Blog
Blog
Articles from the Gum Disease Care Guide editorial team
Long-form and short-form articles on gum health, daily care, treatment, and the practical questions patients bring to their dentists.
What actually causes gum disease?
The biology of dental plaque, the bacterial species involved, and the immune response that turns everyday bacteria into inflammation.
SymptomsBleeding gums: when it matters, when it doesn't
A calm look at the most common gum symptom — what different bleeding patterns mean, and when to escalate.
Daily careHow to brush your teeth properly
The modified Bass technique, common mistakes, and how to know whether your technique is actually working.
FoundationsGingivitis vs periodontitis: what's the difference?
The single dividing line between reversible and non-reversible gum disease, explained without jargon.
SymptomsReceding gums: causes, care, and when to see a periodontist
Why gums recede, what recession does and doesn't mean, and the treatments that actually help.
Everyday concernsBad breath: what's actually causing it
Beyond mints — the real drivers of halitosis and how to address each one.
ProductsElectric vs manual toothbrush: what the evidence says
An honest look at the research on powered brushes — including where the benefit is real and where marketing has run ahead of evidence.
ProductsWater flosser vs string floss: which should you use?
A comparison based on evidence, not marketing — and how to combine them if you need both.
Risk factorsSmoking and gum disease: the size of the effect
Why tobacco is the single largest modifiable risk factor for periodontitis — and what quitting does.
Risk factorsDiabetes and gum disease: the two-way relationship
How diabetes worsens gum disease and how gum disease worsens diabetes control.
Life stagesPregnancy and gum health
The gum changes that come with pregnancy, and how to care for them without unnecessary worry.
Life stagesGum disease in older adults
How risk shifts with age — and the small routine changes that make a large difference.
TreatmentScaling and root planing: what to expect
A step-by-step walk-through of the most common non-surgical periodontal treatment.
TreatmentPeriodontal surgery: an overview
When surgery is considered, what the main procedures are, and how to prepare.
TreatmentDental implants and periodontal disease
Why implants are not immune to gum disease — and what "peri-implantitis" is.
ProductsDoes mouthwash actually work?
Fluoride vs antimicrobial vs cosmetic — what a rinse can and can't do.
Everyday concernsTongue scraping: what the evidence really says
A small habit with modest but real benefits — and the honest limits.
Risk factorsStress and oral health
How chronic stress reaches your gums — through behavior, hormones, and immune function.
Foundations20 myths about gum disease, sorted
The persistent misconceptions — and what the evidence actually says.
Everyday concerns20 questions to ask at your next dental checkup
The prompts that make appointments more productive — for you and your dentist.