How To Keep Your Gums Healthy

Although frequently overlooked, your gums plays an essential role in helping to keep your whole smile healthy. When damaged through dental trauma or compromised from gum disease, patients might find themselves experiencing oral discomfort and becoming vulnerable to numerous potential dental problems.

Taking those consequences into consideration, Dr. Eric Baum and his staff at Stony Brook Family Dentistry in Suffolk County aim to educate their patients on how important it is to care for every part of your smile.

For long-term gum health, you should consider getting the following steps integrated into your home oral hygiene regimen.

Brush Your Teeth Two Times Per Day

Brushing daily not only cleans your teeth, but your gums as well. When you brush your teeth after getting up in the morning and before going to bed, patients can reduce how much bacteria is along your gum line and on your teeth. That prevents plaque from accumulating on your teeth which takes place all day along. Our dental team in Suffolk County also recommends that you brush after meals – when you do this that removes leftover food from promoting growth of bacteria and patients are left with fresh smiles.

Floss Once Per Day At Least and Following Meals

Whenever you are cleaning your teeth, it is very important to be comprehensive and also thorough. Since over 40% of the surface area of your teeth is within the spaces in between your teeth, flossing on a regular basis is an essential part of proactive oral and gum care.

For maximum results, waxed string should be used and the floss should be gently guided into the spaces in between your teeth. Instead of a sawing motion being used, you should pull your floss to form a c-shape around your teeth and then scrub gently. Repeat the process around each of your teeth, including the ones at the end of your arch – plaque and food may become trapped in between the soft tissue and last teeth.

Use a Rubber Pick

Although most patients are aware that they need to brush and floss their teeth every day, not many know how important it is to incorporate using a dental pick as part of their regular regimen. Similar to the pick that your dentist uses during regular check-ups and cleanings, this type of dental instrument can be used for cleaning the spaces in between your teeth and gum line, which is an area that floss and toothbrushes often miss. The benefit to using a rubber dental pic is, since the tip is made out of rubber instead of metal, it is safe to use the instrument regularly, which helps you maintain a clean smile in between your dental visits. You can find at-home dental picks online and most drug stores.

Rinse Using An ADA-Approved Mouthwash

Once your daily hygiene regimen is complete, it is very important to finish off using an anti-septic mouthwash. There are many different kinds that are available based on what your individual needs are and can be found at a local drugstore. To help improve your gum healthy, you should select an anti-gingivitis or anti-plaque option in order to help flush gum disease-causing bacteria away.

Maintain a Healthy Diet and Stay Hydrated

In addition to practicing proactive dental care, the diet that you follow plays a critical role in your smile’s long-term health. For this reason, Dr. Baum recommends that sugar intake be limited by patients, and that unhealthy sodas and sweets be substituted with water and fresh produce. Incorporating crunchy, hard snacks can help to “scrub” your teeth, by removing bacteria. Water helps with washing bacteria and leftover food away without introducing any sugars or acids to your smile.

To Learn More Visit Stony Brook Family Dentistry Today

To maintain a healthy smile now and into the future begins with developing healthy at-hoe habits along with having regular visits twice per year at our dental office in Suffolk County. To learn more about what treatment options are available to you, give us a call to get your next examination and cleaning scheduled.