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Gum care is an important part of oral care in general; however, many people around the world neglect or forget about gum hygiene. Far too many people confuse “taking care of your mouth” with “taking care of your teeth.” While these two activities are connected, doing one without the other is wildly ineffective.
Why should you take care of your gums?
Your gums are the foundation that holds your teeth together. Without a strong and healthy foundation, shining white and healthy teeth can cause big problems in the long run. Gum diseases are a far more serious matter than broken or ill teeth. Gum diseases start when plaque builds up under and along the gum line. This firm-like substance is full of bacteria. Such infections can cause damage to the gum and the bone, leading to disease and even tooth decay. This earliest form of gum disease is called gingivitis. Gingivitis causes the gums to become tender, inflamed, red, swollen, and incredibly prone to bleeding. If you have experienced bleeding gums, make sure to talk to a dentist right away!
Gum diseases are usually painless; that is why it’s quite hard to detect that there is anything wrong with your gums. Unfortunately, most people find out about their gum disease when their gums start bleeding, which usually is quite deep into the process.
The latter stages of gingivitis are periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. Unlike gingivitis, these diseases directly affect the bones and fiber that support your teeth. If left untreated, the whole structure of your mouth can be affected.
Fortunately, gum disease is preventable and treatable, if caught before it reaches the stage of advanced periodontitis.
How to apply proper gum care?
Brushing
Firstly, the most important part of gum care is brushing your teeth! Dentists recommend doing this after every meal; however, we understand this is usually unrealistic as we do not carry toothbrushes and toothpaste to work. We advise you to brush every meal, but we urge you to do it at least twice a day. Brushing will help remove any food leftovers between your teeth and along your gums. Furthermore, you should scrap your tongue daily with your toothbrush to remove any lingering bacteria.
Additionally, make sure to change your toothbrush every 3-6 months or once it’s bristling start to fray. If your gums start to show any signs of disease, consult your dentist regarding your toothbrush of choice. Using a toothbrush with very firm bristles can cause further damage to your gums.
Also, the toothpaste of choice is very important. Make sure to select the brands that offer pro-gum effects. If you are not sure about which one to choose, look for the toothpaste that contains fluoride. If you are showing signs of gum disease, our recommendation is to pick two brands of pro gum toothpaste that suit you the best. Make sure to alternate between toothbrushes every six months for maximum effect.
Flossing
Flossing is an important addition to your gum care routine. In most cases, liquids can get into crevices that our toothbrushes usually can’t. During the activity of brushing our teeth, we floss them with regular water to remove the toothpaste. It’s vital to add flossing liquids into your daily gum care routine. While we cannot carry our toothpaste and toothbrush to work, carrying a flossing liquid, on the other hand, is possible! Make sure to floss after every meal, at least twice a day.
Dentist appointments
Advice
While each one of us knows their own body, it’s always best to consult a professional. Dentists can spot any gum disease and improper gum care immediately; furthermore, they can recommend a proper course of action. Dentists can also recommend the right toothbrush and toothpaste for you to use. Going to the dentist shouldn’t be only for technical work on your gum and teeth. If you are paying for that appointment, make sure to also leave with better knowledge of your own body.
Regular cleaning
Every one of us should visit the dentist’s office at least twice a year. Regular cleaning and checkups can lead to a very healthy mouth. Even if you apply all the things we are teaching you today, you still need to do these regular checkups. The appliances we use at home will never match the ones our dentists use to clean our teeth and provide gum care. Dentist equipment reaches even the most difficult places and removes teeth and tar from them, leading to having no lingering food or bacteria in our mouths.
What is gum depigmentation?
Gum depigmentation is the process of bleaching the gums in which they turn from brown and black to pink or their natural color. The laser gum depigmentation vaporizes and removes a thin top layer of the gum tissue, destroying the cells that produce melanin. The new tissue that emerges during the healing is pink instead of brown. Why are we talking about gum depigmentation? Well, we want you to have a great smile on top of having amazing oral health and gum care routine. Having a great smile is not as simple as having healthy white teeth. Brown or black patches on the gums can ruin even the most beautiful smiles.
How does gum pigmentation happen?
The most common cause is genetics. However, gum pigmentation is simply excess melanin building up in the gums and making them brown or black instead of pink. Do not worry; the extra pigment doesn’t indicate unhealthy gums or any disease. Apart from genetic factors, other causes of gum pigmentation are smoking and using certain medications.
Please note that gum de-pigmentation is not suitable for patients with oral disease, periodontal disease, patients taking blood thinners, and patients with thin gum tissue or prominent tooth roots.
Gum depigmentation does very little to affect the overall health of the gums. It’s purely a cosmetic procedure. If you wish to have healthy gums, we would advise you to follow the other tips in this post.
