How To Clean Below Gum Line

Even if you are brushing your teeth three times every day, you might be neglecting your gums. Find out how to clean gums the right way, and to keep healthy gums.

how to clean gums

Marilyn Monroe once said , "A smile is the best makeup a girl could wear."

It's true up to a point. A healthy, beautiful smile looks good on anyone.

What's unfortunate though is that 57% of Americans feel insecure about their teeth. They smile with their mouths closed or try to cover their mouths when they laugh.

Now, if you can relate, the good news is you can do something about your smile. In fact, you can start right this minute. Here, we'll talk about how to clean gums, plus important tips for preventing gum disease.

Taking Care of Your Gums: The Basics

The things you do to keep your teeth clean and free from cavities also help keep your gums healthy. These include brushing at least twice a day, having your teeth professionally cleaned once every six months, and flossing. Your dentist may recommend this to ensure your best dental health.

Remember, plaque doesn't just build up on your teeth. It can also build up along and under your gum line.

As you know, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that destroy your enamel and cause cavities. They also cause infections and lead to red swollen gums, tender and prone to bleeding. In advanced gum disease (periodontitis), dental plaque is able to destroy gum tissues and the bones that hold your teeth in place.

If you have gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease, you'll need to step up your brushing and flossing game. You also need to visit a dentist that can treat gingivitis. Also, make sure to visit your dentist on a regular basis for checkups and cleaning.

How to Clean Gums: Brushing Tips

Brushing and flossing can help in reducing plaque, Can prevent and treat gum disease, and can even reverse gingivitis. Although brushing and flossing can help prevent these oral health problems, you have to make sure you're doing these home remedies right.

With brushing, you have to choose the right toothbrush. You can use a regular toothbrush or an electric one. Whatever you choose though, it has to have soft bristles that can bend and get right under your gum (gumline).

How long you brush is also important. Don't rush when you're brushing. Use your phone or an egg timer and set it for two minutes.

You also don't want to forget brushing your tongue. Bacteria doesn't just hang out in your gums and teeth, They're also there on your tongue.

To effectively reduce bacteria, remember TGT when brushing. That means teeth, gumline, and tongue.

What About Flossing?

You don't get healthy gums with just brushing. You have to floss, too, and you have to get the technique right.

If you're using regular string floss, use a gentle sawing motion to glide it between the teeth. The angle is also important. You want to get a "c" shape so that the floss hugs the tooth.

As you slide the floss up and down the tooth's surface, make sure that it goes a bit below your gum line. When you're done, repeat the whole thing, angling the floss in the opposite direction.

Can You Use a Water Flosser?

Water flossing or water picking uses a special machine that directs a pressurized stream of water into the mouth and gums. This helps remove food particles lodged between the teeth and also massage the gums.

For those who have braces or bridges, a water flosser is easier to use than regular string floss. But it can be expensive and requires space for storage.

It's also not as portable as traditional floss. And most dentists don't consider it as an alternative to using standard dental floss. If you have a water flosser though, consider using it as a supplement to regular flossing.

Other Ways to Prevent Gum Disease

Preventing gum disease has a lot to do with your brushing and flossing habits. But no matter how diligent you are about these two things, you could still get gum disease if you smoke or have dry mouth.

Why You Should Quit Smoking

Smoking weakens your immune system, which makes it harder for your body to fight off a gum infection and harmful bacteria. And even if you go to a dentist for gum damage, treatments wouldn't be as effective.

Now, if you're thinking of cutting back on your cigarette use, it's not going to help much. As long as you smoke, you increase your risk of getting periodontal disease. The best thing to do is to quit smoking altogether.

Why You Should Get Help If You Have Dry Mouth

The problem with dry mouth, or xerostomia, is you're not producing enough saliva, which washes away food particles and neutralizes the acids produced by bacterial plaque. A dentist can advise you on how to improve saliva flow or recommend a product that works as a saliva substitute.

You can also consult your doctor. If you think the medications you're taking are causing your dry mouth, your doctor can switch you to another drug or adjust your dosage. In case, that doesn't work, your doctor may prescribe an oral rinse or a medication that increases saliva production.

Beyond Having a Beautiful Smile

Preventing tooth loss isn't the only reason to take care of your gums. You need to be serious about gum health because healthy gums equal a healthy mind and body.

Gum Disease and Cognitive Decline

One study shows that people who have had periodontitis for more than a decade are 70% more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. There's also another study that links raised dementia risk to severe gum disease by up to 6%.

Gum Disease and Heart Problems

Though people who have healthy gums could also have heart disease, those who do have periodontal disease double or triple their risk of having a heart attack or stroke if left untreated

Gum Disease and Diabetes

The link between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways. People with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease. And those with severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar.

Wrapping Up

Knowing how to clean gums is an important part of a good oral hygiene routine. So remember to brush and floss on a regular basis and know the things that could increase your risk of getting gum disease (i.e. smoking and dry mouth).

For more information on keeping your teeth and gums healthy, don't forget to check out our blog. You may also contact us if you want to schedule an appointment with the best dentist in Green Bay.