Home remedies can ease some symptoms of gum disease, but they are not a cure. See your dentist for treatment.

Gum disease affects nearly half of all people over 30 to some degree, with 9 percent having the most severe form of this common yet serious dental condition. Treatment by a dentist can reverse the earliest stage of gum disease (gingivitis). But can home remedies also cure gum disease?

While home-based treatments can reduce inflammation, such therapies are not a substitute for professional dental care. It’s best to contact your dentist for diagnosis and treatment at the earliest sign of gum disease.

What are the signs of gum disease?

The warm environment of the mouth creates the perfect setting for bacteria to thrive. Daily brushing and flossing clean off most of the bacteria. But if the bacteria isn’t removed, it forms a sticky substance known as plaque. The plaque then attracts more bacteria that infect the gums. Over time, plaque hardens into tartar, inflaming the gums and leading to gum disease.

Gum disease is a progressive chronic condition with symptoms worsening as the disease advances. The initial stage, gingivitis, is characterized by swollen, bleeding gums. However, the teeth remain supported by gum tissue and bone. At this point, good dental hygiene practices and non-surgical treatments from your dentist can reverse gingivitis.

But without treatment, gingivitis can progress to advanced gum disease or periodontitis. As the bacterial infection on the gums grows, your teeth may become loose, and you’ll notice bad breath. Gum recession, pus seeping from the gums, and pain when chewing are other signs of periodontitis.

Can home remedies help gum disease?

Home remedies can alleviate some unpleasant side effects of gum disease, such as painful inflammation. They may also reduce bacteria. However, these are not cures for gum disease, and you should consult your dentists before trying any method you read on the Internet, as they may not always be safe. 

Remember, only your dentist can reverse gum disease from progressing further.

You and your dentist have various options to cure and manage gum disease. Non-surgical methods include daily brushing and flossing. A thorough cleaning of the gums and tooth root called scaling and root planing can be performed by your dentist. These treatments can successfully reverse gingivitis.

At the latter stages, periodontitis can be treated with surgical methods to replace lost bone and gum tissue with grafts. These therapies can prevent tooth loss.

While you may think slight bleeding when brushing is nothing serious, you should never ignore that symptom. It’s an early sign of gum disease and cannot be eliminated with home remedies. Talk to your dentist about professional treatment because gum disease doesn’t only affect your mouth. Researchers believe the bacteria in your mouth can travel to other parts of your body, including your heart, and cause additional health problems.

By practicing good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing daily and seeing your dentist regularly, you are not only keeping your gums healthy but the rest of your body, too. 

Time to treat your gums!

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s Norman, OK, location today! Our highly trained dentists can check your gums for signs of gingivitis and initiate treatment. Don’t live near our Norman, OK, office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Norman, OK
550 24th Ave. S.W.
Norman, OK 73069