How to start healing your bleeding gums:
It’s all about consistency. It is important to brush 2x/day and floss daily with tools that work for your specific mouth...especially when you have active infection going on. Follow recommendations curated for your mouth specifically (adjunct hygiene tools and recare frequency play a huge roll) to get the results that you are trying to acheive. Hygiene is not one size fits all unfortunetly.
Here are my favorite products to use if you are experiencing bleeding gums:
1 — waterpik ($99 on amazon)
A waterpik helps get further below the gums to help disrupt that bateria that is causing the inflammation. Regular floss and a toothbrush get 1-3mm below the gums… the waterpik can get 6 millimeter below the gums when used properly. If you are noticing inflammation and bleeding it is common to have 4 millimeter or greater pockets so a toothbrush and floss will not cut it. You need something that will get deeper. Go to waterpik.com to see some helpful videos to make sure you are using it properly. They also have a cordless waterpik which is great for travel and you can even use it in the shower!
Directions: Start on low power for first use. Turn unit on when it gets in correct spot in mouth. Slightly open mouth and look in sink (not in mirror or you will make a mess) Angle 90 degree towards tooth right at gumline. Pause in between each tooth for 30 seconds and move tip from tooth to tooth. With each use, slowly turn power up, the goal is to get to the higher power setting so it can effectively flush out deeper.
2 — Electric toothbrush ($49.99 on Amazon)
An electric toothbrush is one of the most efficient and effective ways to remove plaque. It moves much faster than your hand can. The vibrations help push the toothpaste in between the teeth and deeper below the gums. I use this sonicare (the pink sonicare in the photo) You honestly don’t NEED a fancy expensive electric toothbrush… I like this one because the traveling case also charges the toothbrush
Directions: Hold on tooth, angle at 45 degree towards gumline. Move very slowly brushing all tooth surfaces. Do not scrub like you would with a manual toothbrush you want to let the toothbrush do the work and allow the vibrations to have some time to work on each tooth.
3 — Woven floss ($6 burst floss on amazon)
If you have more sticky stubborn plaque you may need a thicker floss to help remove the plaque effectively.
Directions: I always wrap floss around my pointer and middle finger. Pull floss tight when wiggling it between your teeth then loosen up to allow the floss to expand when it is in between the teeth. Wrap the floss in a C-Shape scrubbing up and down about 3x per tooth going below the gums as far as you can without forcing it. Pull it tight again to pull it out and continue throughout mouth. Don’t forget the back side of your last molars.
4 — Tongue scraper ($6 on amazon)
The tongue holds so much bacteria which can also contribute to inflammation in the mouth. The tongue is made up of something much different than your teeth which is why I like to use a separate tongue scraper designed specifically to get in all of the papilla on my tongue to ensure I get all of the bacteria trapped inside. I also like this supermouth tongue scraper
Directions: stick tongue out start at back of mouth and pull forward to remove bacteria. Rinse and continue until tongue is clean.
5 — Paradontax ($8 on Amazon)
This is a specific formulated toothpaste for bleeding gums. It helps reduce bleeding gums by 30% alone when using consistently for 12 weeks. Great if you feel like you need some extra help. It targets the specific bacteria causing inflammation/bleeding. They also sell a mouthwash
Directions: Brush with at least 2x/day for 12 weeks to notice a difference
6 — Proxabrushes ($7 on amazon)
These little brushes are great for getting stubborn plaque in wider spaces. If you have bone loss and/or recession these can be a great tool to clean the nooks and crannies in between the teeth and in root concavities. Waterpiks are still needed to get below the gums, these can only reach a few millimeters so I mostly like them to clean between teeth not necessarily for cleaning deeper pockets.
Directions: It is important to choose the right size. You want to use the biggest possible size that doesn’t need to be forced between the teeth. If it’s too tiny, it won’t get the max amount of plaque, if it’s too big it can hurt the gums. It should be a tight-ish fit but not be forced. They have small single use ones or a handle that you can just replace the brush which is what is linked. Make sure you pick the right size for your mouth or if it is your first time try a few different sizes.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Hailey —I’ve been a dental hygienist for 7 years. I love sharing practical, hygienist-approved tips to help you feel confident taking care of your smile. My goal is to break down dental care in a simple, realistic way and help you understand what’s actually happening in your mouth. I am super passionate about Oral Hygiene Instructions and love when patients realize they can help stop progression of gingivitis and gum disease with the right tools.