5 Ways to Protect Your Gums and Potentially Save Your Teeth

Typically, a healthy mouth is associated with healthy teeth. But if you don’t factor your gums into the oral hygiene equation, your oral health will suffer.

When you allow plaque to build up in your mouth, it accumulates along and underneath your gum line. That’s when gum disease can occur. Mild gum disease (gingivitis) isn’t typically a huge cause for concern, since it usually only leads to slight gum irritation, which we can easily reverse.  

But severe gum disease (periodontitis) can do irreversible damage to your gums, as the bacteria in plaque break down gum tissue and cause it to pull away from your teeth. Pockets of infected pus can form, and if it’s not treated, the damage can become severe enough to lead to tooth loss. 

At Avalon Dental in San Ramon, California, our general dentistry team, led by Dr. Cliff Broschinsky, is passionate about the difference that taking care of your gums can make in protecting your oral health and the longevity of your smile. 

In this month’s blog, we discuss some practical ways you can care for your gums and protect your teeth along the way.

Floss every day

Flossing removes plaque and food particles that even a thorough brushing can leave behind. You don’t need to floss more than once a day, and the time you choose to do it doesn’t change the effectiveness, so feel free to floss in the morning, after lunch, or before bedtime. 

Don’t skip mouthwash

Using a therapeutic mouthwash every day as a supplement to your brushing and flossing habits helps protect your oral health by:

• Eliminating bacteria, plaque, and food particles 
• Preventing gum disease
• Reducing how fast tartar can build up

Buy an over-the-counter therapeutic mouthwash that has an approval stamp from the American Dental Association. 

Be mindful of what you eat

What you eat (and don’t eat) matters. Being mindful about including foods that boost oral health and eliminating foods that damage oral health is essential. 

Focus on eating:

• High-fiber foods that can clean your mouth (think fruits and vegetables)
• Black and green teas to reduce bacteria count
• Dairy products such as milk and yogurt to increase saliva 
• Food and beverages with fluoride to protect your teeth and gums, such as water, coffee, grapes, spinach, and some seafood

Avoid eating sticky and starchy foods and drinking sugary beverages, since they may get stuck in your teeth and gums and erode their structures. 

Drop unhealthy habits

Smoking makes you susceptible to gum disease because it weakens your immune system. You’re not only more prone to develop infections and disease, but smoking also makes it more difficult for your gums to heal after they’ve been damaged. 

It’s best to avoid heavy alcohol use, too, since it can dry out your mouth, which heightens your risk for gum disease. 

Get regular dental checkups and cleanings

During a yearly dental cleaning, we can remove tartar and plaque that you aren’t able to get without professional-strength dental substances and tools. We can also look for signs of early gum disease, so it doesn’t progress and lead to oral health problems. 

To schedule a dental checkup and cleaning, call our office or use our online booking feature today.