Gingivitis Self-Care: How to Treat Gingivitis at Home

What Is Gingivitis? 

Gingivitis is a reversible and common form of gum disease that normally appears where your gums meet your teeth. 

At first, gingivitis may not seem all that serious. However, if left untreated in the long term, it can lead to more serious issues, including periodontitis, tooth loss, and problems in other parts of your body. 

But what causes gingivitis? Let’s take a look. 

Gingivitis Causes

The main cause of gingivitis is plaque — a sticky, colorless biofilm that forms on your teeth after you eat starchy, sugary foods and drinks, such as candy, carbonated beverages, potato chips, and ice cream (just to name a few).

Plaque that accumulates on your teeth for too long can harden into tartar (typically above or below your gum line). Tartar makes it much more difficult to remove the plaque underneath. It actually collects even more bacteria and can only be removed with a professional cleaning at the dental office.

Plaque buildup leads to gingivitis: irritation, swelling, and bleeding gums around the base of your teeth.

While plaque is the main cause of gingivitis, other medical issues and lifestyle choices also contribute to its formation, including:  

• Old age 

• Dry mouth 

• Diabetes 

• Poor nutrition (including not getting enough vitamin C) 

• Smoking or chewing tobacco 

• Hormonal changes 

• Conditions that lower immunity (e.g., leukemia or cancer treatment) 

• Viral and fungal infections 

 The best thing you can do to prevent plaque buildup and gingivitis is to brush your teeth twice a day with a dentist-approved stannous fluoride toothpaste and an electric toothbrush, floss daily, rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash, and visit your dentist regularly. 

Gingivitis Symptoms

To determine if you have gingivitis, you’ll need to examine your gums. Are they firm and pale pink and fit tightly around your teeth? If so, you’ve got healthy gums.  However, if you notice one or more of the below symptoms, you may have gingivitis:  

• Swelling 

• Gums are bright red, dark red, or a darker color than usual 

• Bleeding when you brush or floss  

• Tenderness 

 Gingivitis can also cause bad breath. How? Swollen, puffy, or inflamed gums create space for bacteria to gather and thrive. That bacteria breaks down food particles and releases smelly gases that can manifest as bad breath.  If you notice any of these symptoms, implement gingivitis self-care and schedule an appointment to see your dentist right away. 

Complications from Gingivitis

Left neglected over many years, gingivitis may progress to periodontitis, a more serious, irreversible chronic condition.  Research has found associations between periodontitis and more serious conditions that affect your entire body such as:  

• Respiratory disease 

• Diabetes 

• Coronary artery disease 

• Stroke 

• Rheumatoid arthritis 

 The good news is that you can reverse gingivitis at home through effective self-care. Keep reading for our top tips. 

How to Treat and Prevent Gingivitis at Home

1) Brush Your Teeth with an Electric Toothbrush 

One of the best forms of gingivitis self-care is removing plaque twice daily with toothbrushes and floss. While most people use a manual toothbrush, research shows that electric toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively than manual toothbrushes. 

Electric toothbrushes provide several benefits compared to manual toothbrushes, including:  

• Significantly better plaque removal 

• Improved gum health 

• Easier access to hard-to-reach areas 

• Built-in timers to ensure proper brushing duration 

2) Use a Stannous Fluoride Toothpaste

Want to make your self-care routine even more effective than brushing alone? Use a stannous fluoride toothpaste.

A dentist-approved toothpaste is one that meets the American Dental Association’s (ADA) standards for safety and effectiveness. Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance on the packaging to identify these types of toothpaste.

3) Floss Once a Day

In addition to brushing with the right brush and toothpaste, it’s important to get into the spaces between your teeth. This area is a prime breeding ground for plaque and tartar. Sometimes, even the most comprehensive brushing routine can’t rid it all.

That’s where floss comes in. Floss slides between your teeth into those hard-to-reach places to remove the plaque and bacteria that can lead to gingivitis.

Floss at least once a day for best results.

4) Rinse Your Mouth with Antibacterial Mouthwash

Even the best brushing and flossing routine won’t reach every nook and cranny in your mouth. Unfortunately, bacteria, plaque, and tartar like to hide in these nooks and crannies.

No self-care routine would be complete without this last step: rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash. 

5) Visit Your Dentist Regularly 

Keep in mind that self-care can only go so far. For complete gingivitis treatment and prevention, visit a dentist regularly for check-ups and professional dental cleaning. Your dentist will advise when you should have your next check-up based on how good your oral health is. 

The time between check-ups can vary from 3 months to 2 years, depending on how healthy your teeth and gums are and your risk of future problems. 

6) Reduce Swelling with Salt Water 

If you notice gingivitis symptoms but can’t visit a dentist right away, try rinsing with salt water to reduce swelling, alleviate pain, and kill bacteria. The salt in the solution has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe the pain and irritation inside your mouth. 

Simply mix ½ teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of warm water and swish the solution around in your mouth for a few minutes before spitting it out. 

7) Limit Sugary, Starchy Foods in Your Diet 

Another great way to prevent gingivitis is to limit sugary, starchy foods in your diet. These foods are the biggest causes of plaque buildup in your mouth. 

Consuming less of these foods and beverages goes a long way toward keeping gingivitis from forming in the first place and preventing it from progressing to advanced gum issues in the long term. 

8) Avoid Smoking and Chewing Tobacco 

While adding in good habits can help, the best forms of gingivitis care include getting rid of the bad things. 

Smoking and chewing tobacco impair your body’s ability to fight infection, reduce blood flow to the gums, and hinder tissue repair. All of that makes it much harder for your gums to heal from inflammation and infection and increases the risk of developing more advanced gum disease.