Did you know that water also has plenty of oral health benefits? The simple act of drinking water helps keep our teeth and gums healthy. It's a simple and powerful step that makes a significant difference.
Staying Hydrated Prevents Gingivitis
Dry gums tend to swell and recede away from your teeth. They also collect plaque bacteria that cause gingivitis. As long as you drink lots of water, your gums will stay hydrated, clean and comfortable.
Drinking cold water can help relieve pain and swelling in your mouth. It can also help reduce inflammation in your gums.
But many do not consider their oral health when it comes to exercise, a well-balanced diet, and dehydration. In fact, dehydration is among the leading risk factors for gum disease and tooth decay.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
By flossing regularly for three to ten days, your body will adapt to the irritation and the gum tissue will begin to toughen. After roughly a week, your gums should stop bleeding. If they continue to bleed even after you've been flossing for a while, consult your dentist for any potential gum problems you may have.
Regular rinsing of the mouth with therapeutic mouthwash is an excellent means of strengthening the gums. Daily use of rinse aid helps prevent the appearance of plaque on the teeth and in the dentogingival pockets. Rinsing also protects the oral cavity from bacteria.
In most cases, your gum tissue will not come back once you've lost it. It's gone for good. However, this doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. With the right periodontal treatment, you may be able to halt the progression of gum recession.
Good Oral Hygiene Habits
One of the most important things you can do to avoid further gum recession is to brush and floss your teeth twice daily. If your gums have receded due to aggressive brushing, be mindful of the force you are applying while brushing and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Rinsing with Saltwater
Research proves a saltwater rinse containing 0.9 percent to 1.8 percent sodium chloride helps heal the gums. In addition, disinfectant properties are present in salt, helping kill harmful bacteria in the mouth while easing swelling and pain in the infected gums.
Staying Hydrated Prevents Gingivitis
Dry gums tend to swell and recede away from teeth. They also collect plaque bacteria that cause gingivitis. As long as you drink lots of water, your gums will stay hydrated, clean, and comfortable.
Just plain water can actually help a lot more than you'd expect. For example, a couple of quick swishes after you finish eating can provide these benefits: Removing food residue from your tooth surfaces so there's less for bacteria to eat. Rinsing away any acids from your food or beverage that could soften your enamel.
Healthy gums are firm and pink. They wrap around your teeth snugly and hold the teeth firmly in place. They don't bleed or appear swollen.
Is it possible to restore your oral health and completely reverse gum disease? The answer is “yes,” but there's a catch. Only the first stage of gum disease, known as “gingivitis” can be reversed. After it progresses into the second stage (periodontitis), it's no longer possible to completely eliminate it.
Oftentimes, poor oral hygiene is a contributing factor to gum recession, but this isn't always the case. Many people simply have a genetic predisposition to thin gum tissue. No matter the cause of your gum recession, timely diagnosis and treatment can help prevent long-term oral health problems.
Tacky, dry, or off-color gums can be a sign of dehydration.
Drinking water helps keep your mouth clean
Plaque won't build up in a clean, hydrated mouth. Drinking a glass of pure water will cleanse the varieties of bacteria that cause cavities and contribute to bad breath and gum disease.
So how much fluid does the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate need? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
Poor oral hygiene can cause receding gums in two ways. First, if you do not brush your teeth properly, some plaque remains, which can buildup up tartar. Tartar breeds disease-causing bacteria which affect the gums, causing them to recede towards the tooth root. The second is through aggressive hygiene.