If you are one of the unfortunate people like me to have been cursed with genetically poor gums, going to the dentist has probably never been fun.  You probably have sensitive gums and getting even a gentle cleaning results in bleeding gums and more soreness.  This is despite the fact your brush at least twice daily and floss your teeth!

That said, there are some actions you can take to significantly improve your gum health and prevent periodontal disease:

1. Continue to brush at least twice a day and floss after meals (before bed at a minimum).  Use an ADA approved mouthwash in the morning like Listerine or a generic equivalent.
2. Use an electronic toothbrush at least once a day – I prefer the Philips Sonicare
3. Do 3 professional dental cleanings per year.  Yes, I realize two is not fun for most people, but doing 3 in a year can make a huge difference, plus your dentist is able to stay on top of your gum health.  A great way to do this is to alternate between a periodontist and dentist.  This obviously requires an extra monetary commitment.
4. Consider deeper gum cleaning with a waterpik or a device called a vitapick.  I’ve used the vitapick and while a pain to actually use, it has definitely helped (dentist noticed it as well).  Check out www.albrite.com.
5. Try a toothpaste with high levels of Xylitol – I prefer Squigle Enamel Saver Toothpaste.  A benefit here is that Squigle does not have the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate which is known to cause canker sores (ouch).
6. Periodically rinse at night with a 50/50 mix of water and hydrogen peroxide.
7. Consider getting a night mouth guard from your dentist.  They run $200-$300 dollars but really helped me – if you grind your teeth at all during the night, it puts tremendous pressure on your gums.

Combining all of these has really kept my gum health (and gum pockets) stable, and in some cases better.  Yes, you need to spend some money but it is your health after all.  Good luck.