Having gum problems can be a great hindrance to your life. Almost every bite that you take will hurt, and you will even suffer from occasional discomfort. If you want to deal with the pain and discomfort, you should know how to take care of your gums.
And no, plain old brushing is not enough.
Gum Care Primer: Brush and Floss
You probably know that everyone must brush and floss their teeth regularly. This advice is 100% true because constant brushing and flossing can reduce plaque buildup. But busy schedules prevent most people from flossing every day. If you’re one of these people, you need to start flossing right away.
Brushing is effective, but it’s not as effective without flossing. Think of flossing as a secondary cleaning phase that will sweep unreachable bacteria and plaque. Practically, you can use dental string flosses or water irrigators. It all depends on your priorities. String flosses are manual while water irrigators are automatic.
The technique is another important thing. If you’re only brushing specific areas of your teeth, you won’t get maximum cleaning benefits. The same thing is applicable to flossing. You need to reach all gaps – not just the ones that people see. Nowadays, it’s easy to find flossing guides that you can read or watch online!
Correct Your Nutrition Now
If you’re going to analyze it deeply, dental health is influenced by nutrition. Of course, you still need to brush, floss, and get regular dental cleaning sessions. But nutrition is the core that will make your dental health as stable as it can be. Even if you have the best dental practices, a rotten core will cause things to fall apart – especially your general health.
These are some highly nutritious foods that you can eat regularly:
- Fish, eggs, soy milk, cereals
- Oranges, kale, strawberries, cantaloupe
- Antioxidants like apples, leek, onions, garlic, and mangoes
- Cucumber, watermelon, carrots
- Milk and cheese
- Fresh yogourt
Now if you really want to improve your oral health, you must avoid processed foods. You can’t do this immediately, especially if you’re used to eating delicious hot-dogs, meaty burgers, oily fries, fat-filled smoothies, hard toffee, and tempting candies. Therefore, you must stick to a plan and keep things slow. Portion out your meals, and focus on the concept of nutrition gain without compromising your teeth enamel and gums. Try to limit parties because they’re not totally good for your teeth.
If you love bread and other pastries, you should consider setting a limit. Generally, starch is bad for your teeth because of its immediate reaction with fluids. In the long-term, bread can damage your teeth. It will rarely affect your gums, though. Still, if your teeth suffer, your gums will suffer as well.
Gums Require Gentleness
Gum problems worsen because of the way you brush, floss, or clean your teeth. If you’re rushing like a frenzied person, you will – almost always – hit your gums. There won’t be any bleeding unless your toothbrush has sharp edges, but the area might swell. Flossing can affect your gums if you’re not careful with the string. You can try water flossers or irrigators if you’re having a hard time with proper string techniques.
What if you have some painful gum sores? You can try to follow natural home remedies, as well as the advice of your dentist. Don’t neglect gum sores because they can get worse over time. Gum ulcers also tend to be common among people with low immune systems. If you’re prone to ulcers, inform your dentist right away. He/she will prescribe the right medicines.
Bottom line
Protecting your gums should be your top priority this year. If not now, then when will you take action? Just follow the pieces of advice mentioned above, and you will notice some positive changes. These changes won’t come overnight, so you have to be patient and stick to the plan.
Are you ready to have your gums checked? Waterloo Emergency Dental Centre is here to help. Contact us anytime and we’ll schedule your gum treatment appointment!