For National Gum Disease Awareness Month, prioritize your oral and dental hygiene. Gum disease starts when plaque, a bacteria-filled substance – builds up along the gum line. Plaque can cause an infection that hurts the gum and bone, leading to gum disease and tooth decay. Plaque also can cause gingivitis, the earliest gum disease stage. Gingivitis causes your gums to become inflamed, tender, red, swollen, and prone to bleeding. It can also lead to developing periodontitis, an advanced gum disease that impacts the bones that hold your teeth in place. If you leave it untreated, it can decay the gums, bones, and tissues connected to your teeth. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), signs that you might have gum disease include consistently lousy taste or breath, separating or loose permanent teeth, gums that easily bleed, gums that are swollen, red, or tender, and gums that have pulled away from your teeth. Keep in mind that gum disease is preventable. Here are a few products you can help keep your gums healthy.
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Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5300 Rechargeable Electric Power Toothbrush
Choosing the right toothbrush is a vital decision to combat gum disease. With the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean, you can customize your experience with the three modes: Clean, White, and Gum Care. The pressure sensor protects teeth and gums from excess brushing pressure while improving your gum health up to 100% more vs a manual toothbrush.Available at Amazon
Try as you might; you’re likely not effectively flossing in the way that leads to optimal dental health. Get some help from Slate, who created this fantastic electric flosser. It clears up debris well and, as a bonus, is equipped with a hand-dandy scraper on the back to ensure your whole mouth is clean and clear.Available at Amazon
Hello Naturally Healthy Antigingivitis is alcohol-free and doesn’t contain dyes, artificial flavors, or sulfates. Its prominent ingredient, aloe vera, significantly reduced plaque and gingivitis.Available at Amazon
These Gum Regrowth Drops provide a soothing and rejuvenating experience for your gums. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to a healthier, more vibrant smile with gum regrowth drops.Available at Amazon
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol popular in dental products, which promotes oral health. Products like gums and lozenges with xylitol may counteract gum diseases by inhibiting bacteria causing tooth decay.Available at Amazon
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a common condition caused by plaque buildup, which irritates and inflames the gums. However, you can use interdental cleaners to clean effectively between the teeth. The brush wants to fit snugly between the teeth. You don’t like to force it, but it must also be big enough to reach all the sides. These brushes are recommended for those with periodontal disease.Available at Amazon
Gingivitis is the start of gum disease, which can lead to infection and inflammation. It happens when bacteria build up on your teeth. If untreated, it could progress to periodontitis, leading to tooth loss. CVS Health Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste promises to help reduce bacteria as it targets the gum line.Available at CVS
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
