Gum Care Month is coming up in September, so we at American Dental think this is the perfect time to remind you that caring for your gums is crucial to overall wellness. When your gums aren’t healthy, they can act as an entry point for harmful microorganisms, potentially causing inflammation and infections in other parts of the body. Patients with gum disease are more likely to develop serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, respiratory ailments, and more.
One of the best things you can do to take care of your gums is to floss regularly, brush twice daily, use mouthwash, and schedule a dental checkup every 6 months. Here’s more about flossing and its benefits to your gum health.
Flossing and Gum Health
It may not be pleasant to think about, but your mouth is home to millions of bacteria and fungi that are part of your natural mouth biome. These microorganisms are generally not harmful on their own, but some do produce harmful byproducts that can damage your teeth and gums. Your mouth can also be exposed to harmful foreign bacteria and viruses that can make you sick.
In addition, when the microorganisms in your mouth die, they turn into a sticky biofilm known as plaque. When plaque becomes calcified from minerals in your saliva, it turns into a hard substance called calculus that can irritate the gums and cause them to recede. This condition is known as gingivitis, and it’s the first stage of gum disease.
As such, managing the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms in your mouth is important.
One way to keep your mouth biome in check is to brush twice every day. This will reduce the number of microorganisms in your mouth to the point where they can perform their intended functions without causing you any harm. Unfortunately, brushing can miss a lot of microorganisms in hard-to-reach places like along the gumline and between the teeth. If you want to keep those areas clean, flossing is a great way to do it.
Flossing between the teeth will remove plaque, reduce the size of bacterial and fungal colonies that live between your teeth, and it will also remove bits of food that can allow them to reproduce more rapidly. Couple this with mouthwash, oil pulling, or both, and you can be certain your mouth biome is being managed properly. Flossing can get in between the teeth and into the area between the tooth roots and gums, where bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause issues elsewhere in the body.
General Dentistry in Chicago, IL
While flossing every day will certainly reduce the formation of plaque and calculus in the areas between the teeth and gums, you still need to get a dental checkup every 6 months if you want to maintain a healthy smile. A dentist’s tools can remove hard calculus that floss can’t dislodge, and your dentist can also examine your teeth and gums to let you know if you have any issues.
Contact American Dental if you need a dentist in Lincoln Square or anywhere else in the Chicago area. We have 8 locations to serve you, so visit our contact page, find the clinic that is most convenient for you, and call or request an appointment online today!