Introduction
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria. The periodontium is not affected, but an untreated gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. Home remedies are often used, but they should not be used as the sole treatment, but only as a support.
Home remedies – An overview
These home remedies can be used to support the treatment of gingivitis. They are prepared either as tincture, as cooled tea for rinsing or in the form of ointments:
- Sage
- Chamomile
- Tea tree oil
- Ginger
- Carnations
- Saline solutions
Sage has long since proven its worth as a household remedy against all inflammations in the mouth and throat area. Sage has an anti-inflammatory, calming and antibacterial effect so that it can be optimally used to alleviate gum problems.
In addition to the classic sage teas that you can buy in any supermarket, sage leaves are even more suitable. You can get them at markets, in health food stores or even in drugstores. Take one teaspoon of sage leaves and pour 250ml of boiling water over it.
Then let it steep for 10 minutes. When the tea has cooled down to drinking temperature, rinse your mouth with it. Move the sage solution in the mouth from left to right so that the entire gums are washed around sufficiently.
The process is repeated throughout the day. Camomile can also be used for this. Camomile has been a household remedy for fighting inflammation since time immemorial.
Chamomile also calms the gums in the oral cavity and can minimize symptoms of gum inflammation. For this purpose, chamomile extract diluted with water or cooled chamomile tea should be used to rinse the oral cavity several times a day. The antibacterial effect of chamomile ensures that the swelling and redness of the gums is reduced and the pain is relieved.
Due to the multiple causes of gum inflammation, a home remedy cannot help to heal the more pronounced forms. In these cases, or if no timely relief has been achieved with chamomile, the dentist must be consulted, who may use a mouth rinse with chlorhexidine digluconate or drug therapy. A timeframe of one to a maximum of two weeks is considered a guideline.
Otherwise, there is a risk that a simple gingivitis will develop into periodontitis, in which the entire periodontium is affected by inflammation and, if not treated, tooth loosening and cardiovascular disease may result. This topic might also be of interest to you: The effect of chamomileIn addition to the home remedies just mentioned, there is another one that has been used for a long time for any inflammation in the mouth and neck area, namely the clove. Either you use some oil of cloves and dab it directly on the inflamed area.
Alternatively, you can use a cotton swab or make a mouthrinse from clove oil. Drop about 9-11 drops of the oil into lukewarm water and then rinse the mouth with it. Again, the solution should be spat out after use.
The clove is also said to have a disinfecting and antibacterial effect. It should be tested before the first application whether a clove allergy is present. It should also be used in small doses, otherwise it can have a toxic effect.
The clove oil can be bought in pharmacies and on the Internet and is usually a mixture of clove bud oil, clove leaf oil and clove stem oil. The tea tree oil, which has been used in Australia for a long time, has also proved itself in this country for some time as a household remedy against various diseases of the body. Initially used for burns, warts and impure skin, dentistry has also discovered the effects of tea tree oil on gum inflammation.
Not only can it alleviate the inflammation and speed up the healing process by preventing the bacteria from multiplying, but it also disinfects existing small wounds in the mouth and reduces the possibility of new inflammation. So it can be used prophylactically by putting a drop on the toothbrush and spreading it over the teeth. If the gums are inflamed, it is applied directly to the inflamed area with a cotton swab.Alternatively, you can put a few drops into lukewarm water and rinse your mouth with it.
It will also give you a fresh breath and beautiful teeth. Caution is required, however, because you should not swallow tea tree oil, you spit it out after use. Tea tree oil is available in drugstores, pharmacies or on the Internet.
Small quantities are sufficient, because a opened bottle should be used up as quickly as possible. Another household remedy is ginger. It is not only beneficial for a cold, but can also be used for gum inflammation due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Ginger tubers can be bought cheaply in almost every supermarket. You cut a small piece off the tuber, remove the woody skin and place it on the inflamed gums and leave it there for a short time. Ginger can also be used as tea.
Simply pour hot water over small pieces of the fresh tuber. Similar topics that might interest you: Antibiotics for gum inflammationOften mouth rinses are used to treat gum inflammation in order to rid the mouth of harmful bacteria. They can be used as a supportive measure, but they are not sufficient as the sole tooth cleaning agent.
In addition to chemical mouthwashes, a mouthwash solution can also be quickly made from salt at home. Salt is available in every household, it is best to use sea salt. To do this, you take some lukewarm water, dissolve 2 teaspoons of salt in it and rinse your mouth with the solution, just as you would rinse your mouth with a traditional mouthwash. The salt water gently rinses around the gums and teeth and kills the bacteria present. The solution should be spat out after use to get the bacteria out of the mouth and excessive amounts of salt are unhealthy for the body.
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