Gingivitis is an all too common dental issue, causing inflammation, redness, and swelling of the gums. Left untreated can lead to more severe conditions like periodontal disease. Those who would most likely get this condition are men and people assigned male at birth. Researchers believe this condition in men could have something to do with their hormones. People living in poverty and smokers are also prone to receiving this condition because of an unhealthy environment.
Which is why it’s important to see your dentist for a daily checkup to know if you can possibly have this condition. Fortunately, several treatments are available to help you combat gingivitis and get your oral health back on track. In this blog post, we’ll be discussing the different treatment options available for overcoming gingivitis and how you can take action to protect your oral health. Keep reading to learn more about what you can do to fight gingivitis!
Laser therapy
Laser treatment can effectively eliminate the risks of gingivitis that can affect your overall dental health. This can be used to remove infected tissue and bacteria from your gums. It’s an efficient alternative to conventional gum surgery because it causes less discomfort to the patient and permits treatment without cutting or stitching.
The laser therapy process begins by removing damaged tissue from the infected gum pockets. The affected tooth will be exposed to roots once the damaged tissue has been removed. This will eventually clean all the affected roots. Moreover, laser therapy can also enhance and seal the healing of bones and tissues.
Herbal remedies
Research suggests that microorganisms don’t develop the same resistance or tolerance to essential oils and their antibacterial effects used in natural oral health care products. Essential oils have many beneficial properties when used in natural oral care products. Herbs are known for their ability to enhance surface circulation, stimulate the body, soothe irritation, and reduce inflammation.
Centella Asiatica, a natural oral care product containing gotu kola, can enhance the rebuilding of the connective tissue. While vegetable glycerine and lavender as products containing pure essential oil condition and soothe tissues during healing. Backed by extensive research supporting their effectiveness and safety with gum and tooth problems, herbal remedies are a brilliant choice to help reverse the effects of gingivitis.
Scaling and root planing
Scaling and root planing is a unique type of cleaning that serves as the first line of defense against gum disease. An ultrasonic cleaning device is used to remove tartar and plaque in your teeth where it cannot be reached by regular cleaning devices– around the root, under the gum line, and on the tooth.
Then the rough surface of the root and tooth are planed or smoothed out. This provides a clean and healthy surface which makes it easier for the gum tissue to refasten to the tooth. Therefore, scaling and root planing may be your only treatment before your gum disease becomes severe.
Oral probiotics
Scientists discovered that probiotics can form a film in the oral cavity. This film functions as a sheath for oral tissues and serves as a protection for teeth- and gum-related diseases. As a result, healthy bacteria becomes the substitution for harmful bacteria to prevent issues related to oral health. In addition to brushing and flossing, probiotics are now considered to play a significant role in dental hygiene.
Probiotics are used to treat gastrointestinal issues and belong to the class of good bacteria. Aside from gingivitis, they have been proven to help treat and prevent oral health issues caused by bacteria, such as tooth decay, bad breath, and periodontitis.
Professional dental cleaning
An initial professional cleaning will focus on removing all traces of bacterial products, plaque, and tartar. Many dentists offer professional dental cleaning to prevent gum disease and tooth decay. This can be done after treatment for periodontitis to avoid the return of inflammation. However, it’s important to note that there’s no evidence that this treatment achieves the goals that were mentioned better than the standard dental treatments and checkups.
Additionally, dentists offer professional teeth cleaning aside from removing tartar as part of the standard checkups in their practice since they aim to increase the chances of successful treatment. To be specific, professional teeth cleaning already involves “scaling and polishing” your teeth. Professional teeth cleaning may take about 40 to 60 minutes. It’s usually carried out by a dental hygienist or a dentist.
Improved oral hygiene
One of the most important and effective treatments you can apply to prevent the progress of gingivitis is to improve your oral hygiene. This will start with brushing your teeth at least twice a day. So using a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush each tooth gently is important. Avoid brushing too hard, for it will wear away your enamel.
You may also want to ensure you’re brushing for at least 2 minutes at a time. This will ensure every nook and cranny inside your mouth will be clean. In order to prevent plaque from building up between meals, we recommend you brush your teeth at least twice a day. Also, brush your teeth before bed so you can’t let dental plaque attack your gums and teeth while sleeping.
Antibacterial mouthwash
Using an antibacterial mouthwash can be beneficial to prevent gingivitis from worsening and reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth. Chlorhexidine (Peridex) is an example of an antibacterial mouthwash that damages the protective coverings and kills bacteria so that they can’t survive for too long.
Chlorhexidine is one of the most efficient antibacterial mouthwashes that you can use to fight gingivitis. However, it’s important to be aware of its possible or common side effects on your dental health. Common side effects include an altered sense of taste, teeth staining, dental fillings, and tongue and mouth irritation. Be sure to consult your dentist before trying Chlorhexidine and other antibacterial mouthwashes.
Change in lifestyle habits
Lifestyle changes can reduce gum disease risks, such as gingivitis. To lessen the severity of gingivitis, you can start by giving up smoking. Aside from being bad for your lungs and heart, this can harm your teeth and gums. People who smoke are seven times more likely to have gum disease than those who don’t entirely smoke, which can lower some treatments in their chances of success.
While it may be hard, reducing stress may be an effective way to prevent the progress of gingivitis. Because frequent stress can be difficult for the immune system of your body to fight the infection. Maintaining a balanced diet is also crucial as it can help your immune system to fight the infection. Focus on eating foods with antioxidants, such as green leafy vegetables, vegetable oil, potatoes, and broccoli. These foods can help your body repair damaged tissues.
Vitamin supplements
Vitamin supplements can reduce inflammation and help improve the health of the gums, which is why they play an important role in the treatment of gingivitis. An antioxidant such as Vitamin C can promote the growth of healthy gum tissue and can also help repair damaged tissues. However, the possible side effect of Vitamin C can lead to slow healing of wounds caused by bleeding gums.
Vitamin D can also be beneficial for treating gingivitis since it absorbs calcium, which is important to maintain strong bones and teeth. Studies have shown that the downside of Vitamin D can be linked to periodontal disease, a more severe form of gum disease. Vitamins A, E, magnesium, and zinc can promote healing, boost the immune system, and reduce inflammation.
Topical antibiotics
According to a study led by researchers at New York University College of Dentistry, a topical gel can treat gum disease since it blocks succinate, a receptor of a metabolic byproduct. The topical gel can then change the makeup of the mouth’s bacteria and suppress inflammation.
Topical antibiotics may be applied by dentists after scaling and root planing. Examples of topical antibiotics are mini-capsules, gels, strips, and chips which can be inserted into the teeth and gums. These topical drugs contain tetracycline, doxycycline, metronidazole, or minocycline, which can release antibiotics to the gum and tooth tissues over time. As a result, these topical drugs can reduce pocket depth and control the growth of bacteria.
