Gingivitis is a type of gum disease that can lead to inflamed gums. If it’s left untreated it can cause tooth loss and many other health issues. If you already have this disease, you may be asking yourself “is gingivitis reversible”?

The answer is yes. With the right amount of oral hygiene and frequent visits to your dentist, anything is possible. You will need to get a jump on treatment before the gum recession begins, however.

We can help you with that. Keep reading to learn more about how to turn back the clock on gingivitis and keep your pearly whites intact.

1. Professional Teeth Cleaning

Professionally handle your dental first by having your teeth cleaned. Your dentist is equipped with all the tools they need to get rid of the bacteria and plaque that’s causing your gingivitis problem.

Most people get their teeth cleaned once or twice a year but if you’ve had gingivitis you’ll need to return to your dentist sooner than that for additional cleaning. Regular cleaning won’t be enough to keep gum disease away (even though it helps). You’ll need to adopt healthy oral hygiene habits on top of the dental visits.

2. Brush and Floss Everyday

You should be brushing and flossing twice a day. When dealing with gum disease, it’s a good idea to do this process after each meal but if you don’t have the availability the old twice a day rule will work fine.

Use a soft-bristled brush. It’s recommended to replace your toothbrush at least every three months but you can toss it sooner if your bristles become matted. In line with that, you should also get your teeth troubles handled by this Dentist in Oakland for the best services.

3. Gargle with Antibacterial Mouthwash

On top of regular brushing and flossing, you should also consider gargling with an antibacterial mouthwash. If you can get one that’s specially designed to fight gum disease, do that. Swish it around in your mouth for around thirty seconds after brushing and flossing.

Doing this will help get rid of any gum disease-causing bacteria that you can’t reach with your brush.

4. Try Using Oil

It sounds strange but massaging sesame, coconut, or olive oil into your gums can help combat the bacteria that cause gingivitis. You can also do something called oil pulling.

You’ll put a couple of teaspoons of oil in your mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes or so. When the time is up, spit out the oil, rinse your mouth with water, drink a glass of water, and brush your teeth.

It’s important to not swallow the oil or let it touch the back of your throat when you’re doing the pull.

5. Cut the Smoking Habit

You can try every method on this list but if you smoke, they won’t do any good. Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors when it comes to gum disease because it weakens your immune system.

Your body won’t be able to fight off infections that cause gingivitis. So, before you start treatment do your best to cut your smoking habit.

6. Chew Sugarless Gum

Remember when we said it’s a good idea to brush after every meal? You may not be able to carry your toothbrush with you everywhere you go but gum is a different story.

Chewing a piece of sugarless gum right after a meal can help you cut back on disease-causing bacteria. Just make sure you chew sugarless gum otherwise you’re defeating the purpose.

7. Change Up Your Diet

When you have gum disease, you’ll have to change up your diet a little bit. No more sugar and refined carbohydrates for you. These sticky foods will cling to your teeth and become a breeding ground for bacteria and plaque buildup.

Instead of chugging a soda, reach for a water bottle. You should also get more whole wheat, veggies, fruits, nuts, and dried beans in your diet as well. That will take care of your carb intake.

8. Salt Water Treatment

When you had a sore throat as a kid, your mom probably told you to gargle with saltwater. Saltwater doesn’t just help out in the case of colds. It can save you from gingivitis as well.

Swishing salt water will give you some relief from the swollen gums that come from gum disease. It also gets rid of bacteria and removes trapped particles of food. Add about half a teaspoon or so of salt to a cup of water and swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds.

Spit it out and then repeat the process two times a day. Keep in mind that this method isn’t good for long term use. It’s pretty acidic and will eventually start to erode your tooth enamel.

9. Cloves

Chewing cloves can help with a toothache and it works for gingivitis too. Dip a cotton ball into one teaspoon of minced cloves. Let the cloves sit in your mouth for about a minute and rinse them away with water.

It’s important that you don’t use a large number of cloves all at once nor should you keep them in your mouth for a long period of time.

Is Gingivitis Reversible? The Answer is Yes

Is gingivitis reversible? Yes, with normal dental check-ups and good oral hygiene practices you can kick your gum disease to the curb. Swishing with an antibacterial mouthwash, massaging your gums with oil, chewing sugarless gum, and gargling salt water can help your chances as well. Get your pearly whites in tip-top shape again.

Keeping up with your oral hygiene isn’t the only path towards a healthier you. Check out our blog daily for more ways to stay well.