Elmhurst Dentist Gives Simple Tips For Helping To Protect Your Gum Tissue

Written by Dr. Scharfenberg on Nov 1, 2016

Your gum tissue is the foundation of your smile. In order to enjoy a healthy and attractive smile for years to come, you need to care for your oral tissues as well as your teeth.

Today our Elmhurst dentists are sharing some simple steps that you can take to prioritize oral health every day; let’s get started!

One of the main things that you can do in order to support your gum tissue is to empower your body to produce plenty of saliva. Chronic dry mouth greatly increases a person’s risk of suffering from periodontal disease. Make sure that you’re drinking enough water throughout the day, and rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking something other than water.

If you do get something caught in your smile during the day, please use gentle floss to remove the dental debris. Metal and wooden toothpicks are common causes of gum tissue damage—they can cause abrasions in your gum which then become infected with harmful oral bacteria.

Here a surprising cause of gum damage: your toothbrush! Specifically, using the wrong type of toothbrush. There are so many different toothbrushes available on the market today—if you take a look at the packaging you’ll notice that different toothbrushes have different types of bristles. Most people should actually be using toothbrushes with soft bristles. Using a medium or hard-bristled brush can cause your gums to thin and recede.

Finally, do your best to minimize the amount of time that your gums are exposed to acidic foods and drinks. This is a situation in which it can help to rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking.

Our Elmhurst dentists are here to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums. Feel free to give us a call if you would like to learn more about at-home dental care, or if you want to schedule a consultation with our dental team!