The most common phrases heard in health care of any sorts is that ‘health starts at home’ and ‘prevention is better than cure’. Is it true for your teeth and gums too? Can we nip gum issues in the bud before coming to the dentist? And if so then what are the measures that can be taken at home to better your gum health and to prevent excessive dental bills. Read along –
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Maintaining a proper oral hygiene -
Your teeth and gums are at the dentist for maybe only an hour or so. But for the rest of the time, you carry, and are responsible for them. Starting with the basic oral hygiene steps like proper brushing twice a day, not letting any food get stuck in the grooves of your teeth, and between the teeth and the gums for a long time and keeping a check for your teeth. These steps can 1. Stop cavities from progressing and 2. Stop debris and food from forming into tartar/plaque. -
Flossing -
Flossing is a great way to get rid of extra debris lining the teeth. Debris is what hardens and forms plaque or tartar. This in turn results in a lot of gum infections, bleeding gums, yellowish teeth and more. Flossing is the only way you can reach all the areas of your teeth. But be sure to push the debris away from the gums. -
Avoiding harsh dental hygiene practices -
Harsh brushing with too much force can irritate your gums and result in gum swelling or bleeding. It can also recede the gum line. Using sharp objects like toothpicks or needles to remove stuck food can cause trauma to your gums. Heavily concentrated mouthwashes and rough toothpastes also harm the gums. These practices can increase the risk of gum infection as the gum tissue will be vulnerable to more bacteria. -
Salt water gargle -
Half a spoon of salt mixed in lukewarm water can act as a mild antibacterial and cleaning agent. This can get rid of bad breath due to unhygienic gums and debris. Professional mouthwashes like Listerine diluted in water can also be effective. -
Coconut oil pulling -
This is an ancient method to stop bacteria from damaging your teeth and gums. Take a small spoonful of coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth. Make it touch all the surfaces of your teeth and spit it out. It has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect. -
Nutrition-
Proper nutrition is important to strengthen your gums and protect ulcers from forming. Foods rich in iron, vitamin C, zinc and folate prevent ulcers. Avoiding excessively spicy and fried foods is also helpful to protect your gums. If at all you have any ulcer formation, plain yogurt or curd can help ease the burn.
But, it is to be duly noted that once the bleeding gums, recession of gum line and/or dental pain crosses a certain threshold, no home remedy will be able to cure it. You need an expert eye to look into it and close the issue once and for all. So don’t waste any more time at home and book your expert consultation now.
