How Do I Treat the Soreness of Periodontal Disease?

Prevention of periodontitis begins by establishing good oral hygiene at a young age.

Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a disease that affects the gum tissue. Bacteria accumulate on teeth near the gum line and begin to break down the tissue where the gums meet the teeth. An early warning sign of periodontitis is the development of gingivitis in which the gums become red, puffy and swollen and tend to bleed when touched. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into the more destructive and painful periodontitis, where the bone that supports the teeth begins to deteriorate and the gums recede until teeth decay, become loose and fall out. In most cases, treatment, including pain management, of the early stages of periodontitis is easy. Curing the more advanced stages of periodontitis require the assistance of a dental health provider such as a periodontist.

Things You'll Need

• Soft toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Vitamin C
• Warm water
• Salt
• Computer
• Internet

Instructions

1. Assess the possible stage of gum disease you may have by comparing your gum line with pictures online of the various stages of periodontitis. Visit a dentist or periodontist if your stage is advanced.

2. Brush your teeth and gums gently using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste. Brush in circular motions on an angle toward your teeth. Floss properly by wrapping the floss around your fingers and inserting it between the teeth with a gentle side-to-side motion and then curving the floss around the side of one tooth and sliding it up and down along the tooth. Repeat with the other tooth in the same crevice. Repeat for each space between your teeth on the top and the bottom.

3. Mix one tablespoon of salt in warm water and rinse your gums about an hour after flossing.

4. Take a vitamin C supplement daily until gum bleeding and pain has stopped. This helps promote metabolic reactions that break down bacteria in the mouth.

Tips & Warnings

• Brush, floss, and rinse with salt water three times a day for best results.

• Following this regimen within a half an hour of eating helps rid the mouth of bacteria before it can begin to form plaque.

References

• Ascended Health: Treatment for Gum Disease-Natural Dental Care
• Doctor Spiller: Gum Disease
• Journal of Periodontology Online: Two Multi-Center Studies Evaluating Locally Delivered Doxycycline Hyclate, Placebo Control, Oral Hygiene, and Scaling and Root Planing in the Treatment of Periodontitis

Resources

• Soft Dental: The Proper Flossing Technique