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Finding the Best Toothpaste for Gums

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Medically Reviewed By Colgate Global Scientific Communications

Regular brushing and flossing are the one-two punch for keeping your mouth healthy, but the products you use will affect the end result. If you have concerns about gingivitis or periodontal disease, for example, finding the best toothpaste for gums can help.

Dental Health to Gum Health

The mouth is host to a variety of bacteria, which, although live there naturally, can cause serious problems if allowed to multiply. These bacteria build up and create waste products that become the white, sticky substance you know as plaque. If this plaque isn't cleaned from the teeth on a regular basis, it becomes tartar – which can't be removed without a dental professional.The build-up of tartar, plaque andbacteria can cause the gums to become inflamed, then infected and eventually to draw back (or recede) from the teeth. According to a research study published in the Drug Invention Today, swollen and bleeding gums are early signs that your gums are infected with bacteria. If nothing is done, the infection can spread. It can destroy the structures that support your teeth in your jawbone. Eventually, your teeth can become so loose that they have to be extracted. “Peri” means around and “odontal” refers to teeth. Periodontal diseases are infections of the structures around the teeth.

How Brushing Helps the Gums

Brushing and flossing help keep your teeth healthy, but it's also the best way to prevent gum disease from developing. Brushing cleans plaque from your tooth surfaces and from just below the gumline.  In doing so, however, brushing also massages the gums, ensuring healthy blood flow to this vital tissue. A flossing toothbrush gives you a better reach beneath the gumline and includes a tongue cleaner to keep bacteria from starting to collect.  Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth and adds more protection under the gumline where the toothbrush can't quite reach.

Ingredients That Make It Happen

Although brushing with most toothpasteshelps massageyour gums and keep them healthy, the best toothpaste for gums is formulated with ingredients that are meant for preventing gingivitis and gum disease. The most important ingredient for your overall oral health, though, is fluoride. This naturally occurring mineral is added to toothpaste to prevent cavities, and can even reverse the earliest stages of tooth decay. Ultimately, keeping your teeth and gums clean and free of decay helps keep the gums free of inflammation.With a diligent oral hygiene routine that includes the best toothpaste for gums you can be sure your gums are as healthy as they can be.