Happy Gums, Happy Teeth: How to Keep Your Teeth In the Top Shape

Maintaining clean teeth is essential for oral hygiene, and having healthy gums ensures that the teeth are happy. You must do everything in your power to keep your dental health in the optimum state.

Teeth are basically supported by the gums. If gums are affected, it is obvious that the teeth will also suffer.

Not taking proper care of your gums can lead to swollen and bleeding gums and various other ailments. 1 out of every 2 Americans above the age of 30 suffers from some form of gum disease. Gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis are one of the biggest concerns in the dental field.

So how can you care for your gums and ensure that they are healthy and painless?

It’s quite easy. Here are a few ways to ensure that you have healthy mouth and gum!:

Clean your mouth well

Use floss for those parts of your mouth and teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach to remove the plaque. Go for dental cleanings at least once in 6 months. In dental cleanings, the dentist removes the tartar build-up in your gum line and hence helps prevent diseases.
In case you suspect that you might have a gum disease, immediately visit a dentist for deep cleaning of your teeth. This involves removing plaque deposits even the at the root level.

Quit habits like smoking

No, smoking doesn’t just cause cancer – it wreaks havoc to your dental health too. In addition to numerous other adverse health effects, smoking also weakens the immune system, which will make it difficult for the body to fight off gum diseases.

Eat foods that help your gums

Leafy green vegetables, milk and milk products like cheese, yogurt can do wonders for your gum health. Raw onions are a major weapon in the fight against gum diseases. They wipe out bacterial strains that may cause gum diseases.

Why are Healthy Gums Essential?

Gums not only hold your teeth in place, they protect the underlying bones of your teeth from bacteria.

The gum disease, periodontitis, characterized by inflamed gums, is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults. Due to inflammation, the soft gum tissues which hold the teeth in place may loosen, and hence cause teeth to fall out.

In other cases, with loose gums, bacteria will find an opening to attack and destroy the bone structures below the teeth.

Often rough brushing and gum diseases cause the gums to shrink back. In this case, the dentin of the teeth is exposed. The dentin is responsible for relaying temperature and pressure sensations to the nerves. Exposure of the dentin may amplify these sensations and lead to tooth sensitivity.

Remember, the health of gums and teeth are interconnected. Brushing and cleaning your teeth properly will ensure healthy gums, while on the other hand, taking good care of your gums will ensure that you don’t lose your natural teeth.