Toothpaste for Gum Care: 5 Ingredients for a Healthy Mouth

There are no set rules for what toothpaste you should be using. After all, everyone has different dental care needs. However, when you’re browsing the labels on the toothpaste aisle, don’t forget about your gums. Oral hygiene isn’t just about making sure your teeth are picture-perfect white. It’s about a healthy mouth. Here are some things you should look for when searching for a toothpaste for gum care.

Your gums do more than hold your teeth together. Gums, a.k.a. gingiva, are soft tissues that anchor your teeth to the roots and jaw bones. Apart from keeping your pearly whites in place, it also prevents bacteria from getting into the recesses of your teeth.

Taking care of your gums should be an automatic part of oral care. When you don’t brush your teeth properly, you risk building plaque in the gum area. It could lead to tartar, which is much more challenging to remove. The domino effect continues with gingivitis (inflamed gums), which could then progress to periodontitis (advanced gum disease). Periodontitis can destroy your gums and even the tissues and bones attached to your teeth.

When you have gum issues, you can have bad breath and bleeding and swelling gums. Your teeth could fall out in the process.

Unless you’re dealing with specialized dental problems, your toothpaste should take care of your teeth and gums since they’re corresponsive. Check your toothpaste to make sure you’re not leaving one behind.

Though many still consider fluoride paste a specialty ingredient in tooth care, many toothpaste brands have already incorporated it into their formula. Fluoride helps prevent cavities and halts the spread of oral bacteria. It also strengthens and rebuilds the tooth enamel. According to an article on Materia Socio-Medica, fluoride’s most essential role is the remineralization of the tooth’s surface, which breaks down as you eat, drink, and, well, every time you use your teeth.

Your body needs zinc. You can find it in your muscles, bones, hair, skin, and other organs. A study in the Nutrients journal states that zinc also appears in saliva, dental plaque, and enamel. As far as dental hygiene goes, the research reports that zinc contributes to healthy teeth formation, prevents plaque and calculus, reduces bad breath, and improves dental immunity. This is definitely an oral all-star.

Abrasives may be bad for the skin, but they’re necessary for dental care. They don’t directly prevent cavities or bad breath. However, they help remove debris, such as food or stains on your teeth, which can cause tooth decay and foul mouth odor.

Common toothpaste abrasives are silica, calcium compounds, and aluminum oxide.

Did you know that the minty flavor in toothpaste isn’t really necessary? Right now it’s become such a toothbrushing convention that you might have a hard time imagining toothpaste sans that peppermint or spearmint taste.

You can trace the history of cleaning teeth with paste as far back as the Ancient Egyptians, but it was the Chinese who added different herbs to help freshen breath. It was also a way to mask the bitter, astringent tastes of other teeth-cleaning agents. So yes, the flavor is a crucial factor, if only to please societal standards.

It may come as a surprise, but toothpaste for gum care and dental cleaning does feature detergent. It’s usually sodium lauryl sulfate, which creates that foamy quality you see when you brush. Don’t worry. Detergents in toothpaste are milder than the stuff you use for your clothes. It helps break down debris that’s too much for water. It also has mild antibacterial properties.

If you want a gum care toothpaste that ticks all these boxes, try closeup Red Hot Toothpaste. It has all these ingredients and antibacterial zinc that eliminates 99% of bacteria in your mouth. You’ll be confident knowing your teeth are well taken care of and your breath is super fresh.

However, remember that it’s not just about finding the right toothpaste for gum care. You have to brush properly, floss regularly, and skip the sweets when you can.