Our mouths are teeming with bacteria that can prove harmful to teeth and gums if allowed to flourish unchecked. Bacteria feed on food particles in the mouth and create a sticky biofilm that clings to teeth and soft tissues. This biofilm is the foundation for plaque and eventually, tartar that builds on teeth, leading to irritation, infection, gum disease, and tooth decay.
When your gums become inflamed, it’s generally as a result of the conditions listed above. When patients neglect oral care, tartar advances, and infections set in, the gums will become irritated and inflamed as a result. What can you do to prevent or reverse this condition and care for your swollen gums? Here are a few things to try.
Adopt a Daily Cleaning Regimen
There’s a lot you can do on your own to protect and preserve the health of your gums, as well as begin to reverse any damage done. A suitable daily cleaning regimen involves brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash, ideally following every meal.
Maybe, you don’t have time. In that case at least follow your routine twice a day, especially before you go to bed. When you sleep, your bodily systems slow, and this includes saliva production that helps to rinse food and bacteria from your mouth.
In terms of your gums, it’s important not to skip flossing and rinsing. Floss gets below the gum line where the bristles of your toothbrush can’t reach, and mouthwash gets into every nook and cranny to kill harmful bacteria.
Adjust Your Diet and Habits
What you eat and how you behave can have an impact on oral health. Specifically, you’ll want to avoid processed sugars that stick to teeth and provide an ideal source of fuel for bacteria, as well as acidic foods and beverages that weaken enamel. Dairy products that strengthen teeth are a much better choice, especially cheeses that also help to reduce acid and balance the pH in your mouth.
As for bad habits to avoid, use of tobacco products tops the list. Smoking, chewing, or otherwise using tobacco can stain your teeth, dry your mouth, irritate your gums, and lead to diseases like oral cancer, which makes it one of the most dangerous activities where your oral health (and overall health) is concerned.
See Your Dentist Regularly
If your gums are inflamed, something is already wrong, and you’ll need the help of qualified professionals like those at the Russo DDS full-service general dentist office. Dental professionals can clean and examine your teeth, removing harmful tartar buildup that’s irritating your gums and checking for related issues like tooth decay and gingivitis that could exacerbate the problem.
Your dentist can also prescribe a regimen of care to help you heal your gums and avoid future problems. This professional can even recommend products and give you a primer on proper brushing and flossing, which you probably haven’t had since about the age of five, if you ever learned proper techniques. If you want to maintain good oral health, seeing a dentist regularly is of paramount importance.
