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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

Three Different Ways To Treat Gum Disease At Home

16 August 2022
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Gum disease, also known as gingivitis in its early stage and periodontal disease, affects about 47 percent of adults aged 30 or higher. The most common symptoms of gum disease include inflammation in your gums, red gums, bleeding from your gums when you brush your teeth, or receding gums. If you are suffering from gum disease, there are a few at-home treatments that you can use to treat gum disease. Here are a few of those at-home treatments. 

Rinsing Your Mouth With Saltwater

One of the easiest ways to treat gum disease at home is to rinse your mouth with saltwater. If you are out of salt, you can use baking soda in place of salt. Warm a small amount of water up in your microwave, and then dissolve about a pinch or two of salt or baking soda in the warm water. Then, place the mixture in your mouth and swish it around. Both salt and baking soda help to kill bacteria, including bacteria that causes gingivitis and gum disease. Repeat this process several times per day for the best results. 

Coconut Oil Pulling

Another at-home remedy that you can use to treat gum disease at home is coconut oil pulling. Place a spoonful of coconut oil in a cup and then heat it up until it melts. Once the oil has melted, place it in your mouth and start swishing it around in your mouth. Be sure the oil is warm, but not overly hot, before placing it in your mouth. Swish the mixture around before spitting it out. Coconut oil helps to remove bacteria stuck between your teeth and around your gum line, helping to remove the bacteria that can cause gingivitis and gum disease. Complete this process once a day for the best results. 

Swishing Hydrogen Peroxide In Your Mouth

The last way you can treat gum disease at home is by swishing equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide in your mouth. The hydrogen peroxide helps to remove plaque build-up, while also treating inflamed and bleeding gums. Repeat this process once a day for the best results. 

At-home treatments combined with good dental care, such as flossing your teeth regularly and brushing with an electric toothbrush, can help to treat gum disease in many people. However, if your symptoms persist or you notice that your gums are receding even further, it is important to seek treatment from a dental professional. Receding gums can lead to tooth loss, and unfortunately, there is no way to replace gum loss from where they have receded. As such, preventing gum disease, or treating it early on, is important for your overall dental health.

For more information on gum disease treatment, contact a professional near you.