Gum disease affects many people in the United Kingdom, some of whom probably don’t even know that they have it. It is not a particularly serious condition in its most basic form of gingivitis but it should be dealt with so that complications don’t ensue and the far more grievous periodontitis doesn’t take hold.
Gingivitis is caused by a build up of plaque in the gum line of teeth which causes the gums to become inflamed. You will find that your gums begin to feel rather sensitive and, instead of being a healthy pink colour, will start to redden. Periodontitis is signified by receding in the gums and swelling as the bones holding the teeth in place themselves become inflamed. Tooth loss is likely in this situation and it is best that you deal with gingivitis before it progresses.
Several herbal remedies are actually effective in the treatment of gum disease and most dentists endorse these methods. You can actually find tooth pastes which are specially formulated for gums which include some of these herbs such as sage, peppermint and basil.
Some herbs can even be applied directly to the gums themselves and are useful for relieving the symptoms of gum disease and helping to combat them too. These include grapefruit extract, calendula and Echinacea. Taking aloe vera and chewing clove can help too, these are time-honoured methods of helping with painful gums. But if your gum disease is sever then you might wish to consult your dentist before pursuing these because they can actually be rather aggressive on your gums.
Talk to your Leeds dentist for all the best advice about the different ways of approaching gum disease
Tags: gingivitis, gum disease, periodontisis
