You know that you need to take good care of your teeth to ensure they stay strong and maintain their beautiful pearly white appearance. But you should make an effort to care for the health of your gums as well.
This connective tissue keeps your teeth in place in the mouth. If you contract gum disease or another periodontal issue, the gums cannot do their job properly and you could suffer a number of oral health complications, including tooth loss.
However, proper preventative oral health care can ensure your gums stay healthy and continue to function as they should. Read on to discover three tips that can ensure you maintain good periodontal health.
Practice Consistent At-Home Oral Hygiene
Your mouth will naturally create a film of plaque over your teeth throughout your day. You must remove it by brushing your teeth and flossing regularly. Not only will this keep your teeth healthy, but it can protect your gums as well.
Natural oral bacteria will easily spread to your gums and infect them if plaque lingers on your smile. So make sure you adhere to a consistent oral hygiene regimen to get rid of plaque and excess bacteria before this can occur.
You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, morning and night. Do not skip daily flossing as well. If you do not floss regularly, you might notice gum irritation where plaque gathers close to the gumline. Avoid this issue by continuing good oral hygiene habits.
Attend Regular Dental Check-Ups
Proper oral hygiene is not complete without attending regular dental check-ups. During these appointments, your dentist completes crucial cleaning of your smile. They scrape away plaque from spots of your mouth that a toothbrush cannot easily reach, such as deep in the gum pockets.
The dentist will also examine your teeth and gums for early signs of oral health issues during this appointment. They can screen for periodontal disease. If the dentist can find this infection at an early stage, it will be easier to treat so that you can avoid irreversible dental damage. Make sure you do not wait to schedule this preventative in-office dental care.
Include Healthy Foods in Your Diet
Your diet can play a major role in your oral health, including the well-being of your gums. A balanced, nutrient-rich diet can keep your body strong enough to resist infections like gum disease. Antioxidants can also help your body fight inflammation to reduce uncomfortable periodontal symptoms.
Certain foods may also boost oral hygiene, which will help gum health too. Fibrous fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery are crunchy and can scrape away plaque from your smile while you eat.
Sugary and starchy foods will encourage bacterial spread and therefore oral infections like gum disease. So limit these items in your diet to promote healthy gums. Learn more about the impact your diet can have on your oral health by giving your dentist a call.