Gum health has a big impact on your overall oral health and the condition of your teeth. Likewise, the condition of your teeth can impact your gum health so it’s important to make sure you’re caring for both.
Gum problems are caused by plaque building along and under the gum line around your teeth. Plaque carries bacteria and if left for a duration, the bacteria can work its way under the gum line leading to gum disease.
Gum problems
There are a few factors that can increase your risk of gum disease. If any of these apply to you, you just need to work a bit harder to ensure you have healthy gums. These include:
- Smoking
- A family history of gum disease
- General poor health
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Not regularly brushing your teeth
The early stages of gum disease is called GINGIVITIS and is reversible. Some of the signs of gingivitis include:
- Gums that are red and/or swollen
- Gums that are tender to touch or prone to bleeding
- Teeth that feel loose or gums that are lifting away from your teeth
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Advanced gum disease is known as PERIODONTITIS and impacts the bones that holds your teeth in place. Periodontitis can result in teeth falling out and can require significant dental intervention.
How to look after your gums
1. Brush your teeth, gums and tongue
Brushing is a really important part of maintaining healthy gums because it’s the best way to regularly remove plaque. It’s really important not to brush your gums too hard. We have some really good tips to help you make sure you brush well every time, even when you find it hard to do. Our tips help you get the technique right but also find the time to do it properly. Click the button to read more.
2. floss like a boss
Flossing is also important as it helps you get to those hard to reach places. Plaque can build up at the base of your teeth along your gum line which can cause gum problems if not removed. We have some brilliant tips to help you floss in a way that works for you, especially if you find flossing tricky. Click the button to find out how to floss like a boss.
3. Visit your dentist regularly
There are many benefits to regular dental visits but with regard to healthy gums, regular visits are important for a couple of reasons. Firstly, a regular clean at the dentist can help you remove any plaque you miss. It’s common for people to have hard to reach areas or grooves in their teeth that are challenging for you to get yourself. We can get it for you.
The second reason is so we can identify any gum issues early and help you deal with them before they get worse. Having a regular check up will help ensure any problems are dealt with before they become significant, making it far more comfortable and less impactful for you. If visiting the dentist in Butler is difficult for you or causes anxiety, these tips might help.
4. Use Fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride toothpastes help tackle the bacteria that cause gum problems. It is recommended that adults use a fluoride based toothpaste to reduce the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. You don’t need to use much toothpaste, just a pea-sized amount is best.
Children under the age of 6 should be given a low fluoride toothpaste.
5. Watch what you put in your mouth
The biggest one here is SMOKING. Smoking greatly increases your risk of gum disease so it should be avoided.
You should also avoid drinking sugary drinks, especially soft drinks. As always your best drink options are water (preferably tap) and milk.
We have some easy tooth friendly snack options here if you need some tips.
6. notice the signs
You’re inspecting your own mouth on a regular basis so any signs of gingivitis should not go unnoticed. Pay attention to how your gums feel, their colour, and if you have blood in the toothpaste when you spit it out. If you spot anything of concern there are some things you can do to stop it dead in its tracks.
- Wherever you notice any issues, brush a little more (be sure to be gentle with your gums) or more regularly in that spot.
- If it’s between your teeth you can floss more regularly (after each meal) but make sure you do not do it harder or you can injure your gums.
- Using mouthwash every now and again can reduce the amount of bacteria lingering in your mouth.
- Book a check up with us if you’re concerned. We would be happy to help make sure it doesn’t get worse and give you personalised tips we can to help you keep on top of it.
we're here to help
Our mission is to help you with your oral care so you don’t need advanced dental intervention. Gum disease can be problematic if you don’t maintain healthy gums and our mission is to make sure you know how to care for your own mouth.
There are many factors that can impact gum health so we make sure we get to know our patients so they’re getting care that’s perfect for them. Our ultimate goal is to make sure the residents of Butler, Jindalee, Alkimos, Ridgewood, Merriwa, Quinns Rocks, and surrounds, get fantastic personalised dental care that focuses on the health of the whole mouth. Come and meet us to discuss your needs.