6 Highly-Effective Ways to Keep Your Gums Healthy

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One of the best ways to maintain an attractive smile is to keep your gums healthy. You can easily keep your gums healthy by adding preventive dentistry in Beaumont, TX to your healthcare routine. Talk with your dentist about what preventive dentistry can do for you. But first, let’s talk about the different things you can do to keep your gums healthy.

Six Ways to Keep Your Gums Healthy

Here are six ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy for years to come.

1. Floss and Brush Twice Daily

Floss your teeth at least once a day and brush your teeth two times each day using a soft-bristle toothbrush. Additionally, you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if needed.

2. Brush Your Teeth Properly

Gently press your toothbrush on your teeth. Then brush your teeth by using short vertical strokes on each tooth. Brush your teeth at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Ask your dentist in Beaumont, TX to demonstrate the best way to brush your teeth properly.

3. Choose the Right Toothpaste

It’s best to choose a toothpaste that has fluoride and the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval.

4. Use the Right Type and Size of Toothbrush

Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles. Your toothbrush should also have a small brush head design so you can get to those hard-to-reach places.

5. Use Therapeutic Mouthwash

There are two types of mouthwash which are therapeutic and cosmetic. Therapeutic mouthwash will help keep your teeth and gums healthy, reduce the speed of tartar build-up, reduce plaque, and remove food particles from your mouth. But remember…using mouthwash isn’t a replacement for brushing and flossing.

Just like your toothpaste, your mouthwash should also carry the ADA seal of approval. Additionally, the ADA doesn’t recommend using mouthwash for children under six years of age.

6. Get Regular Dental Cleanings

Have your dentist clean your teeth every six months. Your dentist will remove plaque and tartar build-up from your teeth to help keep your gums healthy.

What’s Next?

If you need a dentist in Beaumont, TX, please Contact Southern Oaks Dental Care today. We offer a variety of preventive dentistry treatments designed to keep your gums healthy so you can have a beautiful smile for years to come.

How Excess Drinking Affects Oral Health

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Excessive alcohol consumption has serious harmful consequences for your oral health. If you have an issue with excessive drinking, you will likely also develop oral health issues. Alcohol can have adverse effects on your teeth, gums, and tongue. Be sure to consult with your Beaumont, TX dentist for help with any of the conditions noted below.

Dryness

Heavy alcohol consumption causes a decrease in saliva production, which limits the ability to clean the mouth with its antibacterial properties. Saliva helps in washing away any sugar, bacteria, or plaque, which helps keep the mouth healthy. Consuming alcohol excessively causes the mouth to dry, making it a fertile ground for the bacteria to thrive while increasing the chances of an infection.

Dental Erosion

Heavy alcohol consumers tend to have increased teeth degradation. The continued use of alcohol over a prolonged duration causes the oral cavity and the teeth to be acidic. This causes the surface of the enamel to dissolve, which increases the vulnerability of the teeth to damage from actions such as clenching and brushing.

Gum Disease (Periodontitis)

Excessive consumption of alcohol is linked to gum disease, also known as periodontitis. This disease is caused by the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which feed on the sugars from the consumed alcohol. The bacteria causes irritation, bad breath, swelling and bleeding. In its advanced stages, periodontitis can result in tooth loss and loose gum tissue. Heavy drinking is also known to influence the microbiome of the mouth, which could lead to gingivitis. Alcohol causes reduced salivary excretion, increasing the risk of getting gingival disease and dental caries.

Tongue Inflammation (Glossitis)

Heavy drinking is associated with inflammation of the tongue and gingiva or inflammation of the mouth corner, also referred to as angular cheilitis. The initial signs of this condition are characterized by a tongue that is smooth and painful. In its advanced stages, the tongue develops a burning sensation leading it to develop a deep red coloring. As the condition progresses, you will also experience painful cracks at the mouth’s corners.

In order to take care of your dental hygiene, it is essential to reduce alcohol intake and maintain proper dental care. Contact your dentist in Beaumont, TX for more information about your oral health.

dentist with patient

Everything You Should Know About Dark Spots Around Your Gumline

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While doing your usual routine with a toothbrush and floss, you spot an area around your gumline that looks darker than what it should be. Dark spots around your gum line can be a good reason to talk to your dentist, especially if those spots remain after you brush. Here is a look at what you should know about dark spots around your gumline.

You could have problems with gum disease.

If the darkened colors you see are specifically your gums, there can be a list of problems taking place, but most of them are going to be related to some form of gum disease. Gingivitis is a telltale cause of darkened gum tissue, for example, because it can have an effect on blood flow to the gums. Smoking or infection or two causes of darkened gums that may or may not be related to gum disease.

You have to watch for decay at the gumline.

Decay that starts at the gumline is actually a really common thing, especially around the bases of teeth that don’t get the most attention while you brush. For example, the backside of your front teeth or the molars in the back can develop gumline decay. Decay commonly starts out as small darkened areas on your teeth, and this can happen right where the gums attach to the teeth because these spots are missed while brushing.

You should see your dentist right away.

Regardless of what it is, that is causing dark spots around your gumline, it is imperative that you speak to a dentist right away. These small issues can grow into something more worrisome. Even though this is not a dental emergency, it is something that your dentist should see, diagnose, and treat.

Contact Us for a Dental Checkup in Beaumont, TX

Any time you spot something odd around your gumline that can’t be removed with regular brushing and flossing, it is best if you talk to your dentist. Something that looks minor could be something more concerning. If you would like to see a dentist for a checkup, reach out to us at Southern Oaks Dental Care in Beaumont, TX to schedule an appointment.

Recognizing Gingivitis

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Gingivitis is the non-destructive form of periodontal disease; however, left untreated, gingivitis can progress to the more serious form of the disease, periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to tooth loss. For this reason, recognizing and seeking treatment for gingivitis is crucial.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis

Inflammation is probably the most noticeable sign of gingivitis; however, this swelling often leads to a variety of other symptoms.

The signs and symptoms of gingivitis include:

  • Soft gums that bleed while brushing and/or flossing.
  • Consistent bad breath.
  • Bright red gums.
  • Gums that are tender or painful when touched.
  • Purple-looking gums.
  • Gums that are pulling away from the teeth (i.e., receding).
  • Shiny gums.

What Causes Gingivitis?

Gingivitis frequently occurs due to the buildup of a sticky, bacteria-filled biofilm called plaque. This biofilm accumulates on, between and around the teeth, triggering an immune response, which results in inflammation of the gingival tissue (i.e., gingiva or gums).

What Creates the Plaque?

The plaque is created by colonizing bacteria. Unless removed through the use of proper oral hygiene techniques, the bacteria start binding to the plaque that has settled on the teeth. If the plaque is not removed adequately within 24 to 72 hours of its development, it hardens into tartar (i.e., calculus). Tartar can only be removed by a dental professional.

Treating Gingivitis

During a traditional cleaning, or with a more extensive cleaning process known as scaling, plaque and tartar are removed. Since certain dental problems can contribute to poor oral hygiene, your Southern Oaks Dentist may recommend procedures to fix damaged or crooked teeth. In addition, your dentist may want to address dental appliances that are not fitting correctly. Besides aggravating the gum tissue, these badly fitting dental appliances can make it difficult for you to remove plaque from the areas where they sit.

Gingivitis typically resolves after the individual visits the dentist for a cleaning, addresses any other issues that may have contributed to the development of gingivitis (e.g., damaged teeth, ill-fitting dental appliances, etc.) and begins practicing a better daily oral hygiene regimen. For example, brushing longer and more frequently (at least twice a day) with an electronic toothbrush, flossing regularly, and using an antiseptic mouthwash have all been effective solutions for gingivitis.

If you notice that your gums are red and puffy, and they bleed easily when you brush or floss, you need to make an appointment with a dentist at Southern Oaks Dental Care right away because you may have gingivitis.