Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a very mild gum disease and involves the swelling of the gums caused by irritation from tartar and plaque.

Plaque is a thin film formed by colonizing bacteria and their by-products that coats your teeth. This is an everyday occurrence in your mouth.

When this builds up on and in-between your teeth hardened deposits called tartar form in the gum line. Tartar is harder to remove and requires professional dental cleaning.

People with gingivitis don’t usually feel any pain from the swelling but it causes the gums to bleed easily. Since there is no pain, you might just notice that your gums bleed easily when you brush or floss.

Healthy gums are pink and firm while gums in gingivitis are dark red and swollen. This can also be another sign to watch out for.

Poor oral hygiene is the number one cause of gingivitis but there can also be some other lifestyle and medical conditions that predispose a person to having gingivitis.

Smoking, substance abuse, and poor nutrition are some of the lifestyle risk factors. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, decreased immunity, viral and fungal infections, diabetes, and old age all can predispose you to developing gingivitis.

Gingivitis is a very mild gum disease but may lead to more serious periodontal disease when left untreated.

It is advisable to use home remedies to get rid of gingivitis or get an appointment with your dentist long before it develops into a serious condition.

Natural Cures for Gingivitis:

Brush and Floss Regularly:

This home remedy is the simplest and highly effective in promoting good oral hygiene that can prevent and cure gingivitis.

Mouth Wash:

Another simple home remedy is gargling with a mouthwash after brushing further eliminates plaque-forming bacteria.

There are several preparations available in your neighborhood pharmacy that you can choose from or you can opt to use some natural cures available as a mouth rinse.

Peppermint Mouthwash:

A few leaves of peppermint (Yerba buena) soaked in a glass of water for 30-45 minutes makes a glass of mouth rinse you can use after brushing.

This natural cure is so easy to make and leaves a fresh, "minty" breath.

Guava Leaf Decoction:

One of the more effective natural cures available is the guava leaf.

Boil a cup of fresh guava leaves in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes. Let cool.

Use the resulting decoction as a mouthwash to be used after brushing.

The guava leaf has been proven to have antibiotic and antifungal properties and is therefore effective in getting rid of plaque-forming bacteria.

In fact, brushing the fresh leaves against your teeth can serve the same purpose as tooth brushes and is actually taught in some jungle environment survival schools.

Eat Fruits:

This is another natural cure for gingivitis.

Since poor nutrition, specifically low Vitamin C intake can predispose one to have gingivitis eating Vitamin C rich foods can successfully prevent or cure the disease.

Taking multivitamin supplements can also help you get the daily recommended dose of vitamins and minerals needed for good resistance.

Visit your Dentist:

The most helpful and most effective of the home remedies available is visiting your dentist for proper cleaning and advise.

Tartar is hard to remove by brushing alone and requires professional cleaning.

Your dentist can also give you personalized regimens for getting rid of gingivitis.