Measures You Can Take To Help Heal Gum Disease

Poor gum health can eventually lead to tooth loss. Thus, it is important to keep your gums in great condition. If you start to notice signs of gingival inflammation, such as red, swollen gums that bleed easily, measures should be taken to reverse the condition. 

Here are a few ways to help heal gum disease.

Brush and Floss Thoroughly

The earliest form of gum disease, gingivitis, can often be reversed just by brushing and flossing more thoroughly. Gum disease is caused by inflammation resulting from the gums' exposure to bacterial acids. The acids irritate the sensitive gum tissues, leading to the inflammatory condition. 

Bacterial acids are produced by oral microbes as waste products from their metabolic processes. When the bacteria feed on simple sugars in the oral cavity, they release the acids as digestive byproducts.

Dental plaque is particularly harmful because the substance is a mixture of food particles and oral bacteria. The bacteria in the plaque have a constant food source and can produce a steady release of acids.

Bacterial acids are most concentrated in the areas of the mouth that harbor plaque accumulations, such as those along the gum line and between the teeth. 

As you brush and floss, you remove the plaque and help neutralize the inflammatory bacterial acids that incite gum disease. 

Use an Oral Irrigator

An oral irrigator can be added to your dental hygiene regimen to help keep your teeth even cleaner. The device includes a reservoir to hold water and a wand to dispense a concentrated stream of the liquid.

As the wand is aimed at various areas within the mouth, plaque and particles of food are flushed away. An oral irrigator can even be used to clear plaque from just below the gum line, where a toothbrush and string floss may be unable to reach.

Additionally, some oral irrigators include controls that allow the user to alter the intensity and pattern of the water flow. Pulsating streams can be selected to encourage healthy circulation within the gums, facilitating healing.

Use an Antibacterial Mouth Rinse

A mouthwash that includes antimicrobial ingredients, such as chlorhexidine, can also help to reverse gum disease. By eliminating large numbers of oral bacteria, the mouth rinse also reduces the amount of acid in the mouth. 

An antimicrobial rinse can be used immediately after brushing and flossing.

Still, in some cases, at-home measures may not be enough to reverse gum disease. Additional in-office applications, such as scaling and root-planing procedures, may be necessary.

If you believe that you are suffering from gum disease, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area, such as Persona  Dental.


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