Gingivitis Self-Care: How to Treat Gingivitis at Home

Summary

If you experience swelling or bleeding from your gums, you may have gingivitis, and it’s recommended that you have this checked by a dentist. In the meantime, you can implement a gingivitis self-care routine to treat the condition on your own and prevent more complicated oral health issues.

In this article, we’ll discuss gingivitis symptoms, how to treat gingivitis at home, and when to see a dentist.

What Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is a reversible and common form of gum disease that normally appears where your gums meet your teeth.

At first, gingivitis may not seem all that serious. However, if left untreated in the long term, it can lead to more serious issues, including periodontitis, tooth loss, and problems in other parts of your body.

But what causes gingivitis? Let’s take a look.

Gingivitis Causes

The main cause of gingivitis is plaque — a sticky, colorless biofilm that forms on your teeth after you eat starchy, sugary foods and drinks, such as candy, carbonated beverages, potato chips, and ice cream (just to name a few).

Plaque that accumulates on your teeth for too long can harden into tartar (typically above or below your gum line). Tartar makes it much more difficult to remove the plaque underneath. It actually collects even more bacteria and can only be removed with a professional cleaning at the dental office.

Plaque buildup leads to gingivitis: irritation, swelling, and bleeding gums around the base of your teeth.

While plaque is the main cause of gingivitis, other medical issues and lifestyle choices also contribute to its formation, including:

• Old age
• Dry mouth
• Diabetes
• Poor nutrition (including not getting enough vitamin C)
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Hormonal changes
• Conditions that lower immunity (e.g., leukemia or cancer treatment)
• Viral and fungal infections

The best thing you can do to prevent plaque buildup and gingivitis is to brush your teeth twice a day with a dentist-approved stannous fluoride toothpaste and an electric toothbrush, floss daily, rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash, and visit your dentist regularly.

Gingivitis Symptoms

To determine if you have gingivitis, you’ll need to examine your gums. Are they firm and pale pink and fit tightly around your teeth? If so, you’ve got healthy gums.

However, if you notice one or more of the below symptoms, you may have gingivitis:

• Swelling
• Gums are bright red, dark red, or a darker color than usual
• Bleeding when you brush or floss
• Tenderness

Gingivitis can also cause bad breath. How? Swollen, puffy, or inflamed gums create space for bacteria to gather and thrive. That bacteria breaks down food particles and releases smelly gases that can manifest as bad breath.

If you notice any of these symptoms, implement gingivitis self-care and schedule an appointment to see your dentist right away.

Complications from Gingivitis

Left neglected over many years, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis, a more serious, irreversible chronic condition.

Research has found associations between periodontitis and more serious conditions that affect your entire body such as:

• Respiratory disease
• Diabetes
• Coronary artery disease
• Stroke
• Rheumatoid arthritis

The good news is that you can reverse gingivitis at home through effective self-care. Keep reading for our top tips.

How to Treat and Prevent Gingivitis at Home

1) Brush Your Teeth with an Electric Toothbrush

One of the best forms of gingivitis self-care is removing plaque twice daily with toothbrushes and floss. While most people use a manual toothbrush, research shows that electric toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively than manual toothbrushes.

Electric toothbrushes provide several benefits compared to manual toothbrushes, including:

• Significantly better plaque removal
• Improved gum health
• Easier access to hard-to-reach areas
• Built-in timers to ensure proper brushing duration

2) Use a Stannous Fluoride Toothpaste

Want to make your self-care routine even more effective than brushing alone? Use a stannous fluoride toothpaste.

A dentist-approved toothpaste is one that meets the American Dental Association’s (ADA) standards for safety and effectiveness. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the packaging to identify these types of toothpaste.

3) Floss Once a Day

In addition to brushing with the right brush and toothpaste, it’s important to get into the spaces between your teeth. This area is a prime breeding ground for plaque and tartar. Sometimes, even the most comprehensive brushing routine can’t rid it all.

That’s where floss comes in. Floss slides between your teeth into those hard-to-reach places to remove the plaque and bacteria that can lead to gingivitis.

Floss at least once a day for best results.

4) Rinse Your Mouth with Antibacterial Mouthwash

Even the best brushing and flossing routine won’t reach every nook and cranny in your mouth. Unfortunately, bacteria, plaque, and tartar like to hide in these nooks and crannies.

No self-care routine would be complete without this last step: rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash.

5) Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Keep in mind that self-care can only go so far. For complete gingivitis treatment and prevention, visit a dentist regularly for check-ups and professional dental cleaning. Your dentist will advise when you should have your next check-up based on how good your oral health is.

The time between check-ups can vary from 3 months to 2 years, depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are and your risk of future problems.

6) Reduce Swelling with Salt Water

If you notice gingivitis symptoms but can’t visit a dentist right away, try rinsing with salt water to reduce swelling, alleviate pain, and kill bacteria. The salt in the solution has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe the pain and irritation inside your mouth.

Simply mix ½ teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of warm water and swish the solution around in your mouth for a few minutes before spitting it out.

7) Limit Sugary, Starchy Foods in Your Diet

Another great way to prevent gingivitis is to limit sugary, starchy foods in your diet. These foods are the biggest causes of plaque buildup in your mouth.

Consuming less of these foods and beverages goes a long way toward keeping gingivitis from forming in the first place and preventing it from progressing to advanced gum issues in the long term.

8) Avoid Smoking and Chewing Tobacco

While adding in good habits can help, the best forms of gingivitis care include getting rid of the bad things.

Smoking and chewing tobacco impair your body’s ability to fight infection, reduce blood flow to the gums, and hinder tissue repair. All of that makes it much harder for your gums to heal from inflammation and infection and increases the risk of developing more advanced gum disease.

When to See a Dentist

If you notice symptoms like bleeding gums, red or swollen gums, or bad breath, schedule an appointment with your dentist: the sooner, the better.

Sometimes, these symptoms may appear and disappear in a day or so for a variety of reasons (e.g., a popcorn hull was stuck between your teeth, but you eventually flossed it out). However, if they persist for more than two days, there may be something wrong (like gingivitis).

When deciding whether to see a dentist, keep in mind that untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more severe, irreversible form of gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.

Maintain a good oral hygiene routine and, if symptoms persist, see a dentist right away for one or more of the following treatments:

• Scaling and root planing: Removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums
• Dental repairs: Fixes poorly fitting crowns, bridges, or other dental work that may be trapping plaque
• Flap surgery: Treats advanced gum diseases
• Laser therapy: Removes diseased tissue and bacteria while promoting healing
• Guided tissue regeneration: A surgical option for treating severe gum disease, regenerating lost periodontal tissue

Good Oral Hygiene Starts with Oral-B

The best form of oral self-care is an effective oral hygiene routine, and a proven tool for the job is the Oral-B iO Series electric toothbrush .

With its interactive color display, smart modes, and smart pressure sensor, the Oral-B iO Series is a fusion of ground-breaking technology, elegant design and standout performance. The dentist-inspired round brush head and micro-vibrating bristles enable you to brush better and access hard-to-reach spots.

Oral-B iO delivers 100% healthier gums by removing 100% more plaque than a manual toothbrush, with better coverage of hard-to-reach inside surfaces.

Combined with toothpaste, mouthwash, and a good flossing routine, this brush offers an oral self-care routine that helps maintain gum health.