Receding gums and other gum problems can turn into serious issues if left untreated and may require surgery. Fortunately, there are things that you can do within the comfort of your own home in order to treat, improve, and prevent receding gums.
Continue reading to discover five home remedies for receding gums so that you can finally have your healthy smile back.
Brush, Floss, and Use Mouthwash
As a standard home remedy for gum recession, make sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a toothbrush of appropriate firmness and that you brush softly so no additional damage is done to your gums. Accompany the brushing with flossing and mouthwash that promotes gum health.
Do a Baking Soda Massage
Massage your entire gum line with a baking soda concoction in order to neutralize the acids that bacteria usually feed on. This will help you prevent decay in the gums, while the light massage can help to stimulate gum growth as well as increase blood circulation.
Eat Probiotic Foods
Probiotics are scientifically studied for their ability to improve gum health. Eating two to three servings of probiotic foods per week can help to enhance your oral and digestive health. Yogurt; miso; fermented vegetables like kimchi and sauerkraut; and some aged cheeses are a few foods that contain probiotics.
Get Enough Vitamin C
Vitamin C battles oral bacteria to prevent tooth loss and maintain a healthy smile. Vitamin C also helps reduce inflammation in the gums and help your body fight against infections. To increase your vitamin C intake, eat foods such as grapefruit, pineapple, cauliflower, strawberries, and leafy green vegetables.
Watch What You Drink
Try to avoid drinking sugary beverages, coffee, and black tea for one to two hours after eating. During this time, your gums have the chance to interact with natural, undiluted saliva, which can greatly improve receding gums. Sugary drinks can also stick to the teeth and feed cavity-causing bacteria.
Suffering from receding gums can cause a lot of worry and stress, and the best person to advise you on how to treat the situation is your dentist. However, what many middle-aged women may not realize is that waning gum health can be due to the menopausal transition, which is driven by drastic hormone fluctuations.
Therefore, the best line of action in fighting receding gums would be to tackle the root cause of hormonal imbalance. Find out other home remedies you can do that are natural and effective gum problem treatments to improve overall oral health and get back to having a healthy smile by clicking on the previous link.
Sources
- Bhardwaj, A. & Bhardwaj, S.V. (2012). Effect of menopause on women's periodontium. Journal of Mid-Life Health, 3(1), 5-9. doi: 10.4103/0976-7800.98810
- Chatterjee, A. et al. (2011). Probiotics in periodontal health and disease. Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology, 15(1), 23-28. doi: 10.4103/0972-124X.82260
- Pussinen, P.J. et al. (2003). Periodontitis Is Associated with a Low Concentration of Vitamin C in Plasma. Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, 10(5), 897-902. doi: 10.1128/CDLI.10.5.897-902.2003