How to Reverse Mild Gum Disease
Posted on: 23 January 2018
Share
Gum disease is an incredibly common condition, characterised at first by sore or infected gums. As the NHS explains, the earliest form of gum disease is known as gingivitis, a very common condition which causes bleeding gums and mild bad breath. However, if left untreated, it will develop into a more serious condition called periodontitis, which can eventually lead to tooth loss. The best thing you can do when diagnosed with mild gum disease is to work to reverse it, therefore preventing it from developing into periodontitis.
Improve Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Having a good daily routine is perhaps the most important aspect of your fight against gum disease. Make sure you brush your teeth twice a day, as well as flossing using interdental brushes to clean between your teeth. You might also want to try an antimicrobial mouthwash after meals to make sure your mouth is as clean as possible.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
If you're struggling with gum disease, then twice-yearly visits to a dentist are one of the best things you can do. Visit at least every six months, as getting your teeth cleaned professionally is great for your gums. Your dentist will also be able to advise you on your overall oral health, the state of your gums and what you can do to improve. In certain cases, they may also recommend medication or other treatments. This may include antibiotics, special toothpaste and medicated mouthwash.
Investigate Natural Remedies
It's probably not a good idea to focus on natural remedies instead of good oral hygiene and regular dentist visits, but it might be interesting to try a natural home remedy with antibacterial or anti-inflammatory properties. Natural Society has a range of suggestions, with the most well-researched being oil pulling, which helps to clean the teeth and soothe sore gums.
Look at Your Lifestyle
Oral health isn't just about brushing your teeth: The rest of your lifestyle is important too. As well as eating a nutrient-rich diet to promote tooth health, it's also incredibly important to stop smoking if applicable. Smoking tobacco can make gum disease progress significantly faster.
While any stage of gum disease can be worrying and lead to serious oral health problems, there are a lot of steps you can take to reverse the process early on. With these few simple steps, you can increase the health of your gums and reduce the risk of lost teeth.