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HOW TO KEEP THE GUMS HEALTHY – ELITE DENTAL CARE TRACY

How do you assess your dental health? Do you assess it by the brightening smile or the perfect pearls in the mouth? A perfectly white teeth lineup is not the only criteria for your good oral health. Your oral health comprises of the gums too. Gums are the fundamental foundation for your teeth. Will a building stand strong on a weak foundation? No! Right? The same is with your teeth. When the gums that hold the teeth weaken, teeth lose their strength and fall off. Continue reading below to find how to keep the gums healthy and prevent periodontal gum diseases.

WHY ARE HEALTHY GUMS NECESSARY?
When the gums weaken, they loosen their hold on the teeth embedded in them. This leads to gaps between the teeth, teeth start shaking, and ultimately you either have to extract them, or they fall off. And you know it well that natural teeth are the long-lasting ones compared to their duplicate counterparts. The damages in teeth are visible to the naked eyes, but gum diseases might not be visible in the initial stages. When you become careless about your dental health, these gum diseases keep prolonging and damaging the gums and consequently the teeth. Hence it is crucial to keep the gums healthy to avoid further damages.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GUM DISEASES?
Gum disease occurs when a sticky film named plaque is formed above and below the gum line. Plaque consists of bacteria that feed on the sugars in the mouth and decay the gums and teeth. Plaque, when left unattended, hardens to form a black film named tartar. Though gum diseases might not be visible there are a few symptoms that indicate the defect in gums.
• Plaque leads to inflamed, red and swollen gums.
• Gums start bleeding
• Receding gums
• You experience bad breath from the mouth
• Gums pull away from your teeth
• Visible gaps between the teeth

HOW TO PREVENT GUM DISEASES?
Gum diseases might not be reversible, but they are preventable with good care. Follow the below steps to keep the gums healthy and prevent gum diseases.
Brush the Teeth Twice a DayBrushing the teeth twice a day is the most fundamental dental care. Plaque forms in the mouth overnight, and it is necessary to remove it in the morning by brushing the teeth. The plaque would otherwise harden and cause dental decays. Brush your teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush, at a 45-degree angle to the gums, and it must be accompanied by tongue cleaning as well.

1. Floss
People usually argue that brushing cleans the teeth, and there is no need for flossing. That’s not true. Brushing and flossing are two different phenomena. Brushing cleans the teeth but the residues stuck in the gaps between the teeth are not cleaned with a brush. Flossing with a thread reaches these gaps and removes the particles stuck there. The plaque formed between the teeth and gums is cleaned while flossing. Whenever you consume sugary foods or candies, immediately floss your teeth to prevent the bacteria mouth from feeding on these sugars and forming plaque.

2. Rinse your mouth with a Mouthwash
Mouthwash is also a good practice to remove the harmful acids, and food residue stuck in the mouth. Mouthwash controls the bad breath, and it helps remove the plaque formed in between the teeth.

3. Dental Cleaning
By flossing regularly, you can remove the plaque. But if the plaque has hardened to tartar, you cannot remove it manually. You must visit your dentist for a dental cleaning. Apart from tartar, it is also necessary to get the dental cleaning done at least once in six months to remove the hidden plaque.

4. Consume Gum-Friendly Foods
Consume fiber-rich fruits and vegetables that keep the mouth clean. Increased consumption of dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt increases saliva production in the mouth, which, in turn, acts as a defense against bacteria and plaque. Also, consume vitamin-rich foods to boost your immune system.

5. Avoid Foods that Harm Your Gums
Limit the consumption of sugary foods and candies. Bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugar and starch components of the food and convert them into acids that damage the teeth and the gums. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash soon after consuming sugary foods. Avoid carbonated drinks that stain the teeth and weaken the gums.

6. Drink Plenty of Water
Water keeps the mouth hydrated increasing saliva production. A hydrated mouth keeps the gums healthy and also wash away the food residues, sugary residues and plaque.

7. Quit Smoking
Smoking is highly injurious to gums as it weakens the gums. Smoking leads to inflamed and bleeding gums that cause Gingivitis and Periodontitis diseases.

By following the above steps, you can considerably prevent gum diseases. When your gums are healthy, your overall dental health is improved. Visit https://theelitedental.com for tips on healthy gums and visit our clinic, The Elite Dental Care for your dental treatments.