September Is a Gum Care Month: Tips to Improve Your Gums
Did you know that September is a gum-care month? Dentistry does not just revolve around caring for teeth. Good oral health is only possible if your entire oral cavity is healthy. It is the reason dental experts around the world celebrate the gum-care month. It is the perfect opportunity to sensitize people on the necessitate of caring for gums.
Studies show that about 47.2% of Americans alone suffer from gum disease. It means that many people have poor oral health to varying degrees. If you can find a way to maintain healthy gums, you can counter many dental issues caused by gum infections. Some of them include:
- Dental discoloration – yellowing, dulling and stubborn stains
- Gingivitis (is the initial stage of gum disease)
- Periodontitis (advanced gum infection)
- Tooth loss
- Halitosis (persistent bad breath)
Why Is Gum-Care Important?
Gums play a significant role in oral health. Without the gums, your teeth would not be as steady as you imagine. The gums work together with your jawbone to secure the teeth in their place. Besides, several of the problems you experience with your gums will make you visit a Bolton dental office for urgent care.
Another reason you must care for your gums is that infections travel through the bloodstream. If you leave an infection untreated for a long time, it slowly gets into your blood and travels to other body parts. Some problems you may encounter as a result include:
- Brain abscesses
- Inflammation of the heart
- Pneumonia
- Breathing difficulties
- Headaches
- Swelling of different body parts, including the lips, cheeks, tongue, and throat.
- Cardiovascular problems like heart disease and stroke
What Causes Unhealthy Gums?
Many things that can damage your teeth can hurt your gums too. Some of the common factors that damage your gum tissue are:
- Poor oral hygiene – is the leading factor for unhealthy gums. Poor oral hygiene allows plaque and tartar to settle at the base of teeth, slowly attacking the gum tissue.
- Excessive force when brushing your teeth – it could be that you are using the wrong technique or a hard-bristled toothbrush that is too harsh to your gums.
- Overcrowding – a crowded mouth pulls your gums the wrong way while making it hard to keep your teeth and gums clean.
- Misuse and overuse of certain medications.
- Bad oral habits, particularly regarding how you eat
- Smoking and other tobacco consumption
- Excessive consumption of alcohol.
- Using sharp objects to poke at your teeth or dislodge objects between them.
Tips to Take Care of Your Gums
When caring for your gums, you should be keen on dental care measures as much as your food and drink consumption. Some crucial tips for maintaining healthy gums are:
- Brush your teeth at least twice every day.
- Switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Get regular dental exams & cleanings – they are preventive measures to help you excel in dental health.
- Keep your mouth moist – drinking plenty of water and eating water-based foods will help.
- Break foods into small portions – especially when eating hard foods like apples and sugarcane.
- Quit smoking and other ways of consuming tobacco like chewing or snuffing.
- Significantly reduce your alcohol consumption.
- Use the right products to clean your mouth, like fluoride toothpaste. If you are unsure about which toothpaste and mouthwash work well to maintain healthy gums, consult with our dental team at South Hill Dental.
Which Toothpaste Kills Most Bacteria?
With an estimate of 800 to 1,000 different bacteria in the mouth, you need to find a toothpaste that can destroy most, if not all, of the bacteria. Many dental experts agree that toothpaste with triclosan/copolymer is more ideal for destroying bacteria in the oral cavity than regular toothpaste. Besides that, toothpaste with fluoride can go a long way to protect your teeth and gums from bacterial infections. Stannous fluoride is a strong agent for strengthening teeth while destroying bacteria in the mouth.
Since finding the best products can be overwhelming, get help from a dentist near you. Besides, you may need customized products that work for you, especially if you are genetically predisposed to gum-related oral problems.