Gum Problem Basics 101
When you think about your dental health, the main focus is about avoiding cavities in your teeth. However, it is also vital that you pay very close attention to your gums also. The reason behind it is
Gum Problem Basics 101
When you think about your dental health, the main focus is about avoiding cavities in your teeth. However, it is also vital that you pay very close attention to your gums also. The reason behind it is the gums are just as important to your dental health, but also to your overall health of your body.
For example, bleeding or swollen gums may be an indicator you have gum disease. Furthermore, there can be a number of other things that could be causing your gum problems. Nonetheless, whatever causes the painful, sore gums; there are a number of steps you can take to help eliminate gum discomfort and damage.
Gums and Brushing Technique
So you are on a mission to keep your teeth clean and healthy. You probably are thinking the harder you brush the better it is. Well, I hate to break it to you, but your gums are made of sensitive, delicate tissues, so brushing hard can ruin them pretty quickly.
It doesn’t matter if you choose an electric or manual toothbrush, but you should choose one that has soft nylon bristles and blunted ends. Although, you can find brushes with hard or medium bristles, they can damage the enamel on your teeth and cause your gums to be swollen and red.
Therefore, when you brush your teeth, you should use a gentle, circular motion to massage and clean both the teeth and gums. The back-and-forth motion can irritate and damage your gums, which will make them sore and more likely to recede or bleed.
Gums and Flossing Technique
You probably heard your dentist tell you over and over how important it is to floss. You probably think you brush twice a day, so you are good. In reality, you are far from good. The toothbrush can only reach certain places and the rest of the places are where floss comes in handy. With that being said, you should make a good habit of flossing your teeth to remove the plaque located in between your teeth. This will prevent cavities from forming in between your teeth and near your gum line.
Did you know more than 75 percent of people over the age of 35 get periodontal disease? Do not let this freak you out because most of the people will only get the less severe form, known as gingivitis, but up to 15 percent of people will develop the much more serious type of gum disease, periodontitis.
This is what happens when you do not practice good oral hygiene. The bacterium starts to form in your mouth causing plaque on your teeth. This bacterium will cause yo