4 Natural Remedies for Gum Disease and Oral Health

Gum disease in the initial stages can manifest itself through symptoms like bad breath (halitosis) and inflamed and/or red gums. If left unattended, it can progress to receding gums, enlarged gum pockets, and loose teeth. Inevitably, untreated gingivitis turns into periodontitis and you can end up losing your teeth simply because you didn’t do anything while you still could.

There are many causes for gingivitis, however, the most common is a response to plaque buildup, a direct result of poor oral hygiene. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can also cause gingival diseases and can be worsened by factors like medications, diet, smoking, diabetes, and others.

The best way to prevent and get rid of gum disease is to keep your mouth clean, and you can only do that through proper oral hygiene. There are many natural remedies that can help you cleanse your mouth and your teeth or plaque and bacteria but also soothe and promote the healing of red and swollen gums.

Gum disease is the degeneration of the periodontal ligament that connects the tooth to the socket. It is also the deterioration of the tissues around the mouth, leaving the gums swollen and inflamed and the roots of the teeth over-exposed.

Bentonite Clay

Using clay in your mouth doesn’t sound particularly appealing, but it works. Clay effectively adsorbs toxins like free radicals, heavy metals, and pesticides, cleaning your teeth and mouth of these substances and supporting gum health. Also, bentonite clay can naturally provide minerals for your teeth and prevent cavities.

You can use a paste of bentonite clay and plain water as a natural toothpaste or mix it with a few drops of peppermint essential oil and perhaps a bit of xylitol or stevia for some added sweetness. Its mildly abrasive texture can also help you remove plaque more effectively.

You can also make a mouth rinse with alkalizing and toxin-removing properties out of 1 teaspoon of clay in ½ cup of water. Mix it well and use it to rinse your mouth for 1-2 minutes.

Colloidal Silver

More and more scientists are studying new ways to use colloidal silver as it’s a powerful yet safe disinfectant, and it can even be used as a replacement to antibiotic treatments in some cases.

Commercial mouthwashes are not the most effective method of killing bacteria in your mouth, despite most of them containing alcohol. Also, several studies have found a link between alcohol-based mouthwashes and oral cancer. Colloidal silver can be used as a mouthwash, avoiding the risks of commercial mouthwashes.

A study conducted at Brigham Young University in 1999 showed that even a low concentration of colloidal silver (5 ppm) could kill bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans (present on gums and teeth) which causes cavities and plaque, Streptococcus gordonii which can also cause cavities but also infective endocarditis, Streptococcus pyogenes – causes upper respiratory infections, skin infections, strep throat and other infections, Streptococcus pneumonia – causes pneumonia, sinusitis, meningitis and otitis media and Streptococcus faecalis which causes UTIs, wound infections and endocarditis.

Other studies have found colloidal silver effective at killing several oral fungal pathogens that cause mouth infections, like Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Last but not least colloidal silver is non-toxic, unlike most commercial mouthwashes, which are chemical-laden and may lead to unwanted side effects on top of their questionable effectiveness.

Sea Salt

It’s hard to believe that the no. 1 kitchen ingredient is, in fact a powerful remedy for gum disease and a valuable aid for maintaining oral health. Salt is a natural antibacterial agent. A simple saline solution causes fluids to move out of cells (osmosis), killing the cells through dehydration, bacteria included. Salt also draws fluid out of inflamed tissue, hence its anti-inflammatory effect.

Rinsing your mouth with a saline solution rids your mouth of bacteria, reduces gum inflammation and speeds up the healing process. For the best effect use saline as a mouth rinse 2-3 times a day until the symptoms disappear.

Oil Pulling

This traditional Ayurvedic remedy has numerous benefits for oral health. It removes toxins, bacteria, and plaque from your mouth, preventing cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

You can get more benefits from oil pulling by using the right oil. In oil pulling, the most commonly used oils are sesame, olive, and coconut. I recommend the latter for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties – extremely useful for fighting gum disease – and last but not least for its pleasant taste.

There’s just one downside with oil pulling: you have to swish the oil in your mouth and through your teeth for 15-20 minutes. Nevertheless, the benefits are totally worth the effort, and you can start by swishing for shorter periods and work your way up gradually until you get used to it.