Ways You Can Improve Your Gum's Health Today

Gum health is a reflection of your mouth's overall health. Ignoring your gum's health can lead to irreversible damage to your gums. Even if you haven't taken the best care of your gums in the past, you can start today with these tips:

Floss Regularly

Everyone knows that brushing isn't enough to keep your gums healthy on its own. But flossing is such an essential part of maintaining your gum's health that you can't skip flossing. Flossing keeps harmful bacteria from building up between your teeth and beneath your gumline. 

Many people find flossing to be uncomfortable. If flossing with traditional string floss isn't for you, there are several alternatives you can try. 

Water picks are one of the alternatives to flossing, and a viable alternative to string floss. To use a water pick, just adjust the sensitivity of the pick and spray water between your teeth to spray plaque away. Be careful not to use too high of a pressure setting as the high water pressure can damage your gums.

Interdental brushes are another alternative to flossing. These brushes are shaped like short pipe cleaners designed to get between your teeth. There are also soft silicone-tipped interdental brushes if the bristle kind isn't for you.

No matter what type of floss works best for you, you should floss at least once daily. 

Take Control of Your Health

The rest of your body may not be your immediate focus when thinking of your gum health, but overall health plays a significant role in your gum's health. For example, health concerns such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or smoking could cause issues with blood flow to your gums. 

Reduced blood flow to your gums makes your gums more vulnerable to infection and gum disease. Reduced blood flow leads to gum recession, which is one of the primary causes of this issue.

Get Regular Dental Checkups

Unless your dentist tells you otherwise, the average person should have a dental checkup about twice yearly. These regular checkups are essential to maintain the health of your gums. Unfortunately, gum disease doesn't typically cause pain until it progresses significantly, so it's easy to miss without regular checkups. 

You need to contact your dentist if your gums are red, inflamed, or bleed when you touch them. Gum inflammation is a significant sign that your gums have gum disease and need treatment. If you want to know more, reach out to your dentist today.