What gets you gums more healthy besides brushing well????

Question

My gums r red and i brush pretty good but what can get me an extra boost???

Answer 1

Our teeth and gums are of great importance from a beauty point of view. After all, we show them off to some extent every time that we smile or speak. But we all too often neglect these irreplaceable assets, to our own detriment.

GUM DISEASE

For healthy teeth it is essential to have healthy gums. In developed countries, more teeth are lost through gum disease than through tooth decay. The process begins with some injury to the gum - probably caused by the build-up of plaque. The gum becomes loose and pockets form in which bacteria multiply. Infection follows, making the gum soft and spongy. The tooth is no longer firmly secured and becomes loose. Finally the gum recedes still further and the tooth, which may be perfectly healthy, becomes so loose that it has to be removed.

The great enemy of healthy teeth and gums is plaque, a film that forms upon the teeth and that is made up of bacteria and soft ' material formed from saliva and bacteria. The worst offenders when it comes to causing plaque are sweet, starchy foods, drinks sweetened with sugar and sweet snacks between meals. The plaque starts off as a soft, sticky substance, but it gradually becomes rock hard due to the deposition of calcium. It forms a nutritious medium for bacteria, which damages the enamel, so encouraging tooth decay. Plaque also irritates and erodes the gums. Gingivitis, a very common condition that causes the gums to swell, redden and bleed, is typically caused by a build-up of plaque. If untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, an advanced infection of the gums that can cause teeth to loosen and eventually fall out.

The first step towards keeping teeth healthy is therefore to discourage plaque. Cutting down on sweet foods and drinks helps. The more of these there are in your diet, the more important it is to brush the teeth thoroughly and frequently - preferably every time you eat one of the offending foods, but at least each morning and evening. Toothpaste is not necessary - it just makes brushing more pleasant. A cheap and effective toothpowder that you can make up at home is a mixture of two parts of sodium bicarbonate to one part table salt. Dental floss can help get rid of stubborn food particles between teeth and thus also discourages plaque formation.

BUYING A TOOTHBRUSH

Take care when buying a toothbrush. Nylon is preferable to bristle as bristle splits and loses its shape quickly. Choose a brush with a small head that is easy to manoeuvre around the teeth, and one with a straight rather than a serrated edge as it will be less likely to scratch your gums. Above all, a toothbrush should be soft - a hard spiky one may just irritate your gums. Change your toothbrush every couple of months whenever it shows signs of wear and tear and begins to look somewhat ragged. When you brush your teeth, avoid a vigorous seesawing movement backwards and forwards or from side to side as this can damage the gums. A circular scrubbing technique is effective. You should brush your teeth for around five minutes - the duration of a song on the radio.

DENTAL CHECK-UPS

Regular dental check-ups are an important aspect of any tooth and gum maintenance programme. Two check-ups a year are suggested for adults, three a year for children. Pregnant women should take extra care to visit the dentist as their gums tend to suffer during pregnancy, becoming soft and swollen.

FLUORIDE

The use of toothpaste containing fluoride has been shown to reduce tooth decay among children. Tests have also shown that similar toothpastes cut down tooth decay among adults. It has also been proved that traces of fluoride in the diet make the teeth resist decay. It's possible to have fluoride painted directly onto the teeth by your dentist during your six monthly check-up. Fluoride tablets are available from pharmacies for those who don't have access to fluoridated water.

FRESH BREATH

As long as you are eating and drinking regularly, brush your teeth frequently and do not dry your mouth out by breathing through it for any length of time, there's no need to take any other measures to ensure fresh breath. In normal circumstances, mouth washes aren't necessary. However, activities such as smoking and eating garlic can cause bad breath. If you have persistent bad breath, visit your dentist to find out why. The usual causes of bad breath (halitosis) are: not eating or drinking regularly, bad teeth, infected gums, mouth ulcers, smoking and alcohol.

SUPPLEMENTATION AND DIET

Take at least 500mg of vitamin C daily and eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to keep your gums in tip top condition. Zinc, vitamin A and vitamin B6 help maintain a healthy epithelium in the mouth. Zinc also plays a healing role in fighting infections. Calcium forms part of the structure of the teeth, so go for calcium-rich foods such as low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY

We'd all love an even row. of gleaming white teeth - and with modern dentistry, this is now possible for those who can afford it. Dentists can correct most dental problems, and those that they can't correct, they can disguise.

Whitening: Teeth can be discoloured by tea, smoking, coffee, juice, soda, nerve damage or an excess of fluoride during tooth development. Tooth whitening can be done professionally or you can use a toothpaste that is specifically formulated to whiten your teeth. However, dentists have expressed concern about the safety and efficacy of over-the-counter tooth bleaching products and don't recommend them. These are products that "bleach" the teeth - products that tend to find favour with smokers, whose teeth become yellow from nicotine. On the other hand, while whitening toothpastes are safe, they work only on superficial stains. Your dentist will be able to descale your teeth and give them a good polish, which makes your teeth look whiter.

Caps, crowns and bridges: A broken, ugly or malpositioned tooth can be given a new appearance by capping or crowning. This is usually done by filing away the tooth to form a "peg" on which the cap is cemented. Caps and crowns are made of a variety of materials. The most modern ones are made of very strong porcelains and plastic and can be perfectly matched to the rest of your teeth. A bridge consists of a clear plastic plate that has been moulded to fit over the hard palate. It may fill one gap or many.

Repositioning teeth: The use of wires, braces and elastic bands can work miracles for crooked teeth, gradually manipulating teeth into position over a period of months. In the case of a poor bite, surgery may be required.

A LAST WORD

In days of old, dentists were very quick to remove troublesome teeth. Today's modern dentistry allows almost any tooth to be rescued - at a cost. But if you take good care of your teeth and gums, they certainly will take care of you!

Answer 2

Bleeding gums would be something related to your diet (it happens alot in pregnant women cause the baby is drawing vitamins from their body/marrow) For the topical I'd swish a gargle amount of peroxide in between your teeth for a couple of minutes (I do, and it helps to whiten teeth) But you should likely call or consult your regular Dr. and see if perhaps you need to start taking vitamins or a change in your diet to include some foods that your body may be lacking (folic acid) to help healthy gums.

Answer 3

Flossing and a water pick. They are about $35 and if you use it every night (takes about 5 mins) you will notice your gums getting a lot healthier.

Answer 4

Flossing. It'll probably suck for a while if they are kind of weak, but flossing regularly makes them strong. Maybe see a dentist if they are really red?

Answer 5

Flossing!

Answer 6

Rinse your mouth and gargle with equal parts warm salt water, mouthwash, and hydrogen peroxide.

Answer 7

floss, regular visits to the dentist.