6 Easy Ways to Maintain Healthy Gums

The health of your mouth isn’t only measured by how white or straight your teeth are. Your gums are also extremely important to your health. Even if you have a perfect set of pearly whites, you’re still not immune to gum disease. This bacterial infection can weaken the structures holding your teeth in place, causing them to loosen or even fall out! To avoid these complications, it’s important to prevent gum disease at all costs. Fortunately, it’s not that difficult. Here are six easy tips for healthy gums.

1. Floss Daily

Flossing is the only way to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth. Since high plaque buildup increases your risk of gum disease, you’re going to want to floss at least once a day. It doesn’t matter what time of day you floss, but many people like to do it before bed right before or after they brush their teeth.

2. Attend Regular Dental Checkups and Cleanings

In its early stages, gum disease doesn’t typically display any symptoms. By getting your mouth examined every six months by a dentist in Love Field, gum disease can be spotted and treated before it does serious damage.

Dental cleanings are the only way to get rid of tartar, which is plaque that has hardened. Removing tartar drastically decreases the number of bacteria in your mouth, lowering your risk of infection.

3. Quit Smoking

Researchers has shown that people who smoke (or chew) tobacco are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop gum disease. Not only that, but smoking weakens your immune system and impairs healing.

4. Brush Twice a Day

Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal, but in most cases, brushing every morning and night is enough to prevent plaque from accumulating. Be sure to brush your tongue too since it can also harbor bacteria.

5. Use Fluoride Toothpaste

Toothpastes with fluoride are the best for promoting healthy gums. Additionally, fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel, making it less likely that you’ll develop cavities.

6. Rinse with an Antibacterial Mouthwash

Mouthwash can help remove food particles and plaque in areas of your mouth that your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. Look for a mouthwash with the ADA (American Dental Association) Seal of Approval, which means that it has been deemed safe and effective at reducing plaque.

Achieving healthy gums is pretty straightforward if you follow these tips. For more advice on avoiding gum disease, it never hurts to ask your dentist!

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, our team of general dentists and dental specialists believes in treating every patient like family. With 11 locations around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, we’re more than happy to meet all of your smile needs wherever is more convenient for you and your family. If you’d like to learn more about how to keep your gums healthy, visit our website.