How to Care for Gums & Teeth

Annual visits to the dentist are a vital part of staying healthy. With proper dental care, gum diseases and tooth problems can be properly diagnosed and treated before the problem becomes much more serious---even life-threatening. Ignoring simple dental problems can leave you vulnerable to bone diseases or infections that spread throughout the body, causing serious illnesses or even death.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• dentist
• toothbrush
• fluoride tooth paste
• dental floss

Visit a Dentist Yearly

1. 

   Visit your dentist once a year for a complete examination of the mouth and X-rays of your teeth. The X-rays will reveal tooth decay and the mouth examination can reveal the beginnings of mouth or tongue cancer.

2. Make a three-month or six-month appointment with the hygienist for having the teeth cleaned and scaled to remove tarter around the gum line. If tarter is allowed to remain on the teeth, it will eventually result in tooth decay and possible loss of the tooth.

3. 
   Just a dab

   Brush your teeth twice a day, morning and night. Not removing the plaque buildup and food particles left between the teeth will eventually cause bad breath, gum disease and cavities. Buy a new toothbrush every three months to minimize the amount of bacteria from the old brush that are left in your mouth after you brush.

4. 
   Dental floss

   Floss teeth after meals if possible or at the least before going to bed. Flossing is important for maintaining proper dental health and to remove food and plaque from between the teeth that brushing could not reach. Using a Water Pik can harden the gums and eliminate gum disease as well.

5. 
   Periodontal Disease

   Check your gums for any change of color. Healthy gums are pink. Gums that bleed when brushing might indicate impending gum disease. Rinse with warm water mixed with a little hydrogen peroxide for a few days. If they still bleed or get worse, make an appointment with your dentist immediately. Bleeding gums might be the start of gingivitis---a gum disease that can turn into periodontal disease and result in tooth loss.

Tips & Warnings

• A small toothbrush makes it easier to brush near the gum line.
• Do not neglect any type of pain or annoyance in your mouth. There are many forms of mouth and gum disease, and all require immediate attention.

References

• Oral Health and Gum Care
• Dental Care Healthy Gums
• Periodontal and Gingivitis Disease

Resources

• Teeth

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