What Do Healthy Gums Look Like? (Checking Your Oral Health)

Having healthy teeth and gums can play a huge role in preserving your overall oral health. However, most people focus on their teeth but fail to recognize the importance of keeping healthy gums. If you want to know what do healthy gums look like and how to get them, you’ve come to the right place.

An Overview of Gum Disease

Perhaps the most crucial yet neglected aspect among the various parts of our oral health is our gums. Our gums surround and protect our teeth which serve as our barrier against infections.

Most of the time, we do not give our gums that much attention until issues start to arise. Without proper care for your gums, an unusual build-up of plaque can take place. Plaque formation results from the development of bacteria that thrives and creates a sticky film called pockets. These pockets can progress into a much worse infection and lead to tooth decay, including gingivitis and other gum disease types.

The first stages of gum disease can cause you to be sensitive and prone to bleeding gums. Some also experience a feeling of tenderness and slight inflammation along their gum line. Luckily, gum disease is easily reversible during its early stages. However, the delayed intervention of gum disease may cause several tissues and bones to have an impaction. If left untreated, gingivitis will soon progress to its final stage, known as periodontitis. Periodontitis affects your overall oral health. Aside from gums, tissues and bones will also become infected, making it impossible to reverse.

The Importance of Gum Health

Our teeth attach to our gums, and without healthy gums, our oral health suffers. The direct connection between our oral health and overall body health can cause our system to activate its defenses. We become more sensitive about minor things we encounter, and our immune system will function weakly. In its worst case, we can develop autoimmune disorders that attack healthy cells. This situation places us at a higher risk of acquiring infections and encourages other bacteria to enter our system.

What Do Healthy Gums Look Like?

It is essential to know what healthy gums should look like to assess your gums’ current status. According to Bright Dental Group clinic, here are some characteristics of healthy gums that you can quickly confirm.

• Color

By looking at the mirror, you can immediately assess the health of your gums. Generally speaking, healthy gums appear to have a rich and pinkish color. However, the appearance of your gums varies depending on your skin color. Some come in a range of shades, from light pink to a darker tone of pink. So, if you have a darker skin tone, you can expect to have a shade darker than the rest. Nonetheless, a pinkish tone is still an indicator of healthy gums.

In contrast, gums that appear in bright red, pale white, or unnaturally black are an indication of unhealthy gums. If you happen to have an unusual gum color, it is best to have it checked by a dental professional.

• Texture

You can know your gum health by touching it using your fingers. Healthy gums have a firm sensation and fit tightly around your teeth. When you press down your fingertips on your gum line, healthy gums will not move around and feel compact.

Unhealthy gums, on the other side, appear inflamed and feel soft to the touch. You can notice how tender it can be as it pulls back away from your teeth.

• Reactivity

If you have healthy gums, you don’t experience any bleeding as you brush and floss. You will also not feel any pain or stabbing sensation when you eat or drink too hot or too cold food and beverages.

Bleeding gums is an early indication of an oral health problem. If you get bleeding gums as you floss or brush your teeth, contact an emergency dentist as early as possible.

Self-care Tips To Take Care of Your Gums

As you notice the undeniable importance of your gum health, it is essential to keep it in tip-top condition. That said, maintaining good oral hygiene does not only mean brushing and floss your teeth daily. There are a lot more than you can do to take your oral health to the next level.

• Limit your intake of colored beverages and other sweets.

A sugar-packed diet will not only affect your health but will also bring a negative impact on your overall physical appearance. Sweets contain high amounts of calories and affect your oral health.

When you eat food or drink beverages with high sugar content, the naturally-occurring bacteria in your mouth will feed on it. These microorganisms will release acid by-products that attack your teeth’ enamel and gum tissues at the end of this process.

So, it would be best if you can skip sugary substances or add limits to your intake. Besides, everything you take in excess can bring more harm than good.

• Include more vitamins into your diet.

Vitamins, particularly ascorbic acid, play a vital role in repairing, preventing, and reducing your gum tissues’ inflammation. Additionally, Vitamin C is a famous precursor for your body’s recovery and regeneration. You can also opt for food rich in Vitamin D, as it helps in boosting bone mineral density. Calcium, on the other hand, helps modulate the progression of periodontal disease and strengthen your bones.

• Have regular visits with your dentist.

The best way to maintain your oral health is to have frequent dental check-ups with your dental provider. Having your teeth and gums checked every once in a while will help you detect and treat early signs of gum problems or any oral concerns.

There are also unnoticeable problems that only your dentist can identify. If you have regular comprehensive check-ups every six months, they can catch it and quickly provide you the necessary treatments.

Final Thoughts

Proper assessment of your gums and knowing what healthy gums look like is the best way to fight off gum disease. With healthy gums, you can enjoy your pearly whites as long as possible.