Gum Care at Home
The handful of habits that matter most, how to do each one properly, what bleeding gums are telling you, and when it's time for professional help.
How Do I Keep My Gums Healthy at Home?
Once a day, clean between your teeth. Twice a day, brush for two minutes with the bristles angled towards the gum. Spit the toothpaste out rather than rinsing it away, and avoid smoking. Bleeding gums aren't a reason to stop: keep cleaning gently and they usually calm down within two weeks. If they haven't, book a hygiene visit in Lanark with Fiona Dyer, our hygienist, who can show you precisely which areas your routine is missing.
Begin with the Gaps
If you change just one habit, choose this one. Gum disease almost always starts between the teeth, in the small wedge of gum that a toothbrush slides straight past. Brush on its own and around a third of every tooth's surface goes uncleaned.
For most adults, interdental brushes are the tool to use. Choose a size that fits snugly, with a slight drag as it goes through but no need to push hard. Very few mouths need just one size; most people use two or three, smaller at the front and larger between the back teeth. Ease the brush through, move it back and forth two or three times, and rinse it under the tap afterwards. Once a day does the job, ideally at night before you brush.
Floss is for contact points too tight for even the thinnest brush. Curve it around the side of the tooth in a C shape, slide it gently just under the gum, and repeat on the tooth next door. Water flossers are handy around implants, bridges and fixed braces, though a jet of water can't wipe the tooth surface the way bristles do, so use one as an addition rather than a replacement.
Brushing Right to the Gum Line
- Twice daily for two minutes, using a fluoride toothpaste. Make the night-time clean the most thorough, since your mouth gets drier as you sleep
- Angle the bristles to roughly 45 degrees, so half the head rests on the tooth and half on the gum
- Use small circles or gentle short strokes, covering two or three teeth at once, instead of scrubbing from side to side
- Keep the pressure light. Heavy brushing squashes the bristles flat and, over time, wears away gum and root
- Stick to the same order each time (outer surfaces, inner surfaces, biting surfaces) so you aren't skipping the same areas daily
- Swap to a fresh brush or head every three months, earlier if the bristles start to spread
Two spots get missed more than any others: the inner, tongue-facing side of the lower front teeth, where tartar forms fastest, and the gum just behind the very back molars. Give each a few extra seconds.
Would You Like a Routine Made for Your Mouth?
Fiona Dyer, our hygienist, can put one together with you.
Electric or Manual?
Either can do a good job if you use it well. That said, a decent electric brush, rotating or sonic, makes it easier: you move it slowly along the gum edge and let it do the work. Most have a two-minute timer so you don't finish early, and many have a light that comes on if you press too firmly. If you'd rather stick with a manual brush, pick a small head with soft or medium bristles. Firm bristles don't lift any more plaque, but they are rougher on your gums.
When Your Gums Bleed
Don't stop. Bleeding doesn't mean you're brushing too hard. It is a sign of inflammation, caused by plaque left resting on the gum. The instinct is to steer clear of the tender area, but that only leaves more plaque behind and keeps the bleeding going.
Clean that spot gently but properly every day, between the teeth as well, and within a couple of weeks the bleeding should ease as the gum firms up and returns to a paler pink. If it doesn't stop, if there's a lot of blood, or if your gums are painful, swollen or shrinking back from the teeth, come in. Tartar may be keeping the inflammation going, or it may be early gum disease, and either needs a professional clean.
Choosing Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Any toothpaste containing fluoride does the main job. Once you've brushed, spit out what's left and don't rinse, because water washes the fluoride away before it can work. That's also why mouthwash, if you use it, belongs at a different time of day.
A rinse can't do a brush's job: plaque is sticky and has to be physically wiped off. Fiona may suggest a strong antiseptic mouthwash for a short spell after gum treatment, but over months it can stain teeth brown. If your teeth are sensitive or you're prone to decay, ask at your visit which toothpaste would suit you.
Lifestyle and Health Factors
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Smoking and vaping | Reduces blood supply to the gums, so they bleed less and hide the early signs, and slows healing. Gum disease progresses faster in people who smoke |
| Diabetes | High blood sugar leaves gums more open to infection, and inflamed gums in turn make blood sugar harder to manage |
| Pregnancy | Shifting hormones make gums overreact to plaque, so bleeding and swelling are common |
| Medicines | Some leave the mouth dry, and a small number cause the gums to overgrow. Let us know about any new prescription |
| Snacking | The number of times you have sugar matters more than the amount. Save sweet things for mealtimes |
| Stress and lack of sleep | Weaken your resistance to infection, and often lead to rushed cleaning |
Caring for Implants, Aligners, Bonding and Veneers
Dental work needs just as much care as natural teeth, sometimes more. The gum seals less tightly around an implant than around a tooth, so infection can reach the bone more quickly. Clean around the implant crown, run an interdental brush down each side, and thread one beneath any bridge. Our implants come with a 5-year guarantee for non-smokers who attend hygiene visits every 3 months, a sign of how much that cleaning counts.
Always brush before you put an aligner back in, or you'll be holding plaque against your teeth for hours at a time. With bonding and veneers, the edge where they meet the gum is the first place stain and plaque gather. Polishing that margin at your hygiene visits keeps it clean and helps bonding last longer.
When It's Time to See the Hygienist
There's no need to wait until your next dental examination. Book with Fiona if a fortnight of careful cleaning hasn't stopped the bleeding, if your gums look red or swollen or have begun to recede, if bad breath won't shift, or if a tooth has started to feel loose or move. A 30-minute appointment with Fiona is £70, and a hygiene visit with Airflow polishing is £100. 1
Our dental plans include both: two visits a year on Plan A and four on Plan B. If your gums are tender, Fiona can numb them before starting. Most people leave knowing exactly which brush sizes to use and which teeth need extra attention.
Questions
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to say what is right for your teeth.