As your dentist in Roseville, I spend a lot of time talking with patients about their teeth—how to keep them white, straight, and free of cavities. But I want to let you in on a professional secret: the true foundation of a lasting, healthy smile isn't just the tooth, it's the tissue that supports it.
I'm talking about your gums.
Your gums (or "gingiva") are the dedicated protectors of your teeth. They form a tight, pink seal around each tooth, shielding the sensitive roots and the underlying jawbone from bacteria. When this seal is compromised, everything is at risk.
The early stage of gum trouble, gingivitis, is reversible. But left unchecked, it can progress to periodontitis, a serious infection that destroys bone and is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. The good news? Keeping your gums healthy is straightforward. It just requires consistency.
Here are the six essential, non-negotiable tips I share with my patients for achieving and maintaining healthier gums.
1. Brush Twice Daily (The Right Way)
This is the cornerstone of all oral health. Brushing removes the primary enemy of your gums: plaque. Plaque is that soft, sticky, invisible film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. These bacteria produce toxins that irritate your gums, causing them to become red, puffy, and to bleed.
- Why: Brushing physically removes this bacterial film from the surfaces of your teeth and, most importantly, from along the gumline.
- How: "Twice daily" is the minimum, but how you brush matters most. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush (hard bristles can damage gums and enamel). Spend a full two minutes (30 seconds per quadrant). Angle the bristles at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline and use gentle, short, circular strokes. Don't scrub back and forth—think of it as gently messaging your gums, not scouring a pot.
2. Floss Daily (The "Must-Do")
I can always tell a patient who flosses from one who doesn't, and their gums tell the story. If brushing is for cleaning the outside surfaces, flossing is for cleaning the in-between surfaces. Your toothbrush bristles simply cannot reach the tight spaces between your teeth, which is exactly where gum disease most often starts.
- Why: Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth and just under the gumline, breaking up the bacterial colonies you can't see. If you skip flossing, you are leaving about 35% of your tooth surfaces uncleaned.
- How: Don't just snap the floss down. Take about 18 inches of floss and wrap it around your middle fingers. Use your index fingers or thumbs to guide a fresh section of floss between two teeth. Gently curve the floss into a "C" shape against the side of one tooth and slide it gently beneath the gumline until you feel resistance. Scrape up, away from the gum. Repeat on the adjacent tooth, and then move to the next space.
3. Maintain Regular Dental Checkups
This is where home care and professional partnership meet. Even the most diligent brushers and flossers will miss some spots, allowing plaque to harden into tartar (or calculus).
- Why: Once plaque hardens into tartar, it's like a concrete bunker for bacteria—and it cannot be removed at home with a toothbrush or floss. It can only be removed with our professional scaling instruments here at Designing Smiles. During these checkups, I also perform a comprehensive periodontal exam, measuring the "pockets" around your teeth to catch the very earliest signs of gum disease, long before you would feel or see them yourself.
- How: For most patients, a checkup and cleaning every six months is ideal. If you have a history of gum disease, we may recommend more frequent visits, such as every three or four months, to keep things stable and healthy.
4. Use a Therapeutic Mouth Rinse
A mouth rinse is a great supplement to your routine, but it is not a replacement for brushing and flossing. You can't just rinse away plaque.
- Why: A good mouth rinse can get into crevices you might have missed and can help in a few ways: reducing the bacterial load in your whole mouth, freshening breath, and delivering fluoride to strengthen enamel.
- How: Look for a "therapeutic" rinse, not just a cosmetic one. This means it has an active ingredient to fight plaque, gingivitis, or cavities. An antimicrobial rinse (like one with cetylpyridinium chloride or essential oils) can help reduce bacteria. A fluoride rinse can help prevent decay. Swish vigorously for 30-60 seconds after brushing and flossing, and avoid eating or drinking for 30 minutes afterward.
5. Eat a Balanced Diet
What you eat has a direct effect on your oral health, just as we discussed in our Thanksgiving post. A diet high in sugar and refined starches (like soda, candy, chips, and white bread) is the perfect fuel for plaque bacteria.
- Why: A "balanced diet" means one that is rich in the vitamins and minerals that support your immune system and gum tissue. Your gums are a part of your body's immune defense!
- How: Prioritize Vitamin C (found in citrus fruits, bell peppers, broccoli), which is essential for producing collagen, the protein that makes your gums strong and resilient. Also, crunchy foods like apples and carrots can be beneficial. While they don't really "clean" your teeth, chewing them stimulates saliva production, which is a good thing.
6. Stay Hydrated
This might be the most simple and most overlooked tip. Your saliva is your mouth's greatest natural defender. It neutralizes the acids from bacteria, delivers minerals to your enamel, and washes away food particles.
- Why: When you're dehydrated, your saliva production drops, leading to "dry mouth" (xerostomia). A dry mouth is the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply rapidly, dramatically increasing your risk for both cavities and gum disease.
- How: Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sipping water, especially after a meal or snack, is a great way to rinse your mouth and keep your tissues hydrated. If you experience chronic dry mouth (which can also be a side effect of many common medications), please let me know. There are specific solutions we can discuss.
Your Gums Are the Foundation
You wouldn't build a beautiful house on a shaky foundation. The same is true for your smile. You can have the whitest, straightest teeth in Roseville, but if your gums aren't healthy, your smile is at risk.
By integrating these six simple habits into your daily life, you are investing in the long-term health of your entire mouth.
If you've noticed your gums are bleeding, tender, or you're overdue for a checkup, don't wait. Call our Roseville office today. Let's work together to build that strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
Dr. Deborah Fung earned her dental degree with honors in 1992 from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. In addition to serving as a dental officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard for 12 years, she has also continued her education in many areas of dentistry, including orthodontics, endodontics (root canal therapy), implants, cosmetic dentistry, and oral surgery.
