Therapy – An overview
Inflammations of the gums can be treated with the help of:
- Professional dental cleaning
- Improved oral hygiene (gum-friendly toothbrush, interdental brush)
- Disinfecting mouth rinsing solutions (e.g. Chlorhexamed®)
- Less sugar-rich nutrition
- Home remedies (camomile tincture, tea tree oil)
Therapy in detail
Inflammation of the gums is always treated as the cause, i.e. if at all possible, the causes are eliminated. First of all, a professional dental cleaning is advisable. In this process, the plaque on the teeth is first stained and thus made clear to the patient.
Afterwards, each patient is recommended an individual tooth brushing technique, which is exactly adapted to their needs. Afterwards, the soft plaque is removed as well as any tartar. Afterwards the teeth are polished smooth to make it harder for bacteria to attach themselves.
Such a tooth cleaning is usually not covered by the health insurance and costs between fifty and one hundred euros. In exceptional cases or with additional insurance, it is quite possible that the costs will be covered. For this purpose you can simply ask the respective health insurance company.
With only small linings it is often not necessary. Once the bacterial deposits (plaque, biofilm) are removed, the inflammation of the gums usually heals on its own. At home, however, the patient must continue to brush his teeth well and thoroughly on his own, otherwise the inflammation of the gums cannot heal and there is a risk that periodontitis will develop at some point.
The teeth should be thoroughly brushed twice a day for at least two minutes. Also the interdental spaces should not be forgotten. Dental floss or interdental space brushes must be used every day so that the spaces between the teeth do not become collection points for food residues and bacteria can collect there.
A dental gum after a meal stimulates the flow of saliva and thus helps to rinse the food residue and bacteria from the teeth. If the inflammation of the gums is caused by certain medications, the medication may be changed in consultation with the treating physician. However, this is not always possible, especially with immunosuppressive drugs.
It is never allowed to simply stop taking a medication without authorization. In some cases, a change of medication can also be considered in cases of dry mouth. A healthy diet in combination with sports and sufficient sleep strengthens the immune system and thus also helps in the fight against inflammation of the gums.
Home remedies against inflammation of the gums are also available. However, they can only work if you brush effectively and thoroughly. Apple vinegar should be used diluted for gargling before brushing your teeth.
It has an antibacterial effect and stimulates salivation. There are various ointments that alleviate the pain of gum inflammation and also support the healing process. You can even buy Kamistad® Gel or Dynexan® Gel in the pharmacy without a prescription.
These ointments especially reduce acute pain because they contain a local anesthetic. This makes the dripped area numb. In case of acute inflammation with severe pain, the dentist will apply an ointment containing prednisolone.
This medicine has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and healing effects. After application, the inflammation of the gums often heals within a few days. The use of mouthwashes for gum inflammation is often a very effective way to promote healing.
Rinses with antibacterial agents, such as chlorhexidine, can be bought at the pharmacy. These kill bacteria and thus contribute to healing.As a household remedy, a rinse with chamomile or sage is particularly recommended here, as they react very gently to the irritated tissue and also have anti-inflammatory properties. You can quickly make a conditioner yourself by boiling a strong tea and letting it cool down.
A sea salt rinse also has a bactericidal effect. For the treatment of a gum inflammation different homeopathic remedies and globules are used. For chronic inflammation, alternative practitioners recommend using Luesinum 3 times a day.
If there is a strong swelling, Phosphorus C5 helps. However, if an acute inflammation is in progress, Belladonna should help to heal. In addition to these three remedies, there are many other globules.
Here a healer can help further. The same applies to the dosage, for which a specialist in this field should be consulted. If the symptoms do not subside within a week or if the inflammation continues to spread despite all efforts, only the dentist can help.