While the teeth usually get all the credit for a beautiful smile, the gums also play several important roles in keeping your grin lovely and healthy. While almost everyone in America brushes their teeth with some frequency, far fewer people floss regularly. This is unfortunate since healthy gums are essential to your oral health and failing to floss can lead to a wide variety of nasty oral infections. Here’s a brief guide to why you should carefully clean your gums on a daily basis.
What Happens if I Don’t Clean My Gums?
Neglecting to properly clean your gums can lead to a range of oral health issues such as:
- Gingivitis: This early stage of gum disease is characterized by bleeding and inflammation, but it can usually be reversed by improving your oral hygiene. However, it will progress to periodontitis if it is left untreated.
- Periodontitis: This advanced stage of gum disease causes permanent damage such as gum recession, bone erosion, and tooth loss, and it requires regular periodontal therapy to manage.
- Dental abscess: These painful infections are characterized by small fluid-filled bumps that form in the gums beneath an afflicted tooth, and they often require root canals or tooth extractions to resolve.
- Bad breath: Accumulations of plaque and food debris are known to smell terrible. While bad breath isn’t necessarily an oral health crisis, it can still be quite inconvenient in social situations.
How Should I Clean My Gums?
Flossing is every bit as important to maintaining your oral health as brushing, and it’s an easy habit to stick with once you get into it. Begin by cutting about eighteen inches of floss from the package and holding an inch or two taut between your hands. Then, gently slide the floss between two teeth and work it up and down and side to side against either edge. Carefully withdraw the floss, move to an unused section of it, and treat the next pair of teeth in your grin. Do this until your whole smile has been cleaned in this way.
It’s also a great idea to rinse with antibacterial mouthwash regularly to eliminate harmful oral bacteria and keep your breath minty and fresh. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best ways to keep your gums happy and healthy.
About the Practice
Rocky Mountain Periodontal Specialists protects the gums of the people of Colorado Springs. Led by Drs. Geoff and Tyler Haradon and Karl Lackler, the staff treats each patient with the utmost courtesy and sincere compassion. Areas of expertise include surgical and non-surgical periodontal therapy, dental implants, and sedation dentistry. If you are concerned about gum disease, contact the office online or dial (719) 574-4867.