Gingivitis is something that happens to almost everyone at some point in their lives, it’s another word for gum disease which is caused due to a bacterial infection. When bacteria builds up in your gums, it turns into plaque and tartar, which is made up of bacteria, mucus, and food particles that are not cleaned properly inside the mouth. This is why it’s so important to wash your teeth twice a day and use dental floss to make sure nothing stays between your teeth, which is where gingivitis starts.
What are symptoms of gingivitis?
Many people can go without knowing they have gingivitis because it’s not painful. Here are some of the most common symptoms:
- Inflammation of the gums
- Soft gums
- Receding gums
- Bleeding gums when you brush or floss
- Red gums
- Bad breath
- Sore gums
The best thing to do when you notice any of these symptoms is to visit your dentist, he or she can properly diagnose and even provide you with treatment or medication. If you are able to diagnose gingivitis at an early stage, you might be able to treat it with the following home remedies.
Changing your toothpaste, flossing, and using mouthwash: Your dentist will recommend that you change your toothpaste and mouthwash to products that focus on gingivitis and help prevent tartar and plaque. He or she will also remind you of how important it is to floss after every meal. Most people use mouthwash after brushing, but the right order is: first you floss to help loosen food caught between your teeth, then you rinse your mouth with mouthwash, and lastly you brush in light circular strokes for about 2 minutes and rinse with water. If you use mouthwash after you brush, it removes fluoride, which helps resist the acid attack that leads to tooth decay.
Salt water: Add half a teaspoon of salt to a lukewarm glass of water. Rinse or gargle with this water 2 or 3 times a day.
Coconut oil: You can use coconut oil directly on your teeth, which help remove bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes wash away from inside your mouth. Leave the oil on your gums for 15 minutes, then spit it out and rinse your mouth with water.
Baking soda: There is toothpaste out on the market that has baking soda as their main ingredient, but you can simply make a baking soda paste with water. Brush your teeth every 2-3 days.
Lemon water: Everyone loves lemonade, and using lemon water to get rid of gingivitis will not seem as a punishment. Simply squeeze a lemon into a glass of water and rinse your mouth with this water.
Aloe Vera: Buy an Aloe Vera leaf and scrape the gel and apply it on your affected gums. You can wash it away with water after you leave it for a couple of minutes. Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties and Aloe Vera gel can help get rid of plaque-induced gingivitis.