Avoid Gingivitis: Naturally Take Care of Your Gums

Many people fail to properly care for their gums. Neglecting your gums can be a very costly and painful mistake. Gum (periodontal) disease occurs in 50 percent of people over the age of 55. Even though we all know the importance of regular brushing and flossing, it often takes more than the regular gum care to keep our mouths healthy, in particular our gums. The mildest form of periodontal disease is gingivitis. This inflammatory condition, which is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene, leads to red, swollen gum tissue that often bleeds. If you have these symptoms, please see your doctor because if the condition is left untreated, surgery is often needed.

There are natural ways we can care for our gums and prevent gingivitis. The first is to reduce your sugar intake. Sugar increases plaque formation and feeds the harmful bacteria that dwell in your gums. Second, taking the right nutritional supplements can also help you care for your gums and reverse gingivitis often within a short amount of time like three months. This could definitely eliminate a costly surgery.

Vitamin C – This strengthens gum tissue and enhances your white blood cells’ ability to fight inflammation-promoting microorganisms in your mouth. To restore gum health, take 3,000 mg daily in divided doses for three months. For regular care, take 1,500 mg of Vitamin C daily. However, this amount can cause diarrhea, so cut back on the doses if that happens. Also, if you have high iron levels, don’t take Vitamin C because it increases iron absorption.

Zinc – Like Vitamin C, zinc improves gum health by enhancing white blood cell activity. Zinc also inhibits plaque buildup and speeds the healing of bleeding gums. To treat gingivitis, take 40mg of zinc daily for three months and for regular care take a daily dose of 20 mg of zinc.

Folate – A deficiency of this vitamin is very common and often increases the risk for gingivitis. To treat gingivitis, take a daily of 1 mg of folic acid along with 500 mcg of Vitamin B-12 for three months. Bleeding gums can also improve taking a .1 percent solution of liquid folic acid, which you can get at health food stores. Brush your teeth, then take one-half ounce of the liquid folic acid in your mouth twice daily for 60 seconds. For best results, don’t eat anything for 15 minutes after mouth rinsing. To maintain regular care, take 800 mcg of folic acid along with 400 mcg of Vitamin B-12 daily.

Coenzyme Q10 – This antioxidant helps cells function efficiently. It protects the gums. For gum disease, take 100 mg of CoQ10 daily for three months. For regular care take 60 mg.