Tips for Keeping Your Gums Healthy

Tips for Keeping Your Gums Healthy

Dental health isn't just limited to your teeth. During your checkups at Linden Dental in Naples, Florida, Dr. Maria Linden and Dr. Richard Linden also check your gums for any problems that may have developed. To keep your gums healthy in between your visits, follow these steps that your Naples dentist recommends.

Brushing

Although it's best known as a toothbrush, this important dental hygiene tool also cleans your gums as well. For best results, your Naples dentist reminds patients to make sure they're not cleaning too forcefully. Gently scrubbing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste will stimulate your gum tissue without irritating it. The act of brushing will remove plaque from the surface of your teeth and the gums surrounding them.

Flossing

A lot of people aren't diligent about flossing their teeth. However, this often-forgotten aspect of dental care is what removes trapped food particles from the places that toothbrushes can't reach. Left undisturbed, these tiny pieces of food attract bacteria, which interacts with the food to turn it into acidic plaque that leads to decay and gum disease. Flossing every day interrupts this process. Some find that the plastic flossing picks are easier and more convenient to use, making it more likely that they'll floss regularly. Keep a supply of them in your car, your purse, your desk - wherever you think you'll make use of them.

Rinsing

As a finishing touch to your daily dental hygiene routine, you can incorporate a non-alcoholic mouthwash in a flavor you like to your oral care routine. While mouthwash alone is not a substitute for brushing or flossing, it helps to flush those stray food particles out of your mouth and attacks the bacteria that may still remain.

For more information on how you can enhance your at-home dental care, contact Linden Dental in Naples, Florida at (239) 593-0777 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Linden or Dr. Maria Linden.