How Are Your Gums Feeling?
Teeth get a lot of attention — as they should, since they are the most prominent part of your smile. But what about gums? Your gums are extremely important. Without gums, you can’t have teeth! So, are you paying enough attention to your gums when you brush your teeth in the morning and at night?
Keep reading to learn more.
Why Gum Health Matters
Healthy gums protect your teeth from harmful bacteria that cause plaque, cavities, and gum disease. Your gums adhere tightly to your teeth to keep the bacteria away from the sensitive roots. When your gums are unhealthy, bacteria can get underneath them, and that’s when problems start.
Bacteria along the gumline will cause inflammation, and your gums will begin to pull away, allowing more bacteria in. As you might imagine, it’s difficult to remove plaque from under the gumline. In fact, it requires a trained professional.
Signs of Unhealthy Gums
When your gums are healthy, they’re pink and firm. When gums are unhealthy, they can look puffy and red. A very common sign of unhealthy gums is bleeding when you brush and floss. If your gums are always red and swollen or they bleed every time you brush and floss, you should call us right away to schedule an examination so we can determine what stage of gum disease you have.
How to Keep Your Gums Healthy
Thankfully, keeping your gums healthy doesn’t require a lot of effort. You’re probably even familiar with all the steps. But just in case you’d like a reminder, here’s a quick recap:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each time. Be sure to use a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Gentle motions are always better than harsh scrubbing.
- Floss at least once a day. We cannot understate how important flossing is to your gum health and your overall oral health. When you floss consistently every day, you are cleaning the places your toothbrush can’t reach, keeping plaque from sticking between teeth and along the gumline — vital if you don’t want gum disease.
- Visit us for an examination and cleaning at least twice a year. No matter how well you brush and floss every day, you can never get all the plaque. Only we can do that with our professional tools. We will also examine your teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. Visiting us every six months increases your chances of catching gum health problems early, when we can treat them more easily.
If you suspect your gums aren’t as healthy as they could be, please don’t hesitate to call our office. We would be happy to schedule an appointment to examine your mouth and assess your gum health. Should we determine there’s an issue, we will explain everything and create a personalized treatment plan to get your gum health back on track. For many patients, all that means is being more diligent about oral health at home. For others, it requires a deep cleaning and additional treatments as well as more frequent dental checkups. But we won’t know what you need unless you visit our office to assess your gum health.
For more information about gum health and to schedule your next hygiene examination and cleaning with us, call our office located in Walnut Grove, CA. We’re here to help and can’t wait to see you again!
