DEAR DR. GOTT: Is there a home remedy for gum disease besides good dental hygiene?
DEAR READER: While your question may appear outwardly simple, it is a good one that merits discussing. Obviously, your first step is good dental hygiene that begins with brushing at least twice a day (morning and evening) followed by flossing once daily in an attempt to ward off plaque buildup, gum disease and cavities.
Many dentists recommend brushing at least three minutes each time with an American Dental Association (ADA) approved brush and toothpaste. I must admit that I have attempted counting to myself while the brush whooshes over my teeth and I have found that sometimes even two minutes appears exceedingly long. And, instead of dental floss, I prefer plastic picks. Some people prefer to finish up with a mouth rinse. Whatever procedure and tools are used should be satisfactory, as long as they are done regularly.
Poor oral hygiene is an invitation for the buildup of plaque at the base of the teeth which can cause the gums can become inflamed and the invitation goes out for gum disease to begin. Known as periodontal disease, the inflammation that occurs can destroy the tissues and ligaments that support teeth, as well as the tooth sockets themselves. When a person fails to remove plaque, either through regular brushing, flossing, or having a dentist remove it, hard deposits develop. Those deposits ultimately become tender, infected, red, and swollen. There are times when an individual will be more prone to gum disease despite appropriate attention being given, such as when teeth aren’t properly aligned but may overlap, because of the use of bismuth and other medications to include birth control pills.
Symptoms of the disorder include gums that turn an unusual red or purple, have a shiny appearance, and may bleed when brushed or irritated. When symptoms such as these occur, your first step is to reduce the inflammation. This is most commonly done by an oral hygienist or dentist who will have the proper tools to remove the plaque buildup and other irritation. Because of the potential for tenderness and bleeding during the plaque removal, warm salt water rinses or antibacterial mouth rinses at home may be recommended. He or she may recommend follow up with professional cleaning twice yearly to avoid further plaque buildup.
Now let’s move on to less traditional dental hygiene approaches. Try massaging your gums five minutes daily with either a rubber bristle toothbrush or with your fingers. This can be done while reading a book or watching television. The effect of the massage stimulates circulation and promotes healing. If your diet is lacking nutritionally, consider a good daily multi-vitamin that will provide 1000 mg of vitamin C, a B-complex, zinc, magnesium and coenzyme Q-10. Are you one who has a sweet tooth? Well, after consuming a sweet treat, steep a cup of black tea and use the tea as a rinse to prevent plaque buildup. Black tea contains fluoride, the stuff we gave our young children so they would have strong teeth.
As an aside, it is believed that spicy salsa fights dental decay by stimulating the salivary glands. Another salivary stimulant is figs. Eat four at one sitting each day. Salt has long been used as a great toothpaste and whitens teeth in the process. Mix one part salt with 2 parts baking soda. Wet your toothbrush and coat the brush with a portion of the mixture. Brush. Keep any extra, dry powder in an airtight container for another use. Lastly and while not a means of promoting good dental hygiene, should a toothache occur, head to your spice cabinet. Cloves contain a chemical with natural antiseptic properties. Simply moisten one teaspoon of powdered cloves in olive oil and pack it into the painful cavity. You don’t have ground cloves, you say? Instead simply put a clove up against the tooth that hurts. Dentists actually use a mixture of eugenol found in cloves when they apply amalgam to fill teeth, so you’re doing for free what will lessen the pain until you can seek professional help.
Readers who would like suggestions for other home remedies can order my Health Reports “Home Remedies” and “More Home Remedies” by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 for each report ordered in the form of a US check or money order to my attention at PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title(s) when writing or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.
