How You Can Keep your Gums Perfectly Pink

When people think about their oral health, they generally look at the state of their teeth. However, the gums are an equally important part of protecting your oral health, if not more so.

The soft tissue in your mouth forms a foundation for the teeth, so keeping them in good condition is paramount. Here are a few tips to help you do that effectively.

Cut Back on Tobacco Use

Smoking, vaping, and other kinds of nicotine use can all have serious deleterious effects on the quality of your gums. Tobacco use weakens the immune system and cuts off blood flow to the mouth, both of which make it much harder to fight off gum disease. Moreover, once your gums have been damaged, tobacco can make it a little bit difficult for those wounds to heal.

For all of these reasons, one of the best things you can do for your gum health is to cut back on your tobacco use, or to quit entirely.

Floss Daily

No matter how rigorous you are with your brushing, there are naturally going to be plaque deposits in places that you aren’t going to be able to reach with a toothbrush. Some of the most prominent will occur between your teeth, and if left unchecked these bacterial deposits will begin to contribute to gum disease.

This is why flossing is so important. It will allow you to break up the development of plaque between your teeth, improving your overall gum health.

See Your Dentist For Cleanings

Even still, there are places in your mouth that you aren’t going to be able to reach with just brushing and flossing on its own. The part of the teeth just under the gum ridge and far at the back of your mouth can both be difficult to get to with your hands, which is why you will need to see a professional occasionally if you want to properly stop the development of bacteria.

Your dentist will be able to use specialized tools to reach places in your mouth that you can’t and can check the health of your gums to ensure that further treatment isn’t necessary.

Gum health is important and maintaining it doesn’t have to be difficult. Incorporate these good habits into your routine and you should be able to enjoy pink, healthy gums for the rest of your life!

About the Author

Dr. Mahima Gupta loves dentistry for its unique combination of art and science, and the fact that it allows her to make a real difference in the lives of her patients. Her passion for her work is apparent in everything she does, so even if you’re just getting your gums cleaned, you can expect a level of care you’ll struggle to find anywhere else. Dr. Gupta received her dental degree from the New York University College of Dentistry and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

If you have any questions about gum disease therapy, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (469) 729-7707.