Gum disease (periodontal disease) is the inflammation of the gums, bones and connective tissues that support the teeth. It is caused by bacterial infection and can manifest in either gingivitis or periodontitis.
Gingivitis is the swelling or inflammation of the gingivae, while periodontitis is the infection or inflammation of the bones and connective tissues or ligaments.
Gum disease normally starts as gingivitis but degenerates into periodontitis without immediate gum disease treatment. The problem spreads from the gums into the support structures of your teeth. It weakens, loosens, and eventually causes the teeth to fall out. Gum disease is preventable and reversible in the early stage (gingivitis) but the advanced stage (periodontitis) requires more serious treatments with impending damage done to the mouth.
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Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease
The signs and symptoms of periodontal disease include:
- Serious pain when eating, chewing or brushing
- Bad breath
- Pus in the gums or in-between the teeth
- Loose teeth or teeth that fall out
- Teeth sensitivity
- Changes in how partial dentures fit
- New gaps in-between the teeth
- Changes in the way the teeth fit together when biting
- Painful or tender gums
- Swollen, puffy or receding gums
- Teeth that appear long
- Bleeding in the gums when eating or brushing
- Redness, purplish or shiny gums
Stages of Gum Disease
There are 4 main stages of gum disease, which range from pre-diagnosis to advanced periodontal disease. These stages include:
Gingivitis: Swelling or inflammation of the gum. This is the very early stage of the infection and hasn’t gotten to the bones or ligament. Tender gums that bleed easily is the common symptoms of gingivitis.
Early Periodontitis: The escalated form without immediate gum disease treatment for gingivitis. This early-stage periodontitis causes receding gums, creating little pockets that fill with bacteria. This stage comes with pain and bleeding in the gum as well as some bone loss in some cases.
Moderate Periodontitis: The next phase when early-stage periodontitis is left untreated. Moderate periodontitis results in painful, bleeding, and receding gums, as well as, loosening of the teeth.
Advanced Periodontitis: The severest form of periodontal disease. It breaks down the gums, bones, ligaments, and all the support structures of the teeth. Advanced periodontitis causes a bad taste in your mouth, severe pain when eating or chewing, bad breath, and tooth loss.
Conventional treatment for gum disease includes proper mouth and teeth cleaning as long as the gingivitis has not worsened into periodontitis. Gingivitis can be easily reversed without medication by regular dental visits (at least twice a year) for dental cleanings and at-home brushing, flossing, and mouth rinses. Early-stage periodontitis requires deep cleaning and scaling while advanced periodontitis requires scaling, root planning, and maybe a corrective surgery.
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Natural Remedies for Gum Disease Treatment
Nevertheless, there are also some natural remedies for gum disease treatment. Early-stage gum disease may be treated by natural options, which include:
Observing A Proper Oral Hygiene Routine
Whether you’re making regular visits to your emergency dentist near me for professional dental cleaning or not, it’s very important to observe good and proper oral hygiene practices and keep your mouth clean as much as possible. Doing this will help you to fight bacterial infections.
- Brush your teeth at least twice every day. If possible, brush after each meal. Brush all the tooth surfaces and the gum line. Brush in-between your teeth well to remove food particles.
- Floss at least twice daily to remove food particles and bacteria.
- Use a medium-bristled toothbrush and replace it at least every three months. You may consider a probiotic toothpaste.
- Use fluoridate toothpaste.
Use A Natural Antimicrobial Mouthwash
Most herbal mouth rinses have potent natural antimicrobial and antibacterial effects. You may create your own homemade mouthwash by using any of these recipes:
- Hydrogen Peroxide (3%), in equal amount to water, add a few drops of honey and essential peppermint oil.
- Undiluted Aloe Vera juice.
- A cup of warm water with a few drops of tea tree oil or lemongrass essential oil.
- Warm salt water.
Revamp Your Diet
Foods rich in carbohydrates can enhance the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Though there is no official diet recommendation to ward off gum disease, research suggests that the ideal gum disease diet probably includes:
- Diets low in refined sugars
- Diets high in fiber, vegetables and fruits
- Diets with fish oil and plenty of antioxidants, such as artichokes, avocados, dark chocolate, kiwi, beans, leafy greens, and broccoli, etc.
Note that certain vitamin deficiencies can put you at risk for gum irritation, tooth decay, bone loss, and other dental problems.
Use A Natural Gum Rub or Gel
Apply a natural gel or paste to your gums to potentially combat gum disease. Some of these
- Black cumin gel
- Neem gel
- Aloe Vera gel
- Turmeric gel
- Clove rub
Avoid An Unhealthy Lifestyle
Your lifestyle can impact your physical well-being. Avoid the following lifestyle-related aggravators to reduce your risk of oral health problems.
- Don’t smoke.
- Reduce stress.
- Manage your comorbid conditions.
Observing the natural remedies for gum disease treatment listed above can help you to prevent gum disease. If you need more information about gum disease Houston or you desire a lasting gum disease treatment for your periodontal disease, don’t hesitate to contact Edge Dental Houston today.
