First, advises Dr. David R. Scharf, a periodontist and a clinical assistant professor at the New York University College of Dentistry, quit worrying about what your dentist thinks: Brushing and flossing is something you do for you, he says, not to get brownie points from someone you only see twice a year.
Next, know that people have been looking for ways to invigorate their gums and keep them healthier for thousands of years. Over the centuries, remedies for gum disease have included everything from rubbing myrrh -- an antiseptic astringent that can reduce inflammation in the mouth, throat and gums -- on sore areas, to gargling with herbal treatments like goldenseal and bayberry.
But the best solution for healthy gums, says Scharf, is doing the obvious: brushing and flossing daily. It only takes two weeks to reinvigorate tender gums and reduce bacteria (which is what causes gum disease and inflammation), according to the American Academy of Periodontology.
