Bleeding gums is often thought of as a natural effect of brushing too hard. When a person sees their gum bleeding when they brush, they would easily dismiss it thinking that it is natural. However, dentists and doctors alike claim that it is not.
What is Periodontal Gum Disease?
Periodontal gum disease, or periodontitis, is an inflammation of the gums, ligaments, and tissues surrounding your teeth. It comes from the actual meaning of perio and dontal. Perio means “around”, while dontal means “teeth”. Hence, periodontal disease refers to the inflammation and infection of the parts that are around your teeth.
Periodontal disease is the more serious form of gingivitis. When the latter is left untreated, the infection can spread towards the surrounding ligaments and tissues causing your teeth’s foundation to become loose. If this happens, your teeth can easily fall off.
Natural Remedies to Have Healthy Gums
While periodontal gum disease is already a serious dental problem, there are still ways to treat it. Eliminate periodontal disease naturally with these five remedies.
- Salt and Water
Salt and water are a classic antibacterial mouthwash. If you have had sore throat before, your parents might have told you to gargle lukewarm water and salt. This is because salt is a natural disinfectant which will help kill the bacteria in your mouth. When coupled with warm water, it can be a simple yet strong home remedy for any kind of oral bacterial problem.
Some benefits of salt and water include reduced gum inflammation, reduced throat and gum pain, and no bad breath.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C is famous for improving the immune system and taking care of the body. To take advantage of this powerful vitamin, drink the right dose of vitamin C daily. If you can, add citrus fruits to your daily diet. Citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, and kiwi can help kill the bacteria in your mouth. Other sources of Vitamin C are red pepper, Brussels sprouts, and papaya.
Unlike other natural remedies, vitamin C is more effective when it is digested by the body. Hence, you should swap your sweets to citrus fruits if you want to have healthy teeth and gums.
- Coconut Oil
Oil pulling is an Indian technique for removing bacteria. It is done by swishing oil in your mouth. This is different from gargling as you don’t have to actually gargle. All you have to do is make sure every part of your mouth has been swished with oil.
One of the most popular oils used in oil pulling is coconut oil. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid which has anti-inflammatory properties that will help kill the bacteria in your mouth. It is also known to give other benefits such as whiter teeth and fresher breath.
- Neem
Another natural remedy is neem. You may have heard of neem when it comes to insect repellants. However, neem has other health benefits including antibacterial properties. Since the root cause of periodontal disease is bacteria, you should use mouthwash that contains neem. In a study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, children who were given neem mouthwash to be used for three weeks showed that they have reduced plaque buildup.
- Aloe Vera
Lastly, you have aloe vera. Just like neem and coconut oil, aloe vera has a set of health benefits that can be used to prevent periodontal disease. One of those benefits is reduced plaque.
You can use aloe vera as a mouthwash by either swishing aloe vera in your mouth or creating a mixture with water. Some people find aloe vera mouthwash easier to bear when it is mixed with a small amount of water. To see results, swish aloe vera twice a day.
Best Dental Tip
While there are many natural remedies to treat periodontal disease, the best treatment is still in proper oral care. This means that you should practice brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist to maintain good and healthy gums. Without doing so, it may be hard to mitigate periodontal disease.
The key to reducing (or even preventing) periodontal disease is to take care of your teeth and gums. At the end of the day, no amount of reactive remedy can substitute for preventive measures.