Key Takeaways
- Toothpaste can aid in reversing gum disease, but it can’t accomplish this feat on its own.
- Toothpaste offers several benefits for people who suffer from gum disease, including its ability to strengthen the teeth’s outer layer, remove plaque, and soothe irritated gums.
- Brushing, flossing, and regular dental office cleanings must be paired with toothpaste to successfully reverse and prevent gum disease.
Your gums are puffier than usual, you experience bleeding when you brush these days, and you’ve noticed a lingering awful taste even after brushing morning and night. Chances are you’re experiencing gingivitis, or early gum disease.
You’re not alone. Research shows that over 42% of adults above 30 years of age have gum disease in some form, with nearly 8% suffering from severe gum disease, or periodontal disease.
As you search for a solution for your gum disease issue, you may wonder if toothpaste alone can help reverse gum disease. The answer is, not quite. Let’s explore why toothpaste can be a powerful solution for addressing gum disease but ultimately can’t bear the burden alone.
Bacteria-Attacking Benefits
Toothpaste is an excellent tool to include in your arsenal when fighting gum disease due to its ability to decrease bacterial load – the root cause of gingivitis. That’s because the buildup of plaque, a sticky bacterial biofilm on the gums and teeth, triggers gingivitis. Toothpastes featuring antibacterial agents such as triclosan and stannous fluoride are especially excellent at breaking down biofilm and decreasing oral bacteria. This lowers bleeding and inflammation, key gingivitis symptoms.
Gum Soothing
Specialized oral care products can target the symptoms of gum disease directly. Some toothpaste formulations are made specifically to promote gum health, as they contain ingredients such as essential oils, chlorohexidine (an antiseptic and disinfectant), or enzymes designed to reduce swelling and soothe inflamed gums. Although these products won’t cure your gum disease, they may slow its progression and alleviate discomfort when used regularly.
Enamel Strengthening
The fluoride in toothpaste strengthens enamel, the outer layer of your teeth. Gingivitis and cavities – both infections – often coexist, but fluoride can help remineralize, or restore, enamel and simultaneously prevent the decay that exacerbates gum disease. This indirectly promotes healthy gums by minimizing your chances of developing both types of infection in your mouth.
Gum Sensitivity Help
Toothpaste may decrease gum sensitivity, leading to improved oral hygiene habits. Gingivitis usually causes bleeding or tenderness, which may discourage you from brushing completely. Toothpaste containing desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate may make brushing your teeth more comfortable, enabling you to maintain consistent dental hygiene.
Toothpaste’s Gum Line Challenges
Toothpaste can’t reach below your gum line, posing a problem for people who struggle with gingivitis. That’s because your gum disease may be progressing below the gums. Even if you catch gingivitis early, bacteria may begin invading the spaces between the gums and teeth – pockets that toothpaste can’t penetrate. Professional dental cleanings and flossing are crucial for removing plaque and the hardened form of plaque, called tartar, in these areas.
Importance of Using a Toothbrush
Although toothpaste is an excellent support in the fight against gum disease, mechanical plaque elimination and dental office cleanings are needed to properly address gingivitis. Flossing and brushing are what dislodge plaque at home, not the use of toothpaste alone, so brushing with no toothpaste is therefore more effective than using paste without brushing.
Importance of Proper Brushing
Toothpaste improves the removal of plaque when combined with correct brushing. A quality toothpaste features mild abrasives designed to scrub plaque away, but how well and how frequently you brush significantly impact the toothpaste’s effectiveness. If you don’t brush thoroughly, even a top-tier toothpaste can’t reach your gum line and effectively remove plaque.
Value of a Dentist’s Intervention
A qualified dentist may need to perform root planing or scaling if you have advanced gum disease, as advanced gum disease isn’t reversible with excellent home care, while gingivitis is. Root planing and scaling are nonsurgical procedures designed to deeply clean your teeth, including their roots, to remove tartar and plaque buildup. This may help prevent your gum disease from progressing and improve your overall dental health.
Take Steps to Reverse Gum Disease With Confidence Today
It’s not too late to start fighting back against gum disease once you detect early gingivitis signs – and toothpaste can be a powerful weapon in the battle. However, toothpaste alone cannot reverse your gum disease. Toothpaste may help remove plaque, soothe your inflamed gums, and strengthen your enamel, but it must be combined with regular and correct brushing and flossing, as well as consistent dental cleanings, to yield positive results.
Consider all the above-listed benefits and limits of toothpaste as you seek to reverse your gum disease and keep your gums healthy for years to come.