Are you having troubles with receding gums?
Besides tooth decay, bleeding and receding gums are another common dental issues.
You know that you have to do something about your gums. The problem is that you hate to go to the dentist. We all do.
So, I’m going to offer you seven home remedies for receding gums that you can include in your daily routine. But if they don’t work, it’s time to make a dentist appointment.
What Causes Receding Gums?
As I already mentioned, gum/periodontal disease is the leading cause of receding gums. Gum disease starts with gingivitis – inflammation of the gums.
When plaque builds up on your teeth, so do bacteria. If the plaque is not removed, bacteria start to multiply. As a result, your gums get inflamed and bleed easily.
Gingivitis is easy to remedy. However, if left untreated, the gum and bone pull back from the teeth and form pockets. Food and bacteria get into those pockets, and the inflammation gets worse.
Plaque builds below the gum line as well as toxins that destroy the bone and gum that holds your teeth at place. As a result, the teeth get loose.
Other possible causes for receding gums include:
What are the Symptoms of Receding Gums?
The first warning signs that something is wrong with your gums is that they bleed every time you brush your teeth. Other symptoms of receding gums include:
Home Remedies for Receding Gums
Dentists treat mild receding gums by performing a deep clean of the affected area. It includes removing the plaque and tartar on your teeth and smoothing the exposed area so that bacteria can’t build up again.
If there is an ongoing bacterial infection, antibiotics might also be prescribed. And if the disease is advanced, surgery might be in order to repair the damage.
The home remedies I’m going to offer you are suitable for mild cases of receding gums or to deal with gum inflammation. If your teeth have loosened, you should talk to a dentist as soon as possible.
#1 Oil Pulling Removes Mouth Bacteria
Oil pulling is on old Ayurveda technique used to deal with gum inflammation and mouth bacteria. Swishing oil in your mouth is said to pull bacteria and to reduce inflammation. That’s possible because certain oils have natural antibacterial properties and kill all bacteria they come into contact with.
In addition to this, oil pulling might help your dental health because it moisturizes the gums and increase saliva, and as such, it reduces bacteria in the mouth.
Oil pulling has other benefits, such as:
Necessary ingredients:
- Coconut oil
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Water
Process:
- Measure one tablespoon of high-quality coconut oil.
- Swish the oil in your mouth for 20 minutes.
- Spit it out.
- Rinse your mouth with water.
- Brush your teeth.
- Repeat.
Notes: Coconut oil and sesame oil are usually safe for oil pulling. Nevertheless, you should be careful not to swallow some of the oil because it might upset your stomach.
#2 Eucalypt Oil Reduces Inflammation
As some studies have shown, eucalypt oil has potent antibacterial properties and is effective germicide. It promotes good oral health, which is important for stopping the receding of the gums, and it also helps with the inflammation.
Some say that eucalypt oil can also help your gums to grow back, but there is not enough scientific evidence to support such claims.
Necessary ingredients:
- Eucalypt oil
- Coconut oil
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Water
Process:
- Dilute one drop of eucalypt oil with coconut or olive oil.
- Swish it around the mount for several minutes.
- Spit and rinse your mouth with water.
- Brush your teeth.
- Repeat several times a week.
Notes: You can also add one drop of eucalypt oil to your regular toothpaste and brush your teeth with it. In addition to this, check this homemade mouth rinse with eucalypt oil.
#3 Salt Rinse for Bacteria-Free Mouth
Another home remedy for receding gums is rinsing with salt. A salt rinse is said to soothe inflamed gums and get rid of mouth bacteria which promote good oral health.
In addition to this, a salt rinse has other oral health benefits such as speeding the healing process of mouth ulcers and soothing a sore throat.
Necessary ingredients:
- Salt
- Warm water
Process:
- Measure one teaspoon of salt.
- Mix it with warm water.
- Gargle the mixture for 30 seconds.
- Spit out the salt rinse.
- Repeat a couple of time a day.
Notes: If you have troubles gargling, you shouldn’t use this rinse. In addition to this, do not swallow any of the saltwater.
#4 Aloe Vera Reduces Gingivitis Bleeding
As some studies have shown, aloe vera mouthwashes are as useful for treating periodontal disease as prescribed ones. The results were conclusive and showed that the patients experience a reduction in gum bleeding as well as plaque build-up.
Here’s one recipe to prepare a homemade Aloe Vera mouthwash, which combines several essential oils for maximum result.
Necessary ingredients:
- Aloe Vera juice
- Water
- Baking soda
- Peppermint oil
- Tea tree oil
- A container
- A cup
Process:
- Measure half a cup of aloe vera juice and pour it into an airtight container.
- Add half a cup of water and 1 ½ teaspoon of baking soda.
- Then add two drops of peppermint oil and one drop tea tree oil.
- Close the container tightly and shake it to mix the ingredients.
- Pour some of the concoction into a cup and gargle with it for a few seconds.
- Spit it out and rinse your mouth.
- Store the rest of the aloe vera mouthwash in the fridge.
Notes: You can buy natural oral products which contain aloe vera, including commercial Aloe vera mouth rinses and toothpaste.
#5 Turmeric for Healthy Gums
Turmeric is another spice that is widely used in various home remedies. The reason is a simple one – turmeric has potent antibacterial and antioxidant properties thanks to the curcumin it contains. It’s also suitable for teeth problems because it can reduce the risk of gum disease and soothe gum inflammation.
Necessary ingredients:
- Turmeric powder
- A toothbrush
- Water
Process:
- Pour some turmeric powder into a bowl.
- Soak your toothbrush’s bristles into the powder.
- Brush your teeth to spread the powder.
- Wait five minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth with regular paste.
Notes: You can also use turmeric gel. It’s also used for teeth whitening so it will remove any build-up plaque on your teeth.
How to Prevent Receding Gums?
One of your best ways to deal with receding gums is prevention. Here are some tips what you have to do to take proper care of your gums and teeth:
These home remedies for receding gums can help you up to a point. However, if you don’t brush and floss your teeth twice a day, nothing will keep your receding gums at check.
Remember that if you don’t see any improvement in your symptoms, you should go to your dentist for a checkup. Otherwise, you might lose your teeth if you wait too long.
What do you think about these home remedies for receding gums? Have you ever tried them? Were they successful? Tell us in the comments.
Craig Campbell
Craig Campbell is a qualified dentist from the United Kingdom. He graduated six years ago, and he has been practicing dentistry since then. Campbell is fully registered with the General Dental Council, the UK-regulator of dental professionals.
