Gingivitis

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Gingivitis

We spend the better part of our lives fighting cavities tooth and nail. Then when we hit our thirties and forties, we have to worry about another threat to our pearly whites: gum disease, or gingivitis.

The problem can be caused by any number of the 300 or so different types of bacteria that take shelter in our mouths. Without proper brushing and flossing, some of these bacteria burrow into our gums, resulting in a plaque buildup known as gingivitis that causes gums to redden, swell and bleed easily. Although it’s painless, gingivitis can lead to the more serious and more painful periodontitis as well as eventual tooth loss. The natural remedies in this chapter—in conjunction with medical care and used with your dentist’s approval—may help control gingivitis, according to some health professionals.

See Your Medical Doctor When... You have bad breath that doesn’t go away within 24 hours. Your teeth look longer, the result of gums shrinking away from your teeth. Your teeth are loose, fall out or break off near the gum line. You notice a change in your tooth alignment, the way your bite feels. Your dentures fit differently. Pus pockets form between your teeth and gums. Your gums are still swollen, sore or bleeding despite good oral hygiene.

Aromatherapy

When gums look inflamed and irritated, add a drop of tea tree essential oil to your toothbrush, on top of the toothpaste, before brushing, says Fair Oaks, California, aromatherapist Victoria Edwards. This is also great preventive medicine, says Edwards. “tea tree is a natural antiseptic and helps prevent gum disease before it starts.”

For information on preparing and administering essential oils, including cautions about their use, see page 19. For information on purchasing essential oils, refer to the resource list on page 633.

Food Therapy

“High intake of vitamin C has been shown to be as effective in controlling gingivitis as brushing and flossing,” says Richard D. Fischer, D.D.S., a dentist in Annandale, Virginia, and president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. While that’s not to say you shouldn’t brush and floss, vita min C makes gums less likely to bleed and promotes the healing process, says Dr. Fischer. And, he points out, it helps strengthen the gum tissue, making it less vulnerable to bacteria and other irritants. He recommends trying to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, including vitamin C–rich broccoli, citrus fruits, peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. (For other food sources of vitamin C, see “Getting What You Need” on page 142.)

Herbal Therapy

Look for toothpastes and mouthwashes containing bloodroot, such as Viadent, says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Scientific studies show that bloodroot can help prevent the buildup of plaque and the development of gum disease.

Homeopathy

If you think you have gingivitis, you may want to try one of the following 30C remedies two or three times a day until you see your dentist, says Chris Meletis, N.D., a naturopathic physician and medicinary director at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. If you have a persistent sour taste in your mouth, bleeding gums and bad breath, especially if the tip of your tongue feels like it is burning and your symptoms are worse with cold, Dr. Meletis suggests trying Calcarea carbonica. Carbo vegetabilis may help, he says, if you have retracted gums that bleed easily, especially after brushing at night. If your gums bleed and are spongy and swollen, Lachesis is the remedy to choose, he says.

All of these remedies are available in many health food stores. To purchase homeopathic remedies by mail, refer to the resource list on page 637.

Vitamin and Mineral Therapy

To help heal gingivitis, take 500 milligrams each of vitamin C and bioflavonoids each day, advises Richard D. Fischer, D.D.S., a dentist in Annandale, Virginia, and president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.