When brushing and flossing, people often focus their efforts on the teeth. As a huge part of maintaining a healthy smile, making sure to care for your gums is of equal importunate. In fact, healthy gums can even help your teeth stay strong and healthy. Read on to learn more about why gum health is important, how to care for your gums, and how your dentist can help.
Gums and Overall Health
On the surface, gums may not seem that important role in maintaining good overall health. However, conditions such as gum disease have been linked to heart disease, strokes, and a number of other dangerous health issues. This is because harmful bacteria that has built up due to poor oral hygiene can gain access to vital organs trough your bloodstream and wreak havoc on your body. Fortunately, this is easily preventable with proper oral hygiene.
How to Care for Your Gums
Oral care is often centered around teeth, so how can you properly care for your gums? Some ways to keep your gums healthy include:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes. Make sure not to miss the gumline
- Floss at least once per day, preferably before bed
- Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or if you were recently sick
- Brush or scrape your tongue to remove bacteria
- Rinse with mouthwash to access places flossing and brushing can’t reach
- Eat a balanced diet that includes lean meats, fish, yogurt, fruits, veggies, almonds, and cheese
- Quit harmful dental habits such as smoking and using your teeth as tools to open things
How Your Dentist Can Help
When it comes to keeping your gums healthy, your dentist is your greatest asset. At your biannual checkups, they will perform a deep clean of your mouth and search for signs of gum disease. If they come across any signs of gingivitis or other gum issues, they can administer immediate treatment to prevent it from progressing any further.
Your gums play a key role in maintaining good oral and overall health, so make sure you do everything you can to take care of them! If you begin to experience symptoms of gum disease or other oral health issues, contact your dentist right away to set up an appointment so you can keep your mouth in good condition.
About the Practice
If you’re a resident of Parsippany or one of the surrounding communities, know that your oral health is in good hands with the friendly, caring team at Rauchberg Dental Group. Not only are they experts on all things teeth, but they also know a ton about gums and can help you learn how to take care of yours the right way. With Rauchberg Dental Group, your family will soon have smiles worth bragging about! If you’re ready to set up an appointment or have questions regarding gum health, call their office at (973) 718-9887 or visit their website for more information.