A lot of people focus on having perfectly straight and incredibly white teeth just to make their smiles look stellar. Many are forgetting the importance of having healthy gums. If your gums are not in tip-top condition, your pearly whites are in grave danger — tooth decay and tooth loss are definitely smile-wreckers!
Gum disease is something that you should prevent from happening if you cannot live a day without flashing your smile. According to dental experts, gum disease strikes when plaque — a film-like gooey substance that harbors bacteria — collect along the gum line as well as under it. Eventually, it can infect not only the gums, but also the bones.
Plaque can also cause gingivitis, an oral issue that causes your gums to become swollen, red and tender, and prone to bleeding, too. Although reversible, gingivitis can worsen and progress into the so-called periodontitis. Basically an advanced form of gingivitis, periodontitis can cause you to say bye-bye to a perfect smile.
Definitely, taking good care of your gums is a must if you want a beautiful and long-lasting smile. Below you will find some of the habits that can leave your gums in shambles:
Brushing Off the Importance of Brushing
Forgetting to brush is a definite no-no if you care about your smile. Without brushing your teeth on a regular basis, bacteria can collect in your mouth and attack your gums. Twice a day, devote a little of your time to brushing your choppers. Don’t forget to clean your tongue, too, because it’s where those bacteria love to thrive!
Choosing the Wrong Toothbrush
The use of a toothbrush with hard bristles can damage your gums as well as your teeth. It’s for this reason why you should opt for a toothbrush whose bristles are soft. Also, don’t brush aside the importance of regularly changing your toothbrush. Do so every 3 to 4 months or when the bristles have already spread out.
Forgetting to Floss on a Regular Basis
Brushing your teeth alone is not enough to have your mouth thoroughly cleaned as it can fail to get rid of food particles and bacteria in those tight spaces between your pearly whites. Flossing is something that can eliminate those smile saboteurs that brushing your teeth cannot. But refrain from flossing too hard as to leave your gums bleeding!
Badmouthing the Use of Antiseptic Mouthwash
Since the goal is to eliminate as much of those gum-disease causing bacteria as possible, it’s also a wonderful idea to regularly rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash. Doing such helps eliminate bacteria on the tongue and even on your palate which is often skipped when brushing. Gargle very well for healthy gums and fresh-smelling breath!
Saying “No” to Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
Do you hate fruits and vegetables? If you want to make your smile as perfect as possible, don’t! Munching on the likes of apples, pears, celery and carrots from time to time is good for your gums — it gives your gums a great massage, plus the fiber and water they contain help neutralize acidity in your mouth and remove debris in the process.
Saying “Yes” to Lots of Sugary Treats
Aside from being bad for your overall health and figure, the regular consumption of sugary foods can definitely put your gums in shambles. Bacteria love sugar — the more sugar you eat, the greater your chances of having gum problems. So keep your consumption of sugary treats to a minimum, and don’t forget to brush your teeth after!
Constantly Declining a Trip to the Dental Office
The key to keeping your gums problem-free is by detecting gum disease in its early stage so that it may be prevented from spreading and worsening, until such time that it’s already irreversible. Such can be attained only by visiting a dentist at least once per 6 months. Regular trips to the dental clinic can help you keep a winsome smile for life.
Source: eblogfa.com
