“What are the best things I can do to keep my gums healthy for years to come” is probaby not the question you asked yourself after you woke up this morning. BUT, despite it not ranking high on most people’s prioity lists, gum healthy is incredibly important. The healthier your gums and teeth are, the less risk you have of getting any gum disease or tooth decay. The five primary steps of taking care of your teeth include brushing, flossing, rinsing, visiting the dentist and eating right. Begin by sticking to these and your gums and teeth with stay healthy for the rest of your life.

Brushing Your Teeth

You need to brush your teeth twice everyday and make sure that you do that after every meal too. It is important that you wait 30 seconds after eating as this is what will allow softened enamel to harden instead of getting brushed away.

Brushing gets rid of plaque which is a film of bacteria that is stuck to your teeth. When the bacteria in plaque come into contact with the food, they create acids. These acids cause cavities. Here is how to do it right.

• Move the brush in circular motion across your teeth. Use the same circular motion when you are cleaning one tooth at a time. Also, try not to press hard so that the bristles end up lying flat against the teeth.
• Use a soft toothbrush
• Always keep the toothbrush over the teeth at 45 degree angle up to your gum line.

Flossing Your Teeth

It is important that you floss at least once a day. This can get rid of plaque and food between your teeth in places where your toothbrush cannot reach. If your plaque stays there between the teeth, this can harden the tartar. Here is how to do it:

• Always take out around 18 inch strip from the floss dispenser.
• Always wind the floss around the middle finger of each hand, leaving only an inch of a section left for flossing.
• Move the floss up and down against the tooth and around the gum line. The floss is supposed to form a C shape around your tooth.
• Do not forget to floss behind the back teeth.
• In addition to the tips stated above it is important that you use an antibacterial mouth rinse to reduce bacteria that causes gum disease and plaque. If you rinse with fluoride it helps reduce decay. But the FDA does not approve of fluoride mouth rinses for kids under the age of 6, as it is possible that they may swallow the solution.

Eating Right

For good teeth, you can eat a range of foods, but it is vital that you minimize the consumption of foods with sugar and starches. Avoid eating foods like:

• Dried fruits
• Raisins
• Chips, crackers and bread sticks
• Sugary gums
• Cookies
• Cakes and pie
• Candy

On top of that, it is important that you visit the dentist at least twice a year. To maintain your healthy gum and teeth, it is important that you have regular check-ups and get professional cleanings as well. If you are in the Phoenix area, and need to schedule a dental visit, call us at 602-482-5100 or Contact Us here.