How to Have Healthier Gums

Would you like to learn how to have healthier gums?

Keeping your gums healthy is an important aspect of taking good care of your oral health. Unfortunately, many focus on the teeth and neglect the gums, but the teeth and gums are inextricably linked, and the health of one powerfully affects the health of the other. 

Keep reading to learn the basics of how to keep your gums healthy and strong. 

Why keeping your gums healthy is so important

Why, exactly, is keeping your gums healthy so important? If you need some motivation to stay on top of your gum health, here it is.

Fresh breath

Healthy gums and teeth equal fresh breath. By the same token, having unhealthy gums can result in chronic bad breath, which is of course neither pleasant for you or anyone else.

Avoiding gum disease

A key reason for maintaining good oral health, including healthy gums, is to keep periodontal disease (gum disease) from developing. 

Avoiding tooth decay and tooth loss

Weak or infected gums can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss. 

Keeping your gums clean daily is important, to prevent food particles and other debris from being able to fester, which can contribute to eroding your tooth enamel. Your teeth are at particular risk if you develop advanced periodontitis (severe gum disease), which drastically weakens the gums and is the leading cause of loose teeth, which can lead to the teeth eventually falling out.

Overall health

Keeping your mouth healthy is vital for your overall health. Many don’t realise just how much gum health impacts the rest of your mouth and body. 

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy and clean is important, as oral health problems such as tooth infections and advanced gum disease can leads to other severe health problems, including whole body infections and heart disease. In the worst case scenario, poor oral health can be fatal.

The ideal diet for healthy gums

Poor nutrition is a key reason why many have weak and unhealthy gums. If you want strong, healthy gums, eating right is absolutely necessary. 

Here are some of the most important vitamins and nutrients your body needs to keep your gums healthy.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is found in many fruits and vegetables including broccoli, citrus fruits (oranges, lemon, limes), tomatoes, strawberries, kiwi fruits and capsicum. 

Vitamin C serves many important functions within the body, including keeping your connective tissues, including your gums, strong and in good health.

Vitamin A

Vitamin is found in oil fish, egg yolks, capsicum, carrots and pumpkin. 

Vitamin A helps keep both your teeth and gums healthy. Vitamin A deficiency is a leading cause of gum disease, so make sure you either get enough Vitamin A through your diet or take it as a supplement.

Nuts 

Nuts encourage healthy teeth and gums. They’re among the healthiest snacks you can find, as they contain no added sugar, e-numbers or other additives. They’re rich in healthy fats and other nutrients that strengthen the body’s tissues, including the gums.

Whole grains

Whole grains should be a cornerstone of any healthy diet. Not only are whole grains good for your digestive system and your immune system, they also promote gum health and help prevent gum disease.

Tea

If you are avoiding tea altogether out of fear of tea staining your teeth, this bit of information may surprise you. As it turns out, drinking both black and green tea helps prevent bad bacteria from growing in your mouth. 

Water

Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is important in and of itself, but sipping enough water throughout the day also helps flus away any food particles or debris that may otherwise fester along your gum line or between your teeth.

Keeping your gums clean is vital to gum health

Eating right is half of the work done, but the other half of the answer to keeping your gums strong and healthy lies in cleaning them right and with sufficient frequency. 

Brush properly

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes at a time. What many fail to mention is hat you should also, gently, brush your gums and tongue when you are cleaning your teeth.

You never want to be too abrasive when you brush your gums, as this could wear on them. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and use gentle, circular motions. You should also aim to floss between your teeth once a day, ideally just before brushing your teeth in the evening.

See your dentist regularly for check-ups 

Stay on top of your dental checkups. Even when nothing appears to be wrong with your teeth or oral health, you should still attend checkups every six months. 

Your dentist will able to spot any early gum disease symptoms and advice you on how to reverse and prevent gum disease or tooth decay from getting worse.

Get professional dental cleanings every six months

Getting regular dental cleanings is important if you want to really stay on top of your oral health and hygiene.

Professional dental cleaning is deep cleaning of your teeth a gums using specialised instruments and is usually performed by a dental hygienist, or by your dentist.

Frequently asked questions