Would you like to learn how to strengthen gums?
Keeping your gums vital, healthy and strong is key to taking care of your oral and overall health. Even people who take great care of their teeth tend to neglect their gums or take their health for granted.
The truth is that gums are foundational to a healthy mouth, and to healthy teeth. If you gums become weakened or affected by disease, not only your gum health but also your teeth are at risk. Weak gums can lead to some seriously unpleasant health problems, including receding gums and tooth loss.
If you would like to learn more about what you can do strengthen your gums and ensure their health in the long run, keep reading.
Top 3 reasons to keep your gums healthy
It is always easier to stay on track with any task or chore when you know the reason why you are doing it. Here are three hard-hitting reasons why you should focus on keeping your gums healthy and strong.
Prevent chronic bad breath
Strong gums are healthy gums. Weak gums are unhealthy, and are a prone to having bacteria growing along the gum line, usually as a result of food particles that have gotten stuck there and not been removed.
Plaque buildup can have a foul smell, which manifests as bad breath.
Keeping your gums healthy, strong and clean saves you and everyone around you from having to deal with your bad breath.
Prevent gum disease
Gum disease is a real risk of neglecting your oral health and specifically your gums.
Gum disease starts out as a very mild condition, manifesting itself as irritation and inflammation of your gum tissue. Gum disease, in and of itself, weakens and erodes the gum, sometimes to such an extend that tooth roots become exposed and even uprooted.
Prevent tooth decay, loose teeth and tooth loss
If left untreated, gum disease only gets worse. Untreated gum disease can progress from destroying the gums to destroying the bone and tissue that supports the teeth, until they eventually become loose or fall out.
Needless to say, if your gums are inflamed with bacteria, this also puts your teeth at an increased risk of infection.
Habits that will help you strengthen your gums
It is clear why you should make strong and healthy gums a priority, but what are the steps to getting there?
If you want to improve your gum health it is important to understand that there isn’t one single thing you can do once and then see incredible results overnight.
Keeping your gums health is a matter of taking care of both your oral health and your overall immune system so that both can support both you and your teeth in the long run. There are no shortcuts, only daily habits that stack up over time to give you the strong gums and good health you desire.
Practice good oral hygiene
Practicing good oral hygiene is foundational if you want to improve gum health.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day, and flossing once. You should brush for approximately two minutes in total each time. Make sure you use a fluoride toothpaste and preferably a soft-bristled electric toothbrush. Move the brush in short strokes and circular motions to remove plaque and dissolve food particles. Never skip your toothbrushing if you are at all able to help it.
Consume a healthy diet
What you eat has a tremendous impact on every aspect of your health, including your gums.
Getting the right nutrients and vitamins in sufficient amounts is vital to maintaining gum strength and elasticity. Gums are connective tissues, so any food source or supplement that supports and strengthens connective tissues are great for gum health. Up your intake of foods that contain Vitamin C, Vitamin D, calcium, zinc and copper.
Quit smoking
Smoking weakens the gums and lowers your overall immune system, so if you are a smoker one of the best things you can do to strengthen and keep your gums healthy is to quit the habit.
Unfortunately, chewing tobacco products are nearly as detrimental. You can, however, chew sugar free chewing gum if you need something to replace the cigarettes and the habit of doing something with your mouth.
Get regular dental cleanings and dental checkups
There are some dental and oral issues that only a dentist or professional dental hygienist can help you with.
If you are suffering from gum disease right now, don’t wait and hope it will disappear on its own. You may be able to bring it under control yourself, but it is better not to risk your teeth.
Regardless of whether or not you are experiencing any current oral health problems or concerns, you should attend dental check-ups regularly. It is also a great idea to book professional cleaning of your teeth every six months. A dental hygienist will be able to remove tartar and plaque from your gums and from between your teeth that you didn’t even know was there.
Frequently asked questions
Can weak gums be strengthened?
Yes.
If you don’t take good care of your gums, they can quickly weaken and start showing early signs of gum disease. However, if you put effort into caring for your gums, you can also quickly strengthen them and improve their overall condition.
Can you rebuild gum strength?
Yes, you’re able to rebuild gum strength and vitality. Keep in mind that it has probably taken years for your gums to weaken as a result of poor diet, poor oral hygiene and other detrimental habits such as smoking, so you cannot expect to be able to reverse gingivitis and restore your health to a perfect condition overnight.
What you can do, however, is to stack small positive habits and changes until you begin to really see and feel their effect. Start by brushing your teeth and gums properly and thoroughly twice a day every day, using a therapeutic mouthwash, and making improvements to your diet.
You may not sense any immediate effects, but after a just a few weeks and certainly after a few months, your gums will have improved and become much stronger, simply as a result of you taking proper care of them.
Can gums be improved?
Absolutely. No matter what state your gums are currently in, you’ll be able to improve their health and overall condition.
What you need to do to improve and strengthen your gums depends on the condition your gums are currently in. If your gums are in a really poor condition, the first step you need to take is to get them treated by a dentist or oral hygienist. If you are suffering from periodontal disease (gum disease), this will have to be addressed first.
Once your gums are no longer irritated an inflamed, the next step is to keep them clean and healthy. Taking basic care of your gum health involves brushing and cleaning your teeth and gums twice a day using a fluoridated toothpaste, a soft-bristled electric brush and gentle pressure.
Once you have gotten these basics under your control, you can dig in even deeper by changing your diet to consciously strengthen your gums and improve your overall oral health. Start by ditching negative habits that are detrimental to your gum health: Stop smoking or chewing tobacco, limit your intake of sticky and sugary foods, and replace these negative habits with a healthy diet.