6 Ways to Keep your Gums Healthy

A beaming smile with those pearly whites is pretty to see but having healthy teeth and gums would clearly define good oral health! Cavity-free teeth do not make you immune from gum disease. It’s just as important to maintain proper oral care to keep your gums as healthy as your teeth.

To maintain healthy gums and reduce your risk of gum disease, make sure to follow these:

1. Eat a healthy diet. Eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and fatty fish provide all the essential nutrients and help minimize inflammation. Diets are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fatty fish, lessens one’s risk for gum disease.

2. Brush your teeth properly. Brush your teeth, and scrub your tongue too, after every meal. This helps remove the food and plaque trapped between your teeth and gums. Your toothbrush should have soft bristles and fit in your mouth comfortably, while you should choose toothpaste that contains fluoride. Mouthwashes can also help reduce plaque and prevent or reduce gingivitis. A rinse helps remove food particles and debris from your mouth, but this is not a substitute for flossing or brushing.

3. Floss at least once a day. This helps remove the plaque and food that’s beyond your toothbrush’s reach.

4. Don't smoke. Smoking is strongly associated with the onset of gum disease. It weakens your immune system and makes it more difficult to fight off gum infection.

5. Have regular dental check-ups and cleanings. A professional cleaning is the only way to remove tartar/plaque you missed when brushing or flossing. Your dentist can also detect early gum disease symptoms if you see them on a regular basis.

6. Get treatment at the first signs of gum disease. Swollen and bleeding gums; pockets of pus; or gums that have pulled away from your teeth are the most dramatic signs of periodontal disease. Subtler changes, such as widening spaces between your teeth, and bridges or partial dentures that don't fit as well as they once did, may also signal periodontitis.