According to statistics from the American Dental Association, only 52.3 percent of Americans visit the dentist every six months. Visiting your dentist regularly is a key step in maintaining healthy gums.
While you may be well aware of what it takes to keep your teeth clean and healthy, you may not be aware of how to keep your gums in the same condition.
If you are concerned about keeping your gums healthy, thankfully there are many things you can do. Here are some of the best ways to ensure that your gums remain healthy.
1. Massage Your Gums
Massaging your gums is a very effective way to help keep them healthy. Massaging your gums increases blood circulation and also helps to remove food particles. You can massage your gums by using your fingers or you can buy a toothbrush that is specifically designed to massage gums.
When you start massaging your gums regularly, especially with your fingers you are more likely to find any problems that may be developing in your teeth and gums.
2. Try a Therapeutic Mouthwash
Therapeutic mouthwashes are great for keeping both teeth and gums healthy and they are available over the counter. Therapeutic mouthwashes help to reduce gingivitis and prevent tartar buildup.
Mouthwash should be used in conjunction with a fluoride toothpaste. Any mouthwash you use should have the ADA seal of approval, so it is important that you read the label.
3. Eat the Right Foods
You probably already know all the foods you need to avoid to prevent damage to your teeth and gums. However, there are foods that help to keep gums healthy. These foods clean teeth and massage gums naturally.
Here is a short list of some of the foods you should eat:
- celery
- carrots
- apples
If you must eat sugary food then brush your teeth and use mouthwash immediately after. Remember too that starchy foods require the same treatment since they break down into sugars and can cause gum diseases, over time.
4. Regular Cleanings are Important for Healthy Gums
There is no denying that a dental cleaning can be uncomfortable and it can leave your gums feeling a bit sore. However, the pros far outweigh the cons, so don’t shy away from visiting your dentist to get it done.
Regular cleaning ensures that plaque is removed before it has a chance to build up and start affecting both teeth and gums in a negative way. Once you have gotten your cleaning done practice flossing at least once a day so that you can maintain the health of your teeth and gums.
Final Thoughts
Maintaining healthy gums is important if you want to enjoy a beautiful smile. Now that you know how to go about taking care of your gums you should make sure that you heed the advice as much as possible.
Try to massage your gums on a regular basis and if you notice anything unusual visit your dentist immediately. The sooner you identify problems and have them addressed the more likely it is that you will enjoy healthy gums.
If you would like professional dental help, please contact us.