What's the Best Toothpaste If I Have Gum Disease?

At Premier Periodontics, we can detect gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, during a dental exam. Regular dental exams and biannual teeth cleanings allow us to diagnose it early before it progresses to more advanced stages. Many of our patients wonder if their early-stage periodontal disease can go away with regular oral hygiene. Healthy oral habits like regular tooth brushing and flossing, eating healthy foods, and not using tobacco are ways to prevent gum disease from developing. However, they do not help treat it.

Our periodontists in Bellevue, WA know how to treat gum disease with various in-office gum disease treatments. There are also measures you can take at home to prevent or minimize the effects of gum disease, like using specialized toothpaste formulated specifically for the gums. Our knowledgeable staff at any of our Washington locations, including Olympia, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Everett, can help guide you through the proper tools and techniques to keep your mouth and gums as healthy as possible, including selecting toothpaste for patients with gum disease.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is a gum infection caused by poor oral hygiene. When plaque and tartar are left on your teeth, gum disease can develop, causing red, swollen, and bleeding gums. If left untreated, it can deteriorate your jawbone and, in more severe cases, cause tooth loss. There are many signs of periodontal disease that our periodontist can detect during a dental exam. Our professional dental team at Premier Periodontics can give you helpful information on how to care for gums affected by periodontal disease, including the appropriate type of toothpaste to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

What is the best toothpaste for gum disease?

The best toothpaste for gum disease is a germ-fighting one, as gum disease is caused by built-up plaque and tartar on the teeth. This specially-formulated type of toothpaste helps to remove harmful bacteria, which can turn into gingivitis, and prevent periodontal disease from progressing to more advanced and damaging stages. When selecting toothpaste for gum disease, look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance for the best plaque and gingivitis control toothpaste.

Once you’ve determined the appropriate toothpaste to prevent gum disease or address early stages, it’s important to implement good oral hygiene habits. Brush your teeth twice daily for gingivitis protection. Make sure you spend two full minutes (30 seconds per quadrant) to effectively brush your teeth and gums. Brush gently back and forth at your gumline to remove food particles and harmful bacteria that can progress to further gum disease stages. Also, using a cavity-fighting mouthwash in addition to toothpaste formulated for gum disease will give you extra germ protection against both plaque and gingivitis-causing bacteria when it is used after eating, drinking, or brushing.

How to prevent gum disease

The best ways to prevent gum disease include:

1. Follow an efficient oral hygiene routine: Ultimately, using the best toothpaste for gum health is just one integral part of a good oral hygiene routine. Flossing daily also helps to remove plaque found between the teeth and underneath your gumline.

2. Schedule regular dental exams and cleanings: The optimal way to keep your oral health at its best is with preventive visits at Premier Periodontics. Scheduling oral exams and teeth cleanings allow us to track your progress to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy and your gum disease is not progressing. If we can detect gum disease early, we can treat it before it worsens and becomes more severe.

For patients with gingivitis, which is actually a reversible stage of gum disease, we may recommend more frequent teeth cleanings.

Learn how to care for your teeth and gums to keep your oral health at its best

Caring for your teeth helps keep both tooth decay and gum disease at bay. An annual dental exam allows us to detect problems early on before they worsen and lead to more serious treatments. At your visit, we can also discuss oral hygiene tips and the best toothpaste for optimal gum health. Learn more about oral hygiene and gum disease treatment at one of Premier Periodontics locations in Washington, including Olympia, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Everett. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.