More often than not, the population tends to focus on the consumption of toothpaste, intersession cleaning with dental floss, and visiting the dentist. However, there is a crucial component of oral health that often goes unnoticed: The gingival barrier also referred to as the gingiva. It seems that this knowledge can contribute to a better understanding of how to maintain oral hygiene effectively and properly.
What is the Gingival Barrier?
The gingival barrier, commonly referred to as the gum barrier, involves any aspect of the periodontal structures, which are the tissues covering and supporting the teeth. It is composed of the gingiva, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. This is instrumental in preventing bacterial penetration into the area and protection against mechanical stress, which is equally dangerous.
Why does it Matter?
The gingival barrier is significant because of the role it plays in the maintenance of the periodontal tissues and the mouth as a whole.
- Protection Against Bacteria – The mouth has so many millions of germs, which, in some cases, are dangerous. The bracket of the gingival also plays the role of an initial barrier to these bacteria which cannot infect other deeper tissues and brings about gingivitis or periodontitis.
- Preventing Gum Disease – Other diseases of the gum include gingivitis which is inflammation of the gums. A firm and thick gingival layer protects against such situations, retaining bacteria and reducing swelling.
- Maintaining Oral Health – The gingival barrieracts as the physical barrier to protect the tooth and its structures, if breached causes mobility, sensitivity, and eventually, the loss of the tooth.
- Reducing Systemic Health Risks – Oral health diseases have also a strong connection with other health diseases such as heart diseases, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.
To make sure that you have a healthy gingival barrier, one should ensure that he follows the following tips –
Regular Brushing and Flossing – It is recommended that one should brush his/her teeth at least twice daily and floss the teeth to minimize the accumulation of food particles that trigger bacteria formation and lead to the development of gum diseases. In as much as those in the Teeth Whitening Business do not dictate how their clients should go about it, it is recommendable that they encourage their clients to embrace these practices as they will improve the whitening and the overall gum health.
Avoid Tobacco – Cigarette smoking and products used for chewing also cause significant harm to gingival health and carry a probability of developing periodontal diseases and oral cavity cancer.
Hydrate – Try to continuously take water with you while eating so that your mouth will not be dry and as a result, it helps in removing foods or bacteria that may be present in the mouth. It is thus evident that realizing the role of this specific barrier as well as actively following suggestions on how to keep it healthy may enhance your dental hygiene routine. This is especially useful for people in the Teeth Whitening Business since healthy gums are an essential factor for whitening administration and results.
