6 steps for fighting gum disease naturally

Almost half of Americans suffer from gum disease and if you are over the age of 65, that number skyrockets to 70%.

And, unfortunately the gum pain and bad breath that can come with this inflammation and infection of your gums may be the least of your worries. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease or periodontitis has also been linked to heart problems in multiple studies.

This makes taking care of your mouth and getting rid of gum disease vital to your health.

Unfortunately, conventional treatment of gum disease, like the rest of conventional medicine focuses on the symptoms rather than the root cause and the first course of treatment is almost always oral antibiotics. And, these drugs come with side effects including yeast infections and the death of the good flora in your mouth and gut that is necessary for good digestion.

If you want to avoid these antibiotics and the pain of a deep cleaning that is another common treatment used for gum disease, you need to start improving the health of your mouth the natural way.

Let’s look at six steps you can take to overcome gum disease naturally.

Step #1 – Quit smoking

If you are a smoker — STOP!

There’s no other way to say it. One of the worst things you can do for your mouth and gums is to smoke. All of those toxins from the cigarettes are absorbed directly into the tissue of your mouth and can lead to inflammation, infection, and even cancer.

Make the decision to quit and follow through. Different techniques work best for different people. Use whatever you will actually stick to and your chances to succeed improve dramatically. Everything from meditation, to chewing gum, or even nicotine patches are options. You may need to check with your doctor to find what will work for your current state of health.

Step #2 – Change your diet

The bacteria that cause gum disease feed on sugar so your goal is to starve them to death. Cut refined sugar and carbohydrates out of your diet and your mouth as well as the rest of your body will be healthier.

Step # 3 – Adopt a good oral health routine

If oral health is something that has fallen by the wayside, it’s time to get back on track. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is necessary to maintain healthy gums, so get to it.

Step #4 – Chew garlic

This may sound terrible but don’t stop reading yet…

Garlic is a natural anti-bacterial. And, while chewing raw garlic may not be appealing, it can do great things for your gum health.

Step #5 – Consider essential oils

Adding a drop or two of essential oils to your toothpaste when you brush is also a great option for decreasing inflammation and killing off the bad bacteria in your mouth. Clove and tea tree (melaleuca) oils are good choices. But remember, just like with store bought toothpaste, be careful not to ingest any of it.

Be sure to pick a USDA Certified Organic Oil to ensure that there are no pesticides or other chemical residues in the oil that you don’t want in your body.

Step #6 – Choose the right supplements

For the best oral health possible, there are 3 important supplements to add to your daily routine:

1. Vitamin C – Up to 2,000mg per day to help support healthy gums
2. Calcium & Magnesium – 1,200mg of calcium and at least 320mg of magnesium per day to support healthy teeth
3. Coenzyme Q10 – 100mg per day for its anti-inflammatory effect. Also known as the fountain of youth in a capsule, CoQ10 has many benefits.

Although your chance of suffering from gum disease does increase with age, it is not something that you have to live with. Use these six steps to overcome gum disease naturally and get a healthy mouth for life.

Sources:

1. https://www.perio.org/consumer/cdc-study.htm

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3100856/

3. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-c/faq-20058030