How to Improve Your Gum Health in 5 Minutes

Much of the information that is out there regarding dental care is often discussing the health of the teeth, but most people don’t seem to realize the health of their gums is just as important. While your gums are not what people comment about when they talk about how bright your smile looks, those gums play a vital role in keeping that smile look bright.

By ignoring the health of your gums, you are just inviting significant problems in days to come. The good news is that it will only take a you a few minutes a day to make sure your gums are just as healthy as your teeth.

If you were asked what the leading loss of teeth was in adults, what would you guess? Would you be surprised to know it is actually gum disease? While tooth decay causes noticeable pain, gum problems often go undetected for months because there is usually very little pain involved until the late stages of an infection.

How Does Gum Disease Happen?

In most cases, problems that arise in the gums are a direct result of not properly brushing and/or flossing, When plaque builds up because brushing and/or flossing are not taking place, your gums, along with your teeth, pay the price. Now, because there is usually no pain associated with gum disease, you need to be on the lookout for signs of gum problems:

·Bleeding gums

·Consistently bad breath that does not go away

·Loose teeth

·Receding gums

·Red gums

·Swollen gums

If these problems are allowed to continue unchecked, you can develop a periodontal pocket, which can result in the bone loss, which of course leads to tooth loss.

How to Improve Your Gum Health

Rather than rushing through your nightly brushing, we want you to take a few extra minutes to make sure it is done right and those gums are just as healthy as your teeth.

The Angle – when brushing your teeth, the toothbrush should be held at a 45-degree angle directed towards the gum line.

Short Brush Strokes – you should be using short, gentle strokes to brush both the front and back of your teeth. The strokes should go up the gum line to help remove food particles that are just up under the gum line.

The Tip of the Brush – the most effective way to brush the top and bottom of your teeth is to use the tip of the brush. It is much smaller, so it will be able to fit better in those tighter spaces.

Brushing Your Tongue – it is just as important to brush the tongue as it is your teeth. You can also use a tongue scraper to do this.

Water Flossing – a water flosser will make flossing significantly easier. These devices also have massage settings, which are a bit gentler than flossing, but still aid in keeping your gums healthy.

Extra Dental Visits – you should be going to your dentist at least two times a year for checkups, more often if you are having problems or as you get older.

If you would like to save as much as 20 percent of those dental visits, consider signing up for our New Hampshire discount dental plan. We offer individual, family, and small business plans. For more information, please click here.