can make it harder to eliminate oral bacteria and food particles from your teeth and gums, but these products can also restrict blood flow to your oral tissues and weaken your immune response, making it easier to develop serious conditions like gum disease.
Visit Your Dentist
Finally, while maintaining your gums’ health at home is crucial to keeping them in good condition, it is also important to attend regular appointments with your dentist. These visits are your opportunity to remove hardened deposits of plaque and bacteria that could be putting your periodontal tissue at risk for infection. Furthermore, should your dentist diagnose a current case of gum disease during your visit, they can also recommend treatment, to help lessen the severity of your symptoms and prevent them from progressing.
Remember, your gums are an extremely important part of your mouth, and essential for the health and wellbeing of your teeth. To keep them strong and healthy, be sure to brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly, and for an added boost of protection, say yes to vitamins and a resounding no to tobacco products, and they’ll remain in excellent condition for years to come!
About Dr. Latner
Dr. Les Latner earned his dental degree at the Washington University School of Dental Medicine in St. Louis and today is one of the less than ten dentists who has achieved accreditation in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry. He is also an esteemed member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, a clinical assistant professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry, and a published author in the Journal of the American College of Dentists. To schedule an appointment for gum disease therapy at Westside Dental Associates, visit our website or call 310-765-7441.