Almost everyone will experience gingivitis at some point in their lives. It is a gum infection that is initially so mild that many people are unaware they have it. The first sign of an infection is tender, swollen gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss your teeth. Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, or gum disease, even though it only initially manifests as a slight swelling.
Gingivitis is caused by a buildup of plaque—microscopic wads of bacteria, mucus and food particles—which naturally occurs in your mouth. Left unchecked, this bacteria grows exponentially until it infects and irritates your gums. It also makes your breath stink. The constant buildup eventually allows the bacteria to attack the soft tissue underneath your gums and even your teeth.
As if all that wasn’t bad enough, Gingivitis bacteria can actually slip into your bloodstream, causing all kinds of health effects including respiratory disease, lung issues and heart disease. This bacteria can also release a number of toxins which have negative effects on pregnant women, even inducing premature labour and causing low birth weight in babies. All in all, Gingivitis is a pretty terrifying disease when left unchecked.
Luckily you don’t have to spend a fortune to get rid of Gingivitis. The following habits and remedies will help you get rid of it and keep it from coming back:
1. Gargle with salt water
It might taste gross, but salt water is far more effective than mouthwash for removing Gingivitis and cleaning your mouth properly. Mix half a tea spoon of salt into a lukewarm glass of water and rinse your mouth with it the same way you would with regular mouthwash. This has the added benefit of drawing infection out of any abscesses in your mouth.
2. Turmeric
The active ingredient in Turmeric, curcumin, has a range of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. You can buy it in a powder form and mix a small amount of it with a small amount of water to form a kind of tooth paste. Brush your teeth with this daily to eliminate both the pain in your gums and the bacteria causing the Gingivitis. If you brush with Turmeric every day your Gingivitis should disappear after roughly two weeks.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda is good for a massive range of things around the house, and it’s particularly good for cleaning your teeth. You can mix ¼ of a teaspoon of baking soda with a little bit of warm water to make a paste that will effectively eliminate your Gingivitis. Unlike the Turmeric paste, you want to simply apply this to your gums for 1-2 minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and repeat the procedure twice a week. You can keep doing this regularly after your Gingivitis has disappeared to keep further infections from developing.
4. Lemon Juice
This might be the best tasting option on the list and it provides a range of benefits. Lemon juice has anti-septic and anti-inflammatory properties that can help keep the pain at bay, as well as vitamin C which makes it easier for your body to fight off further infections. You want to stick with freshly squeezed lemon juice as most store bought lemon juice is severely sweetened. Mix the juice of a single lemon into a tall glass of warm water. You can use this solution as a much more pleasant mouth wash than the salt water solution mentioned earlier.
5. Aloe Vera
An Aloe Vera plant is a great investment for your house. It gives your house an earthy feel and can be used to deal with all kinds of injuries. Aloe Vera is particularly good for dealing with burns and gum infections because of its antibacterial and anti fungal properties. Simply grab a leaf, break it open and rub the pulp directly on your gums. Leave the pulp on infected spots for 10 minutes, then rinse it out thoroughly with either warm water or one of the solutions mentioned above. You can safely repeat this 3-4 times daily until the condition dissipates.
Curing Gingivitis is all about taking regular care of your teeth. Almost all cases of Gingivitis are caused by poor oral hygiene, so remember to start fighting your infection by brushing thoroughly twice a day.
Thank you so much for reading my tips!
Stay Happy, Stay Healthy!