How to clean your gums and keep them healthy
To keep your smile nice and healthy, you can’t just focus on your teeth – your gums also play an important role in dental hygiene and neglecting them could lead to problems such as gum disease.
So, in the fight against mouth pain, bad breath, and more serious issues, what should you be doing? In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about cleaning your gums, from how to brush properly to foods to avoid, and more.
Why do you need to keep your gums healthy?
Even if you had the healthiest teeth in New Zealand, you could still develop gum disease by neglecting your gums. Not only can this cause bad breath, but it can also be quite painful – potentially leading to further problems with your teeth.
You may have heard the term ‘gingivitis’. This is early-stage gum disease, often resulting in a few common symptoms:
Inflamed gums that appear red in colour.
Tender gums that bleed easily.
Receding gum lines.
Left untreated, gingivitis may turn into periodontitis and then advanced periodontitis, both of which can damage the bones holding your teeth in place and lead to a lot more complications.
8 easy tips for cleaning your gums at home
1. Brush your teeth regularly
Every New Zealander from young to old should brush twice a day with a plaque-removing fluoride toothpaste.
It doesn’t matter whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush (although some people find electric brushes easier to use), so long as you use them properly. That means brushing for two minutes, using a soft-bristled brush, and trying to clean all the surfaces of your teeth, your gum line, and your tongue – which can harbour a lot of bacteria.
Using an electric brush?
Follow the instructions from the pack as the manufacturer will likely tell you how to use it.
Using a manual brush?
Here are some fast tips:
Hold your brush at a 45° angle towards the gumline as your brush.
Brush gently with short strokes – let the bristles do the work, you don’t need to scrub.
Don’t just brush the front of your teeth – brush the back, too! Right down to the gumline.
Replace your toothbrush every three or so months (basically, every new season).
Common brushing mistakes
Scrubbing too hard. Think of it as more of a massage, not a ‘scrub’.
Brushing in circular motions. It's better to brush using very small horizontal (vibrating) movements covering the gumline four to five times over.
Forgetting the gumline. Food particles can get trapped in the little gap where your teeth come out of your gums. Brushing here with that 45° angle can help remove some of the build-up.
Brushing too quickly after a meal. Food and drink can leave acids in the mouth. If you brush too soon after eating or drinking, you might help the acid erode your teeth. Wait 15-20 minutes first if you need to brush after consuming.
How to choose a toothbrush
Look for a soft-bristled brush, unless your dentist says otherwise.
Consider the size of your (or your child’s) mouth before buying. Some brush heads might be too large for you to manoeuvre around all of your teeth.
But should you go electric or manual?
Some experts recommend electric brushes for anyone:
With limited dexterity in their hands.
Who brushes too vigorously with a manual brush.
Who needs help timing two minutes (as many electric brushes have in-built timers).
However, know that electric brushes often come at an extra cost so it pays to do a little research into the price before buying. Remember you’ll be replacing brush heads every three or so months.
Need extra help cleaning your teeth? Find out what a dental hygienist can do for you.
2. Floss at least once per day
You don’t necessarily have to floss every time you brush your teeth, but you should be doing it at least once per day. This can help remove debris from between your teeth and around the gumline, and it disturbs the bacteria there to make their lives a little harder.
How to floss properly
Take about 30-45cm of floss in your hands and hold it tightly between your thumb and forefinger.
Wind some of the floss around your fingers to help you get a good grip.
Place the floss between your teeth right down to the gums.
Hugging one tooth, gently rub the floss up and down to scrape debris off the surface. Then swap to the next tooth.
Don’t forget the back of your teeth!
Note: If your gums aren’t used to being flossed, they may bleed the first few times you try it. That’s OK. Keep doing it and the bleeding should stop. Worried about the blood? Scroll down to our “When to see a dentist” section below.
3. Rinse with mouthwash at least once a day
Like flossing, rinsing with mouthwash doesn’t need to happen every time you brush your teeth, so long as you do it at least once per day. Again, this disturbs the bacteria there and can slow their growth.
Mouthwash tips
Don’t do it straight after brushing. It can wash off the fluoride from your toothpaste, reducing its effectiveness.
Use a small amount, around 15-20ml.
Swish vigorously and gargle for 30 seconds.
Don’t eat or drink right after rinsing, wait for around 30 minutes.
How to choose a mouthwash
Look for a product containing antibacterial agents and/or fluoride. If a mouthwash doesn’t contain these, it won’t be effective in killing bacteria.
On the bottle, they may use words such as anti-plaque, anti-gingivitis, antibacterial, or antimicrobial.
There are also natural alternatives, including:
Lemongrass, which was found in one study to have a “statistically significant” impact on plaque and bacteria reduction (source).
Tea tree oil. Adding up to three drops to warm water may be an effective natural alternative to over-the-counter mouthwashes (source).
Baking soda is considered a low-abrasive alternative with antiseptic properties. It also possesses some stain-removing (i.e. whitening) properties (source).
4. Be careful what you eat and drink
What you put in your mouth can have a big impact on the health of your teeth and gums. In some cases this will be negative, in others it could actually be positive.
So what foods impact your gum health?
Sugar is the main culprit behind mouth problems when it comes to food. Bacteria in the mouth love to feed on sugar, which encourages their growth and – as a result – can increase the risk of gum disease or tooth decay.
If you do consume sugar, try to rinse your mouth out with water afterwards.
Calcium may have a positive impact on your mouth. Calcium-rich products (i.e. milk, yoghurt, broccoli, oranges) can contribute to healthy bones, vital for the health of your jaw – where your teeth are embedded. Just keep an eye on how much sugar is in some of those products.
5. Try to quit smoking
We all know that smoking can have a negative impact on our lungs, but it can also affect our teeth and gums.
Smoking can weaken the body’s immune system, making it harder to fight off infections. This means that smokers are twice as at risk of getting gum disease than non-smokers, and the longer you smoke, the more you increase your risk (source).
According to the same source, treatment for gum disease may be less effective on smokers than non-smokers.
We absolutely understand that quitting smoking is easier said than done, but for the good of your health overall and the health of your mouth, it’s vitally important.
Want advice on how to quit? Visit: health.govt.nz
6. Avoid using toothpicks
Toothpicks might be a common sight around New Zealand, but they’re actually quite bad for your gums.
Using hard wooden toothpicks frequently can wear round grooves between your teeth and cause your gums to recede. This can contribute to your risk of infection.
Alternatives to toothpicks
Floss. Flossing regularly is a great way to help remove debris from between your teeth.
Interdental brush. An interdental brush looks like a tiny bottle cleaner. These can be inserted in the gaps between your teeth to help remove debris and plaque. However, they may not fit within narrow gaps.
Oral irrigator. Oral irrigators, sometimes known as Waterpiks, use pressurised steam or water to clean between teeth and are often useful for hard-to-reach places. However, they are often not as effective as floss at cleaning out debris.
7. Avoid DIY teeth scaling products
If you’ve been to your local dental hygienist before you may have experienced a teeth scaler before – that hook-like tool that can scrape or pull tartar (hardened plaque) off your teeth.
Some companies sell these kinds of tools to consumers, billing them as a great way to get that dental-quality treatment at home. However, dental hygienists are highly trained in using this equipment and there are dangers to trying them at home by yourself.
Dangers of at-home teeth scaling
The sharp point could scratch the enamel of your teeth, causing sensitivity.
You may accidentally damage your gums, making them recede.
You might push tartar further beneath your gumline rather than remove it – increasing the risk of problems such as abscesses.
The many techniques we have discussed earlier in this article are all safer for at-home use and can help you keep your mouth healthy. If you do experience a build-up of tartar, we would recommend popping in to visit us for experienced, safe help.
8. Visit your dental hygienist regularly
Your local dental hygienist can help you in a variety of ways, from scaling your teeth to polishing them up, offering teeth-whitening treatments, and keeping an eye out for problems.
So how often should you visit a dental hygienist?
At a minimum, you should consider popping in at least once or twice a year. That way we can keep your teeth and gums healthy while intervening before any problems get more severe.
If you are a smoker, have a history of gum disease, have a weaker immune system, or are pregnant, most dentists recommend coming in a little more frequently – every three months.
Learn more: “When to see a Dental Hygienist (and what to expect)”
What to do if your gums are already sore, inflamed or bleeding
In our advice above, we have assumed that you are trying to keep your gums healthy and avoid the problem of pain or inflammation. But what if it has already happened?
Here’s some fast tips.
Try a saltwater rinse. Rinsing your mouth with salt water is well-known to help heal inflamed gums, and it has some antiseptic qualities too.
Brush more gently. Brushing harshly may further irritate sensitive areas of the gums, so try to brush more gently for a while.
Drink lots of fluids. Being well-hydrated can help your body produce more saliva, which is your mouth’s natural defence against bacteria.
Check in with your dentist. If you’re worried about your gum health, it may pay to see a professional and receive a personalised treatment plan.
Learn more: Bleeding gums – symptoms, causes and treatments
What if my gums are receding?
You may notice that your gums are receding because your teeth seem longer or your gumline seems lower than usual (perhaps it is lower in some areas than others).
Receding gums happens slowly so it can be tricky to spot, but if you believe it’s happening to you then it’s vital that you visit your dentist as soon as possible.
Gums won’t grow back, so once they recede - that’s it. Serious gum recession can be treated with surgery, but usually, your dentist will likely recommend a change to your hygiene habits to prevent the problem from getting worse.
When to see a dentist about your gums
You know your mouth better than anyone. If you’ve read our advice above and you think there’s a problem, it never hurt to get it checked by a professional.
That said, we know that coming to the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing experience for many people and you won’t always know if a problem is serious enough to warrant the time and cost.
So what might warrant a trip to the dentist?
If your gums hurt or bleed for more than a week.
One or more of your teeth hurt.
Your gums bleed after flossing regularly for more than a few days.
You’re experiencing persistent bad breath.
Your jaw aches.
Your teeth feel suddenly more sensitive than they did before.
You’re pregnant (pregnancy can exacerbate some dental issues).
Need to book an appointment?
Kowhai Dental is located right in the heart of Whangarei and our friendly staff are here to help you.
Get in touch with us today to book your appointment.