{"id":323,"date":"2020-10-03T21:55:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-03T21:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/?p=323"},"modified":"2020-11-03T21:55:49","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T21:55:49","slug":"dentist-in-temple-gives-six-easy-ways-to-keep-your-gums-healthy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/dentist-in-temple-gives-six-easy-ways-to-keep-your-gums-healthy\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Easy Ways to Keep Your Gums Healthy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/flossing-woman-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"young woman smiling while flossing \" class=\"wp-image-324\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/flossing-woman-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/flossing-woman-1024x684.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/flossing-woman-768x513.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/flossing-woman-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/flossing-woman-2048x1367.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to your oral health, it\u2019s not just about how straight or bright your teeth are. Your gums are actually just as important. Even if you hardly ever get cavities, that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re impervious to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/periodontal-disease-therapy.html\">gum disease<\/a>. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to pain, swelling, and even tooth loss. Fortunately, this condition is entirely preventable. A dentist in Temple offers these six simple tips for maintaining healthy gums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Floss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Flossing at least once a day can remove plaque that your toothbrush can\u2019t reach, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). It doesn\u2019t matter whether you floss in the morning, after lunch, or right before bed, just as long as you do it at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get Routine Dental Cleanings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dentist can detect early signs of gum disease before you even notice that anything is wrong. During the cleaning, a hygienist removes built-up plaque and tartar that contribute to gum infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stop Smoking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Research has suggested that people who smoke are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to develop gum disease. Plus, smoking slows healing and impairs your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off and heal from gum disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brush Twice a Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brushing removes food debris and plaque that may be lingering on your teeth. In addition to brushing the front, back, and chewing surface of each tooth, you should scrub your tongue as well. The tongue can harbor bacteria and deposit them onto your teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Fluoridated Toothpaste<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, strengthens your tooth enamel and makes it more difficult to bacteria to damage your smile. Whatever flavor of toothpaste you choose, look for the ADA Seal of Approval on it. That means the ADA has determined it contains enough fluoride to benefit your oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rinse with Mouthwash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though rinsing with mouthwash is not an adequate substitute for brushing and flossing, it can remove food particles and bacteria in parts of your mouth that your toothbrush and floss cannot access. Many mouthwashes are specifically designed to fight gum disease by reducing plaque. Again, make sure it has the ADA Seal of Approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping your smile healthy and bright involves caring for more than just your teeth. Luckily, maintaining healthy gums isn\u2019t hard as long as you stick to these tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Richard Fossum is a dentist in Temple, TX who studied dentistry at the University of Texas in Austin and graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston in 1995. He is an active member of several professional organizations, such as the ADA, the Texas Dental Association, the Central Texas Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. For more information on preventing gum disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/contact.html\">contact<\/a> Dr. Fossum\u2019s office at 254-778-3900.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to your oral health, it\u2019s not just about how straight or bright your teeth are. Your gums are actually just as important. Even if you hardly ever get cavities, that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re impervious to gum disease. Left untreated, gum disease can lead to pain, swelling, and even tooth loss. Fortunately, this [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dentist in Temple | Prevent Gum Disease | Dr. Richard Fossum<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Keeping your teeth healthy means preventing gum disease. A dentist in Temple offers these six simple tips for maintaining a healthy smile.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.richardfossumdds.com\/blog\/dentist-in-temple-gives-six-easy-ways-to-keep-your-gums-healthy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dentist in Temple | Prevent Gum Disease | Dr. Richard Fossum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Keeping your teeth healthy means preventing gum disease. 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