There's no shortage of products and retailer information about reducing gum disease with a great toothpaste, refreshing mouthwash, or a newly-designed take on toothpick and floss. Unfortunately, there's not much public information about what truly works or how to figure out what best works for the insides of your mouth outside of visiting a dentist. Dental visits are important and should happen a few times per year, but they don't always fit in with daily life. Here are a few details about how certain products should help combat gum disease to help you filter the hype from the help.

Gingivitis And Toothpaste

Gingivitis is one of those big, scary threats that healthcare products love to throw around because the media campaign around it has already gripped society. It's a problem, but not as powerful or dependent on certain products as many assume.

The major component of gingivitis is caused by bacteria creating a film of food and waste inside the sulcus of the gums. A sulcus is a groove or depression, and in this case it means the trenches/curves of your gums created by the way your teeth are formed. This is the area where floss is effective for getting rid of large food particles.

On its own, toothpaste can't handle suculus cleaning. This is because plaque builds up relatively quickly, which is why brushing 2-3 times per day is necessary. Floss can break down the barriers created by congealed, but not yet hardened plaque (calculus) and allow materials in toothpaste to be effective.

If you're shopping for toothpaste, don't buy based on gingivitis protection claims alone. The toothpaste should be for whitening, enamel protection, or help with sensitive teeth.

Getting Proper Floss And Controlling Bleeding

Another issue with the scare of gingivitis is the panic it induces as some sort of extreme disease that only happens when you're doing everything wrong.

Have your gums ever bled while flossing? If that wasn't because of a sore caused by stabbing or cutting with food or a poorly-placed toothpick, that's gingivitis...and that's okay. This isn't permission to go around with bleeding gums without handling the issue, but it isn't a call to run to a dentist for expensive surgery.

When a gingivitis infection happens, blood rushes to the infected area to combat and repair the problem. This results in puffy, swollen gums that bleed more easily. You need to carefully floss the area and avoid using toothpicks on your own, and consider using mouthwash at least twice a day.

You should certainly contact a dentist to figure out what needs to be done next, but keep in mind that it takes time to combat the infect. You'll need a scaling and root planing for deep cleaning at a dental office, and you may want to consider an electric toothbrush as well as a water pick as opposed to a toothpick made of wood or even plastic.

Contact a dental professional (Fuller Periodontics & Implant Dentistry) for gum disease treatment first, then ask for more information to help you stay healthy at home with periodic professional upkeep.