Natural Gingivitis Treatment - Useful Tips and Remedies

Are you seeking natural gingivitis treatment? Here are some useful tips and remedies.

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums and it is the result of plaque deposits on the teeth over a long period of time.

Plaque is a sticky material made up of bacteria and mucus mixed with food debris which has developed on the exposed parts of the teeth. A major cause of tooth decay if not removed, plaque can turn into hard deposits (tartar) that can become trapped at the base of teeth. Bacteria as well as the toxins they produce in turn irritate the gums, causing them to become infected.

Although plaque is the main cause of gum disease, injury (from any cause, including overly vigorous brushing or flossing of the teeth) can also be a cause or a contributing factor.

Other factors to periodontal disease (gingivitis) can be general illness, poor oral hygiene, misaligned teeth, rough edges of fillings (chips or other damage), or ill-fitting / unclean mouth pieces, such as dentures, bridges, braces or crowns.

Hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, or a women's menstrual cycle cause an increase in gum sensitivity, as does taking birth control pills. Uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications, and heavy metals such as lead are also associated with gingivitis.

By knowing the contributing causes and associated risk factors of gum inflammation, you would be able to take active preventative measures and make changes to your daily habits, which would form an important part of natural gingivitis treatment.

Healthy gums are pink and firm in appearance. If this changes in your mouth, symptoms of gingivitis are bleeding gums - even with gentle brushing, deep to semi-bright red gums that are tender when touched, mouth sores, and / or swelling.

Goals for gingivitis treatment include reducing inflammation. Though the removal of plaque, by your dentist, from inflamed gums can be uncomfortable, it is necessary, and the bleeding and tenderness has usually lessened within the first few weeks after professional cleaning.

Warm salt water solutions or antibacterial mouth rinses as well as washes made from sage oil, menthol, peppermint oil, or tincture of chamomile should be gargled twice daily as part of gingivitis treatment. Rubbing clove oil on the gums or just keeping a few whole cloves in your mouth can help. Using toothpaste containing sage or peppermint oil will help too, as will frequent, careful brushing and flossing.

Additional goals of treating gingivitis include reducing swelling in the depth of the pockets that have formed around teeth, stopping any disease progression, and promoting the reattachment of healthy gums to teeth.

Most gingivitis can be reversed with proper plaque control. This includes good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing teeth), lifestyle changes promoting healthy choices with the teeth in mind, and regular dental check-ups. A well-balanced diet is the best long term treatment for gingivitis.

Once you are on your way to recovery, incorporate lots of fiber into the diet. Fiber helps to get rid of the bacteria that grows in the mouth and which is at the root of the problem. Eating high fiber meals (whole, raw fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, etc) or supplementing your meals with fiber products is desirable.

Vitamins (especially C) and minerals (potassium, iron, magnesium and zinc) are necessary in helping to fight bacteria, in aiding to build stronger gums, and for a speedy recovery.

For more tips and potentially useful gingivitis treatments, read the other related gingivitis articles and pages.

Read More: More on Gingivitis | Natural Health Remedies for Various Ailments and Conditions | Home Page | Site Search

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