September is National Gum Care Month, and for most patients it will come and go without a second thought. For dental teams, though, it is one of the few built-in moments each year to reset the conversation around periodontal health, and to make sure the supply cabinet can back up whatever that conversation promises.
The timing matters more than it used to. Recent CDC data shows that 42% of US adults aged 30 and older have some form of periodontitis, and about 8% have a severe form. A February 2026 study in the Journal of the American Dental Association tracking severe periodontitis from 1990 through projections to 2050 found the burden is expected to stay roughly stable rather than decline, with men and adults aged 50 to 64 carrying the greatest share and wide gaps by state. The researchers pointed to aging populations and uneven access to care as the two forces practices will keep running into.
That is the case for treating September as more than a hashtag. Here is how to use the month well, both with patients and with your own supply planning.
Audit the perio side of your supply order
A gum health push only works if the practice can act on what it finds. Before the month gets busy, it is worth checking stock levels on the items a heavier focus on periodontal screening tends to pull through faster:
- Periodontal probes and explorers, including backups for multiple operatories running screenings the same week
- Ultrasonic scaler tips and hand instrument sharpening supplies
- Local anesthetic and antimicrobial irrigation solutions used during scaling and root planing
- Site-specific antibiotic and antimicrobial delivery products for pocket depths that need more than instrumentation
- Patient take-home care: interdental brushes, water flossers, and antimicrobial or prescription-strength rinses to send home after a periodontal visit
Use the month to close a documentation gap
Gum Care Month is also a low-pressure reason to check whether periodontal charting is happening consistently across every provider and hygienist in the practice, not just the ones who default to it. A quick chart audit, comparing how often full periodontal charting versus a screening-only exam gets used, often turns up inconsistency that has nothing to do with clinical judgment and everything to do with time pressure on a busy schedule. September is a reasonable month to standardize that, since the awareness push gives the team a shared reason to slow down and chart fully.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Gum Care Month? National Gum Care Month is observed every September in the United States, drawing attention to periodontal disease prevention and treatment.
What percentage of US adults have gum disease? According to CDC data drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 42% of US adults aged 30 and older have periodontitis, and approximately 8% have a severe form.
What supplies see higher demand during a gum health awareness push? Practices typically see increased use of periodontal probes, ultrasonic scaler tips, antimicrobial irrigation and rinse products, and patient take-home interdental care products as periodontal screening and treatment volume rises.
How can a dental supply order support a Gum Care Month campaign? Checking perio-related stock levels before the month starts, rather than mid-month, prevents a successful awareness push from being undercut by backordered scaling or take-home care products.
