The ABCs of Preventing Swollen Gums

Swollen gums are considered the first sign of trouble when it comes to overall oral health. There are few diseases affecting the mouth that don’t start off with swollen gums! It’s somewhat surprising, swollen gums are also one of the most commonly overlooked and ignored symptoms. There is hardly anyone who will visit the dentist simply because his gums are swollen. Instead, many will wait until their gums are discolored, bleeding or painful. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to avoid the problems swollen gums indicate and maybe even prevent swollen gums altogether.

Prevention Tip #1: Always make and keep your dentist appointments six months apart.

It is extremely important the dentist gets a good look at your mouth twice a year. Not only will this greatly increase the overall health of your gums and teeth, but it will also preserve your beautiful smile for decades to come. In addition, you are far less likely to have bad breath (a malady that secretly worries many folks when they find themselves in close quarters with others) if you see your dentist twice a year.

Prevention Tip #2: Be diligent about your oral hygiene at home.

It’s easy to skip brushing and flossing “just once”. But, staying on track is vital. If you skip flossing one time, chances are you’ll skip it more than once. Good oral health depends on your diligence to brush, floss and rinse your mouth. Twice a day is the prescribed minimum for these activities. However, dentists will not be upset if you decide to engage in oral hygiene tasks more often. After meals and between snacks is a great time to brush (in addition to after waking and before bed).

Prevention Tip #3: Carefully consider the oral hygiene products you are using.

Commercial mouthwashes may be heavily advertised. However, they are a known irritant that causes dry mouth. Thus, these rinses actually increase the bacteria in your mouth rather than decreasing them. The same is true for some of the chemical additives put into toothpaste. Although you may have a fresh feeling in your mouth after using the paste, the chemicals may do more harm than good when they contribute to an irritation of the gums that might actually cause them to swell up. For example, is your tooth whitening agent causing swollen gums or is your mouthwash too harsh? If you use natural products, you’ll never need to worry about questions like this.

Remember:

Always keep your regularly scheduled dentist appointments. Be diligent in performing oral hygiene tasks. Consider carefully your choices for oral hygiene tools.