5 New Year’s Tips from Your Periodontist in Savannah

It’s a new year, which means one thing to many people: New Year’s Resolutions. What do you want to be better in 2017? Your health? Your appearance? Why not improve both by taking better care of your gums? When it comes to your oral health, your gums are just as important as your teeth. They protect your teeth’s sensitive roots while also providing important support. Plus, gum disease has been strongly linked to much more serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia, so taking care of them is an easy way to protect yourself. These 5 tips from your periodontist in Savannah, Dr. Kimberly Turner, can go a long way in keeping both you and your gums healthy for 2017.   

1. Better Brushing

Sure, you clean your teeth every day, but are you doing it the best possible way? Many people only brush once a day, but ideally you should brush in the morning and at night. How about your gums? When was the last time you thought about them? Like we just mentioned, they’re just as important as your teeth. This year, while you’re brushing, be sure to clean your teeth where they meet your gums, and you’ll be helping your smile tremendously.

2. Watch the Sugary Drinks

Gum disease is caused, in part, by sugar. More specifically, the naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth consumes leftover sugar and turns it into acidic plaque that can break down your gum tissue. Drinks high in sugar like sodas, juices, and energy drinks speed up this process. You don’t need to give them up entirely, just limit your consumption to help protect your gums.

3. Drink More Water

This will help you with #2. Whenever you’re thirsty, you should try and just drink water. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it will also give your gums a nice rinse, removing excess sugar and food particles. It’s practically the next best thing to brushing, so give yourself a quick rinse during the day after meals.

4. Stop Using Tobacco

Both smoking and smokeless tobacco can wreak havoc on your gums. It can cause the blood vessels in your gums to become constricted, which can leave you vulnerable to gum disease, which is actually one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Do whatever you can to limit your use of tobacco, and you’ll start to see dramatic changes in a short amount of time.

5. Come See Us!

If you start experiencing the symptoms of gum disease, such as swelling, redness, recession, or pus-filled pockets along the gum line, you should come see us immediately. We’ll be able to quickly treat you with a variety of methods that can repair your gums and help prevent infections in the future. We can also restore your missing teeth by placing dental implants, or get you treatment fast if you find yourself in a dental emergency. Basically, we’re there to give you that extra bit of care that you can’t get with your home routine.

Want To Know More?

Make this the year that you finally start taking care of your gums, and we promise that you’ll see a dramatic improvement in both the health and appearance of your smile.

If you’d like to know more handy every day tips you can use this year, please give us a call today.