Gums are an essential part of healthy teeth. Without gum tissue, your tooth roots would be exposed to bacteria that could cause decay and infection. Gum tissue also helps keep your teeth anchored in place and provides a strong foundation for them to stay that way.
As such, maintaining healthy gums is critical for your oral health. But what is the best way to keep your gums healthy? Here’s how to maintain healthy gums for a radiant smile that’s just as healthy as it is beautiful.
Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush
One of the easiest and best ways to care for your gums is to toss your toothbrush that has stiff bristles. Toothbrushes with hard bristles can damage gum tissue, causing irritation and even gum recession. Stiff bristles can also damage tooth enamel over time, so going soft when it comes to your toothbrush is always the best option.
The American Dental Association recommends toothbrushes with soft bristles for everyone [1]. If you use an electric toothbrush, opt for a toothbrush head with softer bristles to protect your teeth and gums while cleaning them.
Floss Every Day
Flossing helps remove trapped food particles, plaque, and bacteria from between your teeth. While brushing helps clean most surfaces of your teeth and part of your gumline, your toothbrush can’t reach the surfaces of your teeth that touch, which is why flossing is so important.
However, flossing isn’t just important for your teeth. It can improve your gum health by removing plaque and bacteria that get trapped just beneath the gumline and accumulate. Flossing helps keep gums clean and prevent gum disease [2]. Unlike brushing, you only need to floss once a day to experience benefits.
Get Your Teeth Cleaned
Getting regular dental cleanings doesn’t just help your teeth stay bright and healthy—it also keeps your gum tissue healthy. Scheduling a cleaning and checkup with your dentist every six months, or as determined by you and your dentist based on your individual oral care, can help prevent gum disease [3].
These checkups also allow your dentist to identify potential signs of gum disease, such as gum irritation or inflammation, that could mean you have gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Reversing gingivitis is generally much easier than correcting full-blown gum disease, so getting your teeth cleaned is one of the best things you can do to monitor and improve your gum health.
Eat Healthily
Like your teeth and the rest of your body, your gums need nutrients to stay healthy. Some of the best foods for gums include those with vitamins C and B, those with protein for strong periodontal ligaments, and fatty acids, which may help reduce inflammation [4].
Although it has the potential to stain teeth, green tea is one of the best beverages for gum health. The antioxidants in green tea help fight inflammation, while a compound called flavonoids in the tea can help reduce plaque in the oral cavity.
How Healthy Are Your Gums?
When was the last time you had your gums evaluated by your dentist? Ensure your gums are healthy enough to support your teeth by keeping those regular dental checkups and cleanings, as well as following the above tips!
Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-
topics/toothbrushes
2. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2016/11/dont-toss-floss
3. https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-
topics/home-care
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037517/
