Also called periodontal disease, gum disease affects more than half of all Americans age 30 and older – so at least you aren’t alone. But you don’t really have to suffer from bleeding, swollen, irritated gums; there are certainly other options when it comes to invasive dental treatments meant to treat periodontal disease (or toxic fluoride treatments).
Natural Home Remedies for Gum Disease
Here are natural home remedies for gum disease that will make your dentists’ head spin at your next appointment:
1. Oil Pulling – This method has been raved about not only for curing swollen, red gums, but even reversing gum disease with bone loss. Oil pulling does just what the name infers – it ‘pulls’ toxins right out of your mouth and gums. It removes plaque build up and has been studied in several triple-blind studies to be very effective. Just be sure to use 100% organic oil – sesame, olive, or coconut is best – because you wouldn’t want to be swishing pesticide-laden oils around in your moth for several minutes at a time.
2. Sage Leaf Decoction – This is an old folk remedy for gingivitis and gum disease. All you need to do is boil around 50 fresh organic sage leaves in some distilled water and then gargle the decoction several times a day as well as use it like a mouthwash. You can also make a sage tea and drink it throughout the day. Sage has huge amounts of antioxidants and it also contains it anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
3. Garlic and Turmeric Paste – Use garlic cloves on irritated gums, or simply make a garlic & turmeric paste to use like toothpaste, then rinse after it has been in your mouth for several minutes. Both of these naturally-occurring foods are full of antibacterial properties, and turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory agent.
4. Neem – This plant is used in India for a thousand different healing remedies; among them is better dental health. You can use neem in a mouthwash, or even find neem toothpaste. It has both antimicrobial and antifungal properties. In one study involving three different groups with gum disease: one using traditional mouthwash, one treated with neem gel, and the last a placebo, the neem group had the best outcome.
Related: 7 Natural Teeth-Whitening Home Remedies
5. Mustard Oil – This method has been used for hundreds of years to combat bad dental hygiene. It destroys bacteria in the mouth and heals the gums very fast. It also has pain-reducing qualities along with being anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.
6. Aloe Vera Gel – Best when it comes straight form the plant, aloe vera is a great anti-inflammatory that is especially helpful if your gums are red and inflamed.
7. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Not only do fruits and vegetables with skins help clean the teeth, but the antioxidants in both fruits and vegetables also prevent plaque build up in the mouth.
8. Floss. Even when it makes the gums bleed, it's important to floss and floss properly. It speeds healing of the gums and prevents cavities at the gum line as well. Wherever there is infection, there are almost always candida and bad bacteria (bad meaning it's harming us, but all bacteria has its place). Often there are other parasites to be aware of, but not always.
Natural Home Remedies for Gum Disease
Here are natural home remedies for gum disease that will make your dentists’ head spin at your next appointment:
1. Oil Pulling – This method has been raved about not only for curing swollen, red gums, but even reversing gum disease with bone loss. Oil pulling does just what the name infers – it ‘pulls’ toxins right out of your mouth and gums. It removes plaque build up and has been studied in several triple-blind studies to be very effective. Just be sure to use 100% organic oil – sesame, olive, or coconut is best – because you wouldn’t want to be swishing pesticide-laden oils around in your moth for several minutes at a time.
2. Sage Leaf Decoction – This is an old folk remedy for gingivitis and gum disease. All you need to do is boil around 50 fresh organic sage leaves in some distilled water and then gargle the decoction several times a day as well as use it like a mouthwash. You can also make a sage tea and drink it throughout the day. Sage has huge amounts of antioxidants and it also contains it anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
3. Garlic and Turmeric Paste – Use garlic cloves on irritated gums, or simply make a garlic & turmeric paste to use like toothpaste, then rinse after it has been in your mouth for several minutes. Both of these naturally-occurring foods are full of antibacterial properties, and turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory agent.
4. Neem – This plant is used in India for a thousand different healing remedies; among them is better dental health. You can use neem in a mouthwash, or even find neem toothpaste. It has both antimicrobial and antifungal properties. In one study involving three different groups with gum disease: one using traditional mouthwash, one treated with neem gel, and the last a placebo, the neem group had the best outcome.
Related: 7 Natural Teeth-Whitening Home Remedies
5. Mustard Oil – This method has been used for hundreds of years to combat bad dental hygiene. It destroys bacteria in the mouth and heals the gums very fast. It also has pain-reducing qualities along with being anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.
6. Aloe Vera Gel – Best when it comes straight form the plant, aloe vera is a great anti-inflammatory that is especially helpful if your gums are red and inflamed.
7. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Not only do fruits and vegetables with skins help clean the teeth, but the antioxidants in both fruits and vegetables also prevent plaque build up in the mouth.
9. Make your own toothpaste!
The mouthwash and toothpaste most people use is unacceptable and full of chemicals. This includes the most of the overpriced brands in the natural section at the local health food store. Chewing on garlic and brushing with baking soda and unrefined sea salt does more for teeth than any store bought toothpaste.
For very serious chronic periodontitis, or just to have a good all around mouth formula. It's not necessary for healing gums in most cases, but it radically speeds up the process regardless of how seriously the gum health issues are, and it is truly an amazing formula with lots of benefits for your entire mouth.
The mouthwash and toothpaste most people use is unacceptable and full of chemicals. This includes the most of the overpriced brands in the natural section at the local health food store. Chewing on garlic and brushing with baking soda and unrefined sea salt does more for teeth than any store bought toothpaste.
For very serious chronic periodontitis, or just to have a good all around mouth formula. It's not necessary for healing gums in most cases, but it radically speeds up the process regardless of how seriously the gum health issues are, and it is truly an amazing formula with lots of benefits for your entire mouth.
Simple Natural Toothpaste Recipe
- Equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda
- Add essential oil to taste
- Add stevia (if desired) to taste
For 6 tablespoons of oil to 6 tablespoons of baking soda, add 10-15 drops of essential oil. Try peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, lemon, orange, rosemary or any others or any combination that sound good to you. Each essential oil provides more than taste - each adds its own benefit.
Add drops of one, or experiment with combinations. Be sure to buy your essential oils from a reputable source and be sure you are getting the right genus species. Many oils come from different species and contain different properties.
- Peppermint— a powerful anti-oxidant
- Eucalyptus—antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory
- Cinnamon—antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Clove—antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and an amazing antioxidant, the highest antioxidant essential oil. It is approved by the Dental Association for use as a dental anesthetic. It’s great for killing Candida.
- Lemon—antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant
- Orange—antiseptic and antioxidant
- Rosemary—antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral
- Neem oil and tea tree oil could also be used for antibacterial qualities. Try 6-8 drops but know that neither one is a flavor enhancer. They may help tighten up gum tissue, however.
- Your basic recipe can be changed in a variety of ways. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, sesame oil is not. You can replace as much coconut oil with sesame oil as desired to reach the consistency you prefer. But realize this will also change the taste and the color.