Pink is the Color – Of Healthy Gums!
The health of your mouth is not just evident by how straight your teeth are or how white your smile is. Don’t forget about your gums! At first glance it is quite easy to identify the condition of one’s gums. Chinook Mall Family Dental Clinic wants to ensure all areas of your mouth are treated and maintained properly.
What do healthy gums look like?
- Are pink in colour
- Have no areas of redness or inflammation
- Have no bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Have no tenderness or discomfort
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease starts when plaque builds up under and along the gum line. Plaque is a sticky film-like substance that’s filled with bacteria. It can cause infections that hurt the gum and bone, leading to gum disease and tooth decay. Plaque also can cause gingivitis the earliest stage of gum disease. Gingivitis causes your gums to become:
- inflamed
- tender
- red
- swollen
- prone to bleeding
How can I keep my gums healthy?
If you want to start early and keep your gums pink and healthy, here are seven important tips to follow.
Change your toothbrush regularly. Your toothbrush is actually a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. It is often moist and kept in an enclosed storage that creates an environment for bacterial growth. These bacteria can be transferred from your toothbrush to your teeth and gums, increasing the amount of oral bacteria and heightening the risk of gum infection. A good rule of thumb would be to change your toothbrush every three to four months or when you notice that the bristles are changing color or spreading.
Brush as thoroughly as possible. Brushing twice a day is easy, but do you brush your teeth properly? Some people may be brushing several times a day but only removing minimal amount of plaque and food debris because they brush too fast. The secret of optimal brushing is spending time and covering all areas, especially the back teeth that are most susceptible to cavity formation.
Floss regularly. A lot of food particles can get stuck in between teeth and brushing doesn’t effectively clean these tight spaces. Flossing will be able to clean whatever the toothbrush has left unclean. However, be careful when flossing because applying too much force can cause gum bleeding, and a cut in the gums can increase the risk of bacterial infection.
Rinse with antiseptic mouthwash. Mouthwash is a great cleaner because if your gargle it well, it can pass through the tiniest gaps in your teeth. It also cleans and removes bacteria in the whole mouth including the tongue and palate that are often missed when brushing the teeth.
Eat foods like cheese, apples and celery. Cheese is a creamy dairy product that contains a lot of calcium. It can help remove plaque from your teeth as you bite on it, and the calcium adds strength to your tooth enamel. Apples and celery are just examples of firm, water-filled raw foods that can exercise the gums, neutralize acidity and rinse away excess food debris inside and around the mouth.
Minimize sugar consumption. Sugar is the food of bacteria, and if you have gum infection, eating sweets can speed up the spread of the infection. Avoid eating sugar-loaded foods like candies, cookies, cakes, pastries, soda and dried fruits. Not only do they feed bacteria, they also leave a film of sugar over your teeth and gums.
Visit your dentist at least once every six months. Your oral routine at home remains detrimental to your gums health. But there is much that can missed or overlooked. Regular dental check-ups at our Chinook Mall Office can effectively track the early signs of gum disease and stop it from spreading before it gets any worse. Our team will clean your teeth and gums at every visit, reducing your chances of getting dental problems in the future.
For more information on your gums and gum disease prevention, please contact us or visit our Chinook Mall Family Dental Office.
