What's your oral hygiene routine to prevent / reverse gum disease?

[Kweeni]

How long does it take to get better? Did you see a specialist (heard a radio ad today) - or can I manage this at home?

I reversed mine by having a good hygienist and flossing. Floss every day and get a good toothbrush.

I am certain mine developed because I had a tricky few months and slacked on the flossing.

I use teepees and also this horrid little brush recommended by dentist. Like a very small very stiff brush to really get at the gum line. Painful but works. I do use a waterpik but more so after meals to just quickly get rid of food debris.

I have seen the hygienist every 3 months for a couple of years and she always sighed that my gums were not really improving. I had to see an endodontist who recommended I saw a gum specialist.
I asked hygienist for a recommendation and she said she didn't think that was necessary, she would do an extra clean and then I just needed to clean like mad with tepes of various sizes. To my surprise when I saw the endo again she didn't mention my gums, the hygienist raved about the improvement and when the implant dentist did an assessment he found one shallow pocket.
I use tepe brushes in various sizes at least at night, sometimes with a tepe gingival gel, electric toothbrush twice a day.
I have been told that waterpik is better than nothing, but not as good as interdental brushes.

I have terrible teeth but once I got with the program I no longer have any problems for many years- I have finessed this program with dental students at Guys where I go for some free treatment.

1.Wait 30 minutes after eating
This gives your saliva time to neutralize acids, reducing the risk of enamel erosion—especially after acidic meals or drinks.

2.Rinse mouth vigorously with water
Helps remove loose debris and resets the mouth’s pH for cleaning.

3.Use floss or tape to clean below the gumline and between each tooth. Be gentle to avoid damaging gums.

4.Use TePe interdental brushes dipped in Colgate Total toothpaste
Select brush sizes that fit comfortably into each gap.
Don’t force them—use slow, in-and-out movements.
Rinse the brushes between uses.
Whitening toothpastes can damage enamel so avoid.

5.Clean your tongue with a tongue scraper or cleaner
Start at the back of the tongue and gently pull forward.
Repeat 2–3 times, rinsing the scraper each time.
This removes odour-causing bacteria and improves breath.

6.Use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash
Swish vigorously for 30–60 seconds I do this in the shower
Spit, but do not rinse with water afterwards—this keeps fluoride active.

7.Brush with an electric toothbrush for 2 minutes
1 minute on upper teeth, 1 minute on lower.
Brush all surfaces: outer, inner, and chewing.
Start at the back and move slowly tooth-by-tooth.
Use light pressure—let the brush do the work.
Spit, don’t rinse—to preserve fluoride protection.

8.Gently brush the gumline with a soft manual toothbrush
Use circular motions along the gum–tooth junction.
Do this both top and bottom, inside and outside.
This helps stimulate gums and prevent recession

9, Avoid sweets , sugar and fizzy drinks and if you must swill with plain water after - swill with plain water after meals whor any food to remove food debris from your mouth.

10.Smoking and vaping will damage gums -stop !

Don't resent the time you spend doing this look at it as a wise investment in your time to presreve what you have and prevent very expensive dental tretment down the line.

I’ve been dealing with early signs of gum disease for a while, and from my experience, it is possible to improve gum health with the right approach though I wouldn’t say it’s fully reversible once it’s advanced. The key is consistency.

I started with a visit to my dentist, who recommended a thorough clean and showed me how to use interdental brushes correctly. Since then, my daily routine includes flossing or using interdental brushes, an electric toothbrush, and an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash. I also go in for professional cleans every 6 months. Within a few weeks, I noticed less bleeding and inflammation, but it took a few months to really feel confident that things were under control.

Seeing a specialist like a periodontist can definitely help if your condition is more severe, but for mild to moderate cases, you might be able to manage it at home with the right habits and guidance. If you’re not sure where to start or want more info on treatment options, you can learn more about gum care and what to expect during a dental assessment.

Hope that helps stick with it! Consistency makes a huge difference.