Regular brushing and flossing are essential to keeping your mouth healthy, but the products you use will affect the end result. If you have concerns about gum problelms or periodontal disease, for example, finding the best toothpaste for gums can help.
Finding The Best Toothpaste For Gums
Dental Health to Gum Health
The mouth is host to a variety of germs, which, although they live there naturally, can cause serious problems if allowed to multiply. These germs 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 and germs can cause the gums to become inflamed, then infected, and eventually to draw back (or recede) from the teeth. As the infection spreads, the gums, bone and connective tissue that support the tooth are damaged, and if the infection is left unchecked, they can eventually erode to the point that your teeth are at risk of falling out. This process is described in detail by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
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, 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 germs 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 toothpastes helps massage your gums and keep them healthy, the best toothpaste for gums is formulated with ingredients that are meant to help prevent gum problems and gum disease. The most important ingredient for your overall oral health, though, is fluoride. This naturally occurring mineral is added to toothpaste to help prevent cavities, and can even help reverse the earliest stages of tooth decay. Ultimately, keeping your teeth and gums clean and cavity-free 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.