Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. At this stage, the problem is completely reversible. Prevention is the best remedy when it comes to early-stage gum diseases such as gingivitis. This article discusses some home remedies and a few other strategies that can be applied to prevent gingivitis and ensure that your mouth is free from bacterial infections.
How to treat gingivitis?
The most common symptom of gingivitis is bleeding or inflammation of gums. As soon as you notice this symptom you can start taking preventive measures to stop the problem from escalating. Treating gingivitis in time and preventing it from reoccurring should be your objective.
A few of these home remedies could be considered as initial treatment:
Saltwater rinse: Saltwater can be very effective in treating inflamed gums. It is one of the best disinfectants to kill bacteria. Repeat the rinsing procedure regularly to remove the plaque buildup from your mouth.
Regular brushing: Follow a proper technique and brush your teeth at least two times a day. After the consumption of sweets, ensure that you brush your teeth. It is also advisable that you apply medium pressure while brushing. Make sure to change your brush every three months as worn out bristles are not going to help teeth stay away from bacterial infection.
Floss thoroughly: Slide the floss thread thoroughly between each tooth and gum line. Choose a floss thread based on your mouth type.
Homemade mouthwash: Apart from saltwater rinse, other mouthwashes can be tried. These include lemongrass, aloe vera, tea tree oil, sage, and guava leaf mouthwashes. Make sure to regularly use the mouthwash till the time the inflammation of gums reduces.
Turmeric gel: Turmeric is believed to have healing properties and is effective in treating many problems, including gingivitis. Leave the turmeric gel on around the gum areas and rinse after 10 minutes. Continue the process until the problem reduces.
Oil pulling: Oil pulling is another technique that not everyone is aware of. Swirl 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil or Arimedadi (sweet acacia) oil for thirty minutes. These oils have antifungal properties and can help eliminate plaque.
If the home remedies don’t work, you can visit your dentist. The dentist might opt for any of the following procedures:
Deep cleaning: This is not just regular cleaning. It involves expertise. A dentist could do this with the help of special equipment. Regular cleaning goes above the gum line, but deep cleaning goes under the gum line.
Scaling: It is removing the tartar both above and below the gum line. It could be a painful process if the tartar has hardened over a long period of time.
Root planing: The rough surface of the tooth is cleaned thoroughly. This will ultimately help the gums reattach to the tooth.
Medications
- Use anti-gingivitis mouthwash and toothpaste
- Antiseptic chip or Antibiotic microspheres are inserted into gums. They release medication slowly over a period of time to reduce the size of the gap between gums and tooth.
- Oral antibiotics are advised in case of severe problems.
- Enzyme suppressants could be consumed to block certain enzymes from breaking down the gum tissue.
- An antibiotic gel could be applied after the deep cleaning process to prevent future infections.
Surgery
If the above-mentioned remedies do not solve the problem, then it is advisable to opt for surgery.
