9 Natural Home Remedies For Gingivitis In Toddlers & Adults

Updated: 09/13/2019

Gingivitis is defined as an inflammation of your gums, which is usually triggered by bacterial infections. If you leave it untreated, it may worsen as a serious infection called periodontitis. Are you looking for the natural home remedies for gingivitis? This article will help you. Before going to the best treatments for gingivitis, let’s take a look at its causes and symptoms first.

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Causes Of Gingivitis

American Dental Association indicates that periodontitis and gingivitis are the main causes of tooth loss in most adults^[1]. The most obvious trigger of your gingivitis is your poor oral hygiene that lets plaque form on your teeth. It is known that plague is sticky and invisible film including bacteria that might irritate your gums and teeth. Other factors leading to gingivitis are composed of genetic factors, pregnancy, a poor diet, dry mouth, crooked teeth, diabetes, consumption of certain medications (such as steroids, chemotherapy, calcium channel blockers, oral contraceptives and anticonvulsants), excessive chewing or smoking tobacco, broken fillings, ill-fitting dental restorations and even compromised immunity (like HIV/AIDS patients).

Symptoms Of Gingivitis

Some common symptoms of gingivitis include tender, swollen, puffy, irritating or red gums, bleeding gums while brushing or flossing teeth, receding gums, loose or sensitive teeth, gums pulling away from teeth, pus between gums and teeth, ill-fitting partial dentures, pain as chewing and foul-smelling breath even after brushing the teeth. If left unchecked, gingivitis may lead your gums to separate from your teeth, which results in injury to the bone and soft tissue supporting your teeth^[2]. Moreover, your tooth enables to become unstable and loose. If it persists, there is a need eventually to have a dentist to remove your tooth.

Natural Home Remedies For Gingivitis

There is no science-based evidence for the following homemade recipes. The recipes we've focused on are traditional home remedies, so always consult your doctor and check out your health condition regularly to know if a remedy is working for you.

1. Salt Water

Salt is an indispensable and available ingredient in the kitchen. It also is an antibacterial^[3], which helps to soothe the gums and decrease the swelling caused by gingivitis^[4] [5].

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp. of salt
• 1 cup of tepid water

Direction:

• Add the salt into the water and stir well so as to the salt can be completely dissolved
• Rinse the mouth with the mixture in 30 seconds.
• Pull the salt water out after rinsing and avoid swallowing it.
• Do the treatment twice daily (once after waking up in the morning and once before sleeping in the evening) till you have your gums’ swelling and redness reduced.

Note: Skip using salt water after your gingivitis has subsided because long-term use of the salt water is not good. Salt water contains acidic that can soften your enamel on your teeth, which makes your teeth more susceptible to chipping, wearing and cavities.

2. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera^[6], as known, is beneficial for your hair and your skin thanks to its richness in healing properties. It can also help to cleanse and soothe your teeth and your gums. Moreover, aloe vera is composed of antibacterial and antifungal contents that aid in combating gingivitis effectively at home and lessening the bacteria growth in the mouth, one of the main causes of gingivitis^[7]. A recent study found that aloe vera is a potential remedy for preventing against gingivitis^[8].

Ingredients:

• 1 aloe vera leaf
• Cold water

Direction:

• Extract aloe vera pulp.
• Apply the pulp onto the gums.
• Let it stay in 10 minutes.
• Gargle with the cold water.
• Do the treatment several times daily till you see better results.

3. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil exhibits antibiotic and anti-inflammatory compounds that are necessary to get relief from chronic gingivitis naturally and even help reduce plaquing^[9] [10]. As you consume enough tea tree oil, you can simultaneously relieve irritation and pain triggered by gingivitis.

Process 1:

Ingredients:

• Tea tree oil toothpaste
• 1 toothbrush

Direction:

• Add the tea tree oil toothpaste to the toothbrush.
• Simply brush the teeth as usual.
• Rinse it off with warm water.
• Do the treatment twice daily.

Process 2:

Ingredients:

• Tea tree oil
• 1 toothbrush

Direction:

• Add the tea tree oil to the toothbrush.
• Simply brush the teeth as usual.
• Rinse it off with warm water.
• Do the treatment twice daily.

Note: Don’t swallow tea tree oil because it may lead to stomach irritation like diarrhea.

4. Salt & Mustard Oil

As mentioned above, salt benefits for your gingivitis while mustard holds various elemental vitamins (A, C, K) and minerals (such as manganese, copper, iron, sulfur, magnesium, phosphorus-calcium, and potassium). Moreover, mustard has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant^[11] healing, and antimicrobial effects^[12]. Therefore, the mixture of salt and mustard can bring you a great relief from gingivitis at home.

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp of salt
• 2 tsp of mustard oil
• Warm water

Direction:

• Mix the salt with the mustard to create a fine paste.
• Gently massage your gums by using the mixture in 1-2 minutes.
• Rinse the mouth off with warm water.
• Follow the treatment 2-3 times per day till you see the visible results in your gums.

5. Cloves

Cloves embrace analgesic, antiseptic, anti-inflammation and antioxidant compounds, which are beneficial for fighting gums diseases and lessening the pain present in your teeth and gums and protecting your mouth, teeth and gums from the bacterial growth^[13] [14].

Process 1:

Ingredients:

• 2-3 cloves

Direction:

• Simply chew the clean raw cloves.
• Do the treatment three times daily to eliminate gingivitis completely.

Process 2:

Ingredients:

• A few drops of clove oil
• 1 cup of warm water

Direction:

• Apply the clove oil directly to the affected gums.
• Let it stay for several minutes.
• Wash the oil off by using the warm water.
• Do the treatment twice per day.

Process 3:

Ingredients:

• A few drops of clove oil
• 1 cup of warm water

Direction:

• Add the clove oil to the warm water and mix well.
• Rinse the mouth with this mixture.
• Do the process 2-3 times per day.

Note: Pregnant women, children, and people that take blood thinning medicines should avoid using cloves or clove oil. Consult a dentist or doctor before using the treatment.

6. Turmeric

A study found in the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology states that turmeric can effectively treat gingivitis as a traditional mouthwash^[15]. According to some studies, the presence of curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, which can help greatly with swelling, plaque, inflammation and pain reduction in gums^{[16] [17] [18]}.

Ingredients:

• Some turmeric powder
• Some water
• 1 toothbrush

Direction:

• Add the turmeric into the water and mix well.
• Use your toothbrush to scoop it up.
• Brush your teeth in 3 minutes as usual.
• Do the treatment twice per day in several weeks.

7. Guava Leaves

Due to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant compounds, guava leaves are likely to aid in easing infection, swelling and pain triggered by gingivitis. According to a study guava has shown antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of guava is mainly attributed to flavonoids, guaijaverin and quercetin. The bark has exhibited antibacterial properties due to the presence of tannins^[19].

Process 1:

Ingredients:

• Some fresh guava leaves

Direction:

• Wash the leaves to make it clean.
• Slowly chew those clean leaves and then spit it out.
• Do the treatment twice daily in several weeks.

Process 2:

Ingredients:

• A few tender guava leaves

Direction:

• Grind the leaves to create a paste.
• Apply the paste to the teeth and gums.
• Let it be in several minutes.
• Split it out and rinse it off with warm water.
• Do it twice daily.

Process 3:

Ingredients:

• Some guava leaves
• 1 glass of water

Direction:

• Extract the guava leaves to have its juice.
• Add the juice to the water and mix well.
• Rinse the mouth with this mixture.
• Do the treatment twice daily.

8. Lemon Juice & Strawberries

Lemon possesses ascorbic acid and citric acid that exert antimicrobial impacts on the oral bacteria^[21]. Therefore, the mixture of strawberries and lemon juice becomes the great application on your gums and teeth in terms of reducing your gingivitis condition.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 strawberries
• 1 processor
• 1 tsp of lemon juice

Direction:

• Add strawberries and lemon juice into the processor to create a paste
• Gently massage your gums with the paste.
• Keep it on for several minutes.
• Rinse it off with warm water and spit it out.
• Do the treatment twice per day.

9.  Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide

Baking soda holds antiseptic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects that can benefit for various diseases such as heartburn, ulcer pain, insect bites, sunburn, and especially your gums and teeth since it may lessen infection. Moreover, it functions as balancing acids in the mouth and thus it can control your gingivitis, gum diseases, and tooth decay^[22] [23]. To get the most out of your saltwater solution, you add two ingredients: baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. They help destroy the bacteria and clean the area.

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp of baking soda & hydrogen peroxide
• Some warm saltwater

Direction:

• Mix baking soda & hydrogen peroxide with the water to create a fine paste.
• Apply the paste directly to the gums.
• Let it stay for 1-2 minutes.
• Rinse it off with warm water.
• Do the treatment 2-3 times per week to see the visible results.

Additionally, baking soda is also helpful for hemorrhoids treatment.

By way of conclusion, gingivitis can bring irritation and pain to the patients and may become more severe if left untreated in such a long time. Besides those mentioned treatments, you should keep brushing the teeth at least twice daily; avoid smoking and other harmful factors leading to gingivitis so that your disease can be treated very quickly. Be aware that this article is only informational, not for medical or educational purposes. Thus, it is highly recommended that you consult the doctor for advice prior to utilizing any above mentioned treatment in case you may get allergic or sensitive. If you know any other useful natural remedies for gingivitis or have any questions or comments, you can freely leave them below and we will respond as soon as possible. To get more information pertaining to effective natural remedies for other health problems, feel free to go to our main Home Remedies page.