There are a lot of questions about how to improve the appearance of your teeth. Whether providing advice on which foods to eat for whiter teeth, or how to prevent cracked teeth, we’ve been there to answer them all. However, there are many of you who are concerned about the aesthetics of your gums, which is of course an important part of your overall oral health. Today, we’re here with both practical and insightful tips to getting better looking gums.
5 Tips to Improving the Appearance of Your Gums
1. Oral Hygiene Best Practices
This is one of the more obvious solutions, but absolutely bears repeating given that nearly all oral health concerns (aesthetics included) come down to the fact that oral hygiene is often neglected. Daily flossing, using the right technique, along with proper brushing is your first line of defense in preventing gum disease. View our complete guide to oral hygiene, which covers how to floss without hurting your gums.
2. Eat Foods That Nourish Your Oral Microbiome
Your diet impacts the health of your tooth enamel, but also that of your gums. Your oral microbiome is the collective genomes of microorganisms that reside in the oral cavity, and have a significant impact on gum health. Your oral microbiome requires nutrients that will help prevent gum disease, including the following:
- Antioxidants
- Collagen
- Vitamin C
- Beta Carotene
- Omega-3 EPA DHA
Set a diet that provides a healthy balance of all of the above. Foods to add to your shopping cart include oily fish such as tuna or mackerel (omega-3), grass fed beef and dark green vegetables (collagen), berries and pecans (antioxidants), broccoli and peppers (Vitamin C), in addition to carrots and sweet potatoes (beta carotene). This shopping list is just the tip of the iceberg, as you can access the above nutrients with a wide variety if foods and natural health supplements.
3. Quit Smoking
There are many medical reasons to butt out a smoking habit for good, but if the appearance of your gums is important to you, then you have one more to add to the towering list. Numerous studies prove that smoking tobacco, especially in the form of cigarette smoking, is the most important environmental risk factor in periodontitis (more on this condition below) and potentially impairs the immune response, while compromising the periodontal tissue’s ability to heal after a period of disease. Without a doubt, smokers will see an improvement in the appearance of their gums when they stop smoking (all else equal).
4. Nipping Gingivitis in the Bud
Gingivitis is often the precursor to poor gum appearance and health, and when it goes unchecked it can lead to a more serious gum disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is a consequential gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. The good news, is that gingivitis gives you the warning sign you need to nip a worsening condition in the bud. Given that gingivitis is the result of poor oral hygiene, stepping up your game by flossing regularly and brushing more effectively with an antibacterial toothpaste and using an antibacterial rinse can reverse this early form of gum disease. If you suspect that you have gingivitis, it is also a good idea to also consult with a periodontist near you, before things worsen.
5. Treat Gum Recession with a Better Alternative
The biggest impediment to the aesthetics of your gums and gum line is gingival recession, a condition which exposes the roots of your teeth. Not only does this result in oral sensitivity and significant discomfort, it keeps you from smiling. Most people put off gingival recession treatment because of the fear surrounding gum grafting, an invasive oral surgical method traditionally used to treat the ailment.
You’ll be happy to know that you no longer need live with receding gums (out of this fear) thanks to an innovative new procedure known as the pinhole surgical technique, a non-invasive method which applies the use of specialized instruments to make a small hole in your gums and add collagen to stabilize the area of where they are receding. Learn more about the four big benefits of the pinhole technique, a procedure that is available to you through our clinic.
For a consultation regarding your gum health, including pinhole surgery, we encourage you to contact the Vancouver Dental Speciality Clinic today. Call us today at 604.336.0958 for a noncommittal discussion about what we can do for your gums.