About 7 out of 10 Canadians develop gum disease at some point. This painless dental problem is difficult to detect if you don't visit an expert dentist regularly.

You may believe you have healthy gums because of a lack of dental knowledge. Remember, unhealthy gums can advance to gum disease quickly. Once the disease develops, it is usually not reversible.

However, you can prevent yourself from developing gum disease by performing actions that promote healthy gums. So let’s look at all you must know about how to improve gum health quickly.

What Do Healthy Gums Look Like?

Healthy gums look very different than unhealthy gums. The first thing you should check is the colour of your gums.

Typically, healthy gums colour is pale pink. If your gums are red or dark, it may indicate unhealthy gums.

You must also check the nature of your gums. Healthy gums are firm and painless to touch. Gums that are too soft or bleed on touch indicate disease.

Healthy Gums Vs Unhealthy

A comparison of the appearance of healthy and unhealthy gums.

Many people with unhealthy gums also develop chronic health conditions such as diabetes. So healthy gums are important to enjoy good oral health and overall body health.

Knowing how unhealthy gums look like is necessary to help you take early action to avoid gum disease. Typically, gums with poor health show signs of:

Redness
Swelling
Tenderness (pain on touch)
Mild to major gum bleeding, especially when brushing teeth or flossing
Receding away from teeth

If you experience one or more of these signs, your gums are considered unhealthy.

However, you have healthy gums if they are pale pink, firm to touch, and don’t bleed.

What To Expect If You Don't Have Healthy Gums?

Unhealthy gums can quickly lead to gum disease if you don’t take action against them. People with mild cases may suffer from gingivitis.

Meanwhile, untreated gum disease for a long period can complicate to periodontitis.

1. Gingivitis

The mildest type of gum disease you can experience is gingivitis. It is the earliest change that occurs when plaque builds up on your teeth to form a tartar layer.

You will face mild inflammation because of plaque and tartar accumulation. The best way to identify this is by comparing your gum colour with a healthy gum colour.

Typically, your gum will be slightly redder instead of pale pink. Gingivitis is usually reversible if quick action is taken, such as getting a dental cleaning.

2. Periodontitis

If you have gingivitis but you let it go untreated for months or years, it will complicate into periodontitis. This is a bacterial infection that develops with plaque and tartar.

The main reason behind periodontitis is poor oral hygiene. It weakens the bone structure of your teeth and leads to loss. Your gums will also lose their strength.

Early periodontitis can be managed efficiently with regular checkups and dental cleanings. However, the damage done to the bone and gums is irreversible.

The disease can also progress to advanced periodontitis, which is the most severe form of gum disease.

How To Improve Gum Health Quickly?

Since damage caused by gum disease is usually irreversible, the best thing to do is prevent yourself from getting gum disease.

You can do that by learning how to improve gum health quickly:

1. Floss Daily

People believe flossing is an optional thing for dental care. However, many dentists consider it to be essential for good gum and teeth health.

It doesn't matter whether you floss at night or after meals. As long as you floss, you can reduce your chances of getting gum disease.

Flossing promotes healthy gums by allowing you to remove hard-to-reach particles from your teeth. This will ensure minimal food particles remain in your mouth and plaque does not form.

2. Opt For Professional Dental Cleanings

Flossing gets rid of accumulated food particles to a specific extent. If plaque has already built up on your teeth, the best way to get rid of it is by visiting a dental expert in Ontario.

A dentist will check your teeth health and observe your gums to determine whether you have:

Healthy gums
Unhealthy gums
Gingivitis
Periodontitis
Advanced periodontitis

Once they know your oral health, they may perform scaling or other procedures to remove decay particles. Regular dental cleanings are one of the best ways to prevent gum disease.

3. Quit Unhealthy Habits

Factors that contribute to poor teeth health can damage your gums. The top unhealthy habit to quit for healthy gums is smoking.

Various clinical studies have proven that smokers have a greater risk of developing periodontitis.

You must also avoid having carbonated drinks because they damage the protective enamel layer of teeth.

4. Change Your Diet

Changing your diet can help improve your gum health because some food products protect your teeth. For instance, fatty fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory.

Fruits rich in vitamin C and vitamin K can prevent gum bleeding and swelling. Antioxidant properties of the former vitamin will also help you avoid inflammation.

So incorporating food items that promote healthy gums is the easiest way to enjoy good oral health.

5. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

Every dentist recommends people brush their teeth at least twice a day for good oral hygiene. Most people take heed of this advice by brushing in the morning and at night.

However, if you have unhealthy gums you must brush your teeth regularly after meals. This will prevent food particles from building up in your mouth and giving rise to plaque.

You should also invest in a toothbrush with soft bristles and varying bristle heights. Such brushes make it easy to target difficult-to-reach areas of your teeth.

Changing your toothbrush heads or the entire toothbrush regularly is also necessary. Typically, you should change after every three to four months.

6. Invest In Good Toothpaste

You will encounter many toothpaste options at your local store. Some may claim to whiten your teeth, while others may claim to offer you fresh breath.

This is why choosing good toothpaste may be difficult for you. Remember to avoid brands that make claims of curing periodontitis or gingivitis.

The top thing you should look for is a toothpaste with fluoride. Studies have proven that fluoride prevents plaque development.

If you get a toothpaste that claims to reduce gingivitis but doesn't have fluoride as an active ingredient, it will likely not help with the disease.

FAQs

What Color Are Unhealthy Gums?

Unhealthy gums are usually bright red due to inflammation. They may also appear darker than healthy pale pink gums.

Does Gum Disease Go Away?

If your gums are slightly unhealthy, you can improve their health to prevent disease. However, once periodontitis occurs the disease may not go away completely.

How Do I Know If My Gum Is Healing?

Healing gums show signs of reduction in redness. Your gums will also stop bleeding with time upon eating or brushing your teeth.

Talk To Our Expert Today To Know Whether You Have Healthy Gums

Identifying healthy gums at home may be difficult. This is especially true if you don’t know what an unhealthy gums picture looks like. So converse with our expert in Ontario today to understand whether your oral health is in top shape.

Healthy Gums: How Do They Look Like?