Gingivitis: the remedies

Proper oral hygiene, the use of anti-inflammatories and professional cleaning of teeth can prevent the degeneration of gingivitis into periodontitis.

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused most often by poor oral hygiene: the gums redden, swell, sometimes bleed and you may understand that you have bad breath.

The food residues that stop between the teeth or between the teeth and gums allow the bacteria that colonize our mouth to form plaque, which in turn turns into tartar, which can only be removed by the dentist.

The onset of gingivitis can also be caused by:

• trauma (too vigorous brushing or flossing used too strongly)
• local irritations (caries, poorly fitting dentures, worn fillings)
• taking medications (anti-depressants or anti-hypertensives)
• hormonal imbalances
• certain diseases such as tumors.

If left untreated, gingivitis can degenerate into periodontitis (or pyorrhea), an inflammatory disease that can lead to tooth loss.

The remedies

To treat gingivitis first of all it is necessary to resume proper oral hygiene. However, if pain or discomfort is present, it is always better to go to the dentist, who may prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and, if necessary, also oral antibiotics.

But the first intervention that the dentist usually provides to counteract gingivitis is a professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque and tartar accumulations.

In the absence of the dentist and if the disorder is in the initial phase, you can contact the pharmacist, who can recommend over-the-counter products, such as antiseptics or anti-inflammatories of the oral cavity to be used locally and which are available in the form of mouthwashes, tablets or sprays.

For pain there are also natural soothing remedies such as gels based on aloe vera, marshmallow and mallow, anti-inflammatory plants such as calendula and immunostimulant ones such as echinacea or astragalus.

Prevention

To prevent gingivitis it is advisable to pay attention to your oral hygiene, brushing your teeth after meals at least three times a day, using a toothbrush with age-appropriate bristles and avoiding forcing on the gums if they are inflamed.

It is also advisable to wash the tongue well to avoid bacterial accumulations, use dental floss and, without exaggerating, occasionally even mouthwash.

Prevention of gingivitis also passes through nutrition. It is good to eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables every day, as they contain vitamins, antioxidants and fiber.

Foods that have a high fiber content, in particular, help cleanse the teeth and massage the gums during chewing. Those rich in vitamin C prevent the decay of collagen without which the gums risk losing tone and lowering leaving the dental collar uncovered.

Finally, a good habit is to undergo regular dental visits to assess the health of the gums. Finally, it is good to know that smoking doubles the risk of gingivitis.