CDC states that a whopping 47%+ of people around the globe suffer from different gum diseases in which the most common form of infection is gingivitis. It is actually a route to more worsening gum problems which require removal of teeth due to the infection affecting the roots and even requiring expensive surgeries. So what happens when you have gingivitis and how you can get rid of your gingivitis?. Here we are suggesting 15 super guides on how to get rid of gingivitis.
Where It Happens Most
Gingivitis is most common in countries where hygiene is very low. However, most dentists in countries like the US report that the number of patients that they address to each year has a background where they do not maintain proper hygiene of their teeth. This is a dejected thing to witness when we are living in the 2000millennium. Gingivitis forms as bacteria form colonies in around the gums, these promote infection and, then, the disease occurs.
Symptoms of Gingivitis
- The initial symptoms might vary but they include reddening of the gum, swollen, the gum feeling puffy, pain and sometimes bleeding.
- Besides these, the symptoms might also include a bad odor in your mouth, the lining of your gums and teeth declining and the teeth becoming loose. Unfortunately, this worsens when you eat something or brush your teeth.
How Do You Save Your Teeth From Gingivitis and Get Rid of it?
Get Rid of Gingivitis
1. Brush and Floss Regularly
Because gingivitis is caused by bacteria in your mouth the first step is to make sure that you are killing these bacteria before it can cause gingivitis. If you already see signs of gingivitis the first and foremost thing to do is to brush your teeth twice everyday (morning when you get up and before you go to bed).
You also need to make sure that you are flossing because you want to get all the food from between your teeth. When you brush your teeth make sure that you are spending at least three minutes on it and brush in small circles on your teeth. Do not forget to brush your tongue. There are many different types of toothpaste in the market, make sure that you buy toothpaste which has lime, mint, salt and fluoride in them. Also, using a good toothbrush with soft bristles is important too.
We are recommending soft bristles as they do not cause your gums to bruise and bleed. If you are suffering from gingivitis, there are few home remedies that you can try to cure them quickly so that they do not progress to something worse.
2. Use Antiseptic Mouthwash
You should make sure that after each brushing you are using a medicated mouthwash. Choose your mouthwash carefully. You are going to need one with anti-bacterial properties. It will also stop building up of plaque. If you don’t know which of the commercially available mouthwashes to use, you can just make one yourself using some natural ingredients. There are some that will be perfect for you.
Use the mint flavored mouthwashes because mint can kill the bacteria that cause gingivitis naturally. The mint should be real mint and not imitation. Two of the mints that are effective to get rid of gingivitis are spearmint and peppermint.
Most antiseptic mouthwashes contain a high amount of alcohol and if you have gingivitis already it might be best to avoid antiseptic mouthwashes as the alcohol could irritate your gums further. Once you have your gingivitis under control you can go back to antiseptic mouthwashes to prevent it from coming back. You can use antiseptic mouthwash several times a day if you want.
Home Remedies for Mouthwash Include:
- Mix a couple of teaspoons of baking soda with a small amount of peroxide and rinse your mouth with it
- Mix a fourth teaspoon of table salt to a cup of warm water
- Add to a cup of water a few drops of different oils like thyme, clove, myrrh, and peppermint oil.
- Use water and three percent hydrogen peroxide in equal amount and swish out your mouth daily for about thirty seconds.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Yellow Teeth Effectively
3. Lemon Or Lemon Juice
Lemon is also known to be a great item to help cure the ulcers in your mouth. The reason behind is that it has vitamin C in it which promotes healing of wounds – thus, decreasing infection. You can try mixing lemon juice with lukewarm water and then gargle with it. Also, you can mix salt with the lemon juice and then apply the mixture to your gums. Leave for a couple of minutes and then rinse it off. Regularly doing this will ease the condition of your gums.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe is another natural artifact that helps in reducing gingivitis. Aloe gel or aloe juice has such varied uses and benefits for the body and one of them includes treating infection in your mouth. You can try applying aloe gel directly to the affected region and let it rest for about ten to twelve minutes. After that, wash it off. This should be done more than a couple of times everyday. Aloe’s antiseptic property makes it ideal for treating gingivitis.
5. Vitamin C
Because your body does not store vitamin C you need to make sure that you are getting the right daily amount through foods that are rich in vitamin C and/or supplements. This vitamin is essential for your dental health work from the inside as a natural antibiotic and can boost the healing of gingivitis along with keeping your gums healthy. The best foods that contain a lot of vitamin C are vegetables and fruits.
6. Eat a Healthy, Well-balanced Diet
Make sure that you are staying away from sugary foods and instead eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially the leafy type of vegetables. You want to eat foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, E, C and zinc that are good for your body.
You should also make sure that you are drinking enough water a day to keep your body hydrated. Do not always eat soft food, but try to incorporate crunchy foods in your diet. You should eat a piece of raw crunchy vegetable or fruit each day.
7. Use a Powdered Mixture of Peppermint, Myrrh, White Oak Bark, and Clove.
To make the mixture use:
- One teaspoon myrrh herbal powder
- Two teaspoons white oak bark herbal powder
- Three-fourths teaspoon powdered peppermint leaves
- One eighth teaspoon clove powder
Grind all four ingredients together and store it in a container that is air tight. In the morning and at night take a tablespoon of the powdered mixture and rub it on the affected gums. If it is too bitter tasting you can add a little more peppermint to the mix.
8. Baking Soda
Another antiseptic property containing compound is baking soda. It is alkaline in nature and, so, maintains the pH in your mouth to a neutral level. You can try using this method: take a little amount of baking soda and mix with lukewarm water to make a paste. Apply that to your gums and rest for a minute or so. Wash it off soon after; it is best to do this once or twice a week only.
9. Peppermint Oil
On the other hand, peppermint is germ-killing in nature and so it is another popular item to treat any mouth infection at home. Here is what you can do: take a few fresh leaves of peppermint and crush it in a pastel. Then soak it in warm water; plus, make sure your pastel is clean as I would advise you to wash off your pastel so that no juice is wasted. After ten minutes or so, the water will have cooled down to lukewarm and the juice mixed with it. Rinse and gurgle with that water for about five to fifteen minutes. You should do this everyday until the condition improves.
10. Salt
Salt is known to cure gingivitis very well because of its property of disinfection. You can try mixing about two to three spoon of salt with a water – warm enough to drink. You can then gurgle twice each for ten minutes or so. Do this everyday till you see improved results.
11. Choose the Right Toothpaste
Make sure that the toothpaste you are using will kill the bacteria in your mouth and will remove plaque from your teeth. The ingredients should not be too abrasive or harsh on your teeth but will kill the microorganisms causing your gingivitis. The toothpaste should contain fluoride to help strengthen the enamel on your teeth and help to prevent bacteria from growing in your mouth.
The anti-bacterial properties also help to reduce the buildup of plaque. Always use antibacterial toothpaste. This can help you fight plaque 24/7, long after you have completed all of your oral hygiene routines. Also, you need to brush your teeth effectively, following proper procedures. You need to brush for two minutes, twice, every day.
12. Turmeric Powder
Turmeric has curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It could reduce pain, plaque, inflammation and swelling in your gums. Also, it reduces all bacterial activities to stop infection. It has its anti-plaque, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that make turmeric very efficient in order to get rid of gingivitis.
13. Help from Pharmacy
Apart from these, items that can help you to get rid of gingivitis and cure it can be brought from the pharmacy. These includes toothpaste, mouthwash and ointments that can be directly applied to your gums. Some of these are over the counter while other needs to be prescribed by your dentist. These products contain compound like peroxides, ubiquinone, chlorhexidine gluconate and so.
14. Chew Raw Vegetables
Raw and fresh vegetables are good for general health improvements. Vegetables are vitamin enriched and low in calories and fats. Chewing up raw vegetables improves blood circulation in your gums and it also helps to decrease and treat bleeding of gums well.
15. Drinks
- Sugar-free cranberry juice each day to help the bacteria from spreading
- Green tea to get immediate relief from your swollen gums
- Water to rinse your mouth if you cannot brush after eating
- Squeeze one-half lemon into a cup of water to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria. If it is too sour to drink you can use it as a mouthwash
- Strong chamomile tea to help reduce the swelling and inflammation
16. Tea Tree Oil
Besides those mentioned above, other home remedies that you can try is by using tea tree oil and peppermint. Tea tree oil like aloe Vera has the same multi-beneficial properties and it is very much recommended to cure gingivitis. Moreover, you can try applying the oil directly to your gums everyday for best results.
17. Hydrogen Peroxide
Two great sources of hydrogen peroxide are salt and baking soda. Salt is an effective cure for gingivitis because of its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Salt helps treat inflamed and swollen gums. Baking soda is also a great gingivitis remedy. It will neutralize all the acids in your mouth, reducing the risks of gum disease and tooth decay. It works like a natural antiseptic to prevent infections.
18. Massage your Gums and Rinse it with Pure Water
After you brush every day, use a gum massager or use your finger to massage your gums. This will increase blood circulation in them and prevent swelling.
All these home remedies and mentioned do it yourself (DIY) tips are highly effective to get rid of gingivitis.
To conclude, you should regularly visit your dentist and follow what he or she advises you to do. Don’t take as lightly as it can harm you a lot. Follow the techniques above and get rid of gingivitis.
