Oral hygiene has a great impact on your overall health. The pain that comes with swollen gums is so unbearable that it can create discomfort in other parts of the body. Gum disease is caused by the accumulation of food substances creating a breeding ground for bacteria. The bacterial infections gradually but steadily attack your gums, leading to conditions such as gingivitis, among others. However, you can easily evade such conditions by practicing the following tips.
1. Floss
Flossing is the interdental cleaning process to clear interproximal dental plaque between your teeth. Use interdental cleaning tools suck as floss dental to remove food particles deposited between your teeth. Dental floss comes in various kinds, either thin or thick. It would help if you always flossed your teeth at least twice a day to destroy a formation of tartar. Flossing is more effective than usual brushing. Always practice caution when flossing; otherwise, you risk inflicting pain on your gums. Be gentle but firm when using dental floss.
For effective and quality results, follow the below flossing tips.
- Break the dental floss into 45cm lengths, then wind them around your finger
- Tightly hold the floss close between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Gentle yet firm, move the floss between your teeth without harming your gums.
- Once the floss touches the gumline, firmly curve it around your tooth until it forms a c-shape.
- While still curved around your tooth, carefully scrape it around the sides of the tooth in both directions. Repeat this process across all your teeth, covering even the back-end teeth.
Remember always to start flossing from the top left as you scrape toward the right side of your gums. Then move from the bottom left as you move to the right side. Make this pattern regular for healthy gums.
2. Practice Regular Dental Checkups
Always visit the dentist at least twice a year to avoid excessive plaque formation. Regular checkups also allow your dentists to identify any sign of gum disease. Some conditions, such as gingivitis, are preventable and easily treated when detected at their early stage. Checkups will also give you the courage to practice a continuous oral routine.
Whenever your dental hygienist inspects your gums and overall oral health, they can easily identify the cause of gum disease, if you have any. A dental diagnosis saves you from the wrong diet that could be detrimental to your oral health. A professional dentist recommends the right cleaning method and tools for your gums. Similarly, an oral health expert will recommend further dental treatment if you’ve developed serious gum diseases.
3. Avoid Smoking
Smoking is a major precursor of gum disease among the citizens of the United States. Smoking leaves bacteria on your gums responsible for swollen and reddish gums. Smokers are more prone to gum diseases than non-smokers.
Ideally, smoking weakens your immune system making your gums weak for attack by a simple food deposit. The tenderization of your gum alignment follows, which eventually leads to bleeding. Smoking will always thwart the healing process once your gums are severely affected.
4. Brush Regularly
A home oral cleaning routine is important in maintaining healthy gum. The basic treatment of your gums starts by brushing at least twice daily. Brush your teeth in the morning and in the evening to remove any food substance lying on your teeth. Remember to clean your tongue using a scrubber. Your tongue is a perfect harboring zone for bacteria.
Use an effective toothbrush and when possible, use a battery-powered toothbrush for proper oral cleaning. While brushing, place the toothbrush at 45-degree against the gums and carefully brush in back-and-forth positions. Replace your toothbrush after every three months.
5. Use Mouthwash
Regularly use an antibacterial mouthwash to protect your gums from gum diseases. Therapeutic mouthwash helps slow down the development of plaque and prevent gingivitis. When you use a mouthwash to rinse your mouth after a meal, all the food remains are swashed away. A combination of mouthwash, flossing, and brushing will give a healthy oral system. Refrain from substituting mouthwash with brushing since the former works without necessarily brushing your teeth.
Generally, healthy gums start from proper personal health hygiene practices. The above-discussed measures can only be effective when you decide to practice them. Healthy oral life can greatly boost your overall health system.
