Cure Receding Gums
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Natural Remedies to Cure or Treat Receding Gums
"Receding gums (gingival recession) refers to a loss of gum tissue resulting in an exposure in the roots of the teeth. Gum recession is a common problem in adults over the age of 40, but may also occur starting from the teens.
Causes
* Overaggressive brushing - often gum lines recede due to toothbrush abrasion. The enamel at the gum line is worn away by scrubbing the sides of the teeth in a washboard fashion. * Inadequate brushing or flossing - by allowing the bacteria to sit in between the teeth, bacteria can build up. The enzymes which the bacteria release can cause the bone to be eaten away from the teeth. This erosion is very harmful. * Periodontal disease * Dipping snuff - by "dipping" snuff in between your lip and teeth it affects the mucus membrane lining in your mouth and overtime will cause your gums to recede. * Inadequate placing of lip or tongue piercings." (Wikipedia)
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
TED'S REMEDIES
01/30/2007: Adriana from Montgomery, AL writes: "Ted, do you know if a good cure for receding gums aside from Oil Pulling? I have fillings in my teeth and am afraid the fillings will come out if I OP...the dentist says I may need to go for surgery on my gums since my gums are receding, but I really feel like I can naturally do something to help my gums. Thanks so much."
Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Adriana: A fillings will only come out if the fillings are loose. The oils and oily foods act as lubricants if they are about to come out anyway. You have a better chance of removing the fillings if you were eating foods. It is a rarity in practice from oil pulling. It is only if it is a loose fillings, which you can feel that you cannot do oil pulling.A gum disease is what is causing receding gums. Perhaps try a hydrogen peroxide 1% as a mouthwash seems to be the best alternative. The gums recede because the bacteria prevents the gums from growing. So a hydrogen peroxide 1% as mouthwash and some simple flossing, also taking plenty of sodium ascorbate vitamin C 500 mg per day twice a day should give some improvement in a week or two. In some cases, gum disease is due to acidosis, so taking 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda twice a day on an empty stomach at least should help reduce this condition and further help the gums to heal faster."
11/25/2008: Pete from London, UK replies: "i have recently tried the flossing/HP/Vitamin C thing, but wasn't seeing any change in my gums. However, since trying this i have had tartar removed by my dental hygienist. as the tartar is out of the equation, will i see some change if i resume this? how long does it normally take to see a 'noticeable' difference? Many thanks and love the website!"
11/27/2008: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "I have a friend of mine who once had tartar years ago. Unfortunately her gums continue to recede even with their removal. Since I regularly brush my teeth with my own toothpaste preparations, which is the strongest in eliminating oral bacteria requiring low concentrations of zinc chloride (about 1%) -which is actually high for most commercial oral preparations, she reported minor burning pains in gums during brushing the new preparations, but she persisted, and the gums are now no longer receding.
It seems that there is certain unknown bacteria that prevents gums from going back. Take for instance certain kinds of bacteria, such as staphylococcus, which in certain cases are flesh eating. It is therefore of no surprise that gums should be receding if there were some bacteria hidden on the surface of the gum and not tartar. These may not form tartar, but creates biofilm that allow colonies to exist and prevents gums from normalizing.
It should also be noted that the receding gums turned to normal of that woman, not just the zinc chloride preparations added to the toothpaste, but I find a weak solution of milk of magnesia is used as a mouthwash, such as 1 tablespoon per half glass of water. Staphylococcus is generally killed at pH of 9 or above, so the Milk of magnesia at pH of 10 (8% solution) would kill them too. A supplement of magnesium citrate 500 mg per day (do not use magnesium oxide - they are useless, and magnesium carbonate - they are not water soluble and hence low bioavailability).
While vitamin C 500 mg does help, certain gum disease such as receding gums, I have found niacinamide vitamin B3 (100-250 mg every other day for a month plus weekly b complex for a month roughly speaking) to be particular useful in healing the gums, as well as magnesium (magnesium citrate or magnesium chloride) , and some zinc supplements such as a weekly zinc gluconate 50 mg, for a couple of weeks, before phasing off to once a month, for 2-3 months before, taking whenever it is needed.
It should be noted that the healthier you are the less the supplements you need. Still, if you are sick, you can't take certain supplements everyday as some do accumulate, with possible exception of B complex, vitamin C which are water soluble.
To prevent bacteria from forming inside the mouth, it is common that saliva pH is acid, which prevents gums from healing and is a fertile ground for bacteria. Ideally a saliva pH should be near 7.3 pH. Unfortunately our diets are low in potassium (bananas don't help for some reason - perhaps the sugar content), and hence potassium citrate (technical name is tripotassium citrate) is taken along with baking soda, such as 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda plus 1/4 teaspoon of potassium citrate in 1/2 glass of water. The older you get the less the body's ability of potassium is retained, and bicarbonates too. Therefore oral pH tends to be more acid, which worsen the problem and has to be supplemented, discouraging bacteria growth and biofilms on the teeth preventing gums from healing.
It should be noted that commercial toothpaste preparation is really behind the times. They should have zinc, magnesium and a pH relatively high to really have a dent. The use of sodium lauryl sulfate often encourages fungal growth. Therefore to get around some of the problems of nonexistent zinc in the market (possible exception if Lavoris mouthwash, which has 0.1% zinc chloride last I remembered them) is to use zinc lozenges instead BETWEEN brushings, or mixed with toothpaste preparations. The milk of magnesia 1 tablespoon per 1/2 glass for example, can be used as a mouthwash preparation, which can be rinsed with water after doing it a couple of times. The use of Hydrogen peroxide is an interesting one as a mouthwash, however, its effect is short term, reducing only the number of bacteria colonies. Zinc mouthwash and zinc preparations in tooth leaves s thin zinc film to the surfaces of the teeth and last much longer on its antiseptic effect.
My experience is proper supplement and oral care mentioned the gums should normalized in about 3 months' time.
Ted"
09/27/2009: Kathleen from Corvallis, Oregon replies: "Ted are you willing to share your toothpaste recipe? Kathleen"
10/18/2009: Merryweather from Stuttgart, Germany replies: "I have some zinc lozenges with vitamin C which I got for my kids. Would that maybe help my gums?
merryweather"
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1 YEA
1 WARNING!
[YEA] 03/31/2007: Tammie from Prairieville, Louisiana writes: "My gums had started receding so bad that I could see a space between my two front teeth at the gum line, then I read that bee propolis can actually help the gum tissue to grow back, and it really works. No more space between my teeth.
Bee propolis also reduces fever, helps sore throat, canker sores, fever blisters and heals stomach ulcers and just about anything else you use it on."
03/02/2008: Walter from Bainbridge Island, WA replies: "I saw a post on your site about using bee propolis to cure receding gums. I am wondering, how is that used? Taking the pill internally, or applying the extract directly to the gums?"
[WARNING!] 06/26/2008: Roseann from San Dieo, California replies: "Remember not all remedies are going to work for all folks..especially those of us who have allergies. If, per chance, you're allergic to bee stings...the indiscriminate use of Popolis could have some unwanted outcomes....there are several sites re Bee Popolis, just google... Earthclinic is, in my opinion, the very best Folk Remedy Site on the Web; just use due diligence before leaping into another's positive health experience..."
06/27/2008: Roseann from San Diego, California replies: "propolis by any other name.....oops, Roseann"
10/18/2008: Lin from New York, New York replies: "Hello,
I'm writing about gum recession and subsequent bone loss. I am 37 and I have stage 5 gum recession on some of my teeth. My gums began receeding when I was 18 years old. I believe after seeing numerous periodontists and undergoing one painful gum grafting already that I have combined their theories and come up with my own. My gum recession is due to weak and thin first layer of defensive gum tissue which is hereditary, a misaligned bite and T3 jawline structure and lastly clenching during sleep which several dentists say is a result of a misaligned bite. I have always had good dental hygiene and probably too vigorous also as a child. For the last 10-15 years I have brushed correctly, flossed nightly and gargled with conventional bacteria solutions. The professionals agree that I do not have gum disease from bacteria but that it is a combination of the hereditary problems that went uncorrected when I was a child. I am very interested in any and all remedies for gum building. I would like to know more about the bee propolis and how I should administer it. Also, if there is a link possible to my weakened gum tissue and acidosis?
Thank you very much!!"
10/24/2008: Andrea from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates replies: "Hi! I'm 37 years old and have receding gums. I am planning to try out bee propolis. I asked Tammie (who posted her success story about bee propolis) about how she used bee propolis and here is her reply: "I put a dropper full of the liquid bee propolis tincture in my bottled water so that my gums are bathed in the propolis all day as I sip my water.
Before going to bed, I put a couple droppers full of the propolis undiluted in my mouth and swish it around real good to make sure all the gum tissue is saturated, then swallow."Good luck to all!"
06/17/2009: Larhonda from Orlando, FL, USA replies: "Can you use Bee propolis for gum issues ? and if so how do I use the caplets ? taken internally or take the contents out and rub on my gums, any help would be great."
06/18/2009: Anonymous from Davenport, IA replies: "I have been using Bee Propolis for receding gums. I use 30% strength Bee Propolis Tincture (liquid). I directly apply it on the problem gum at night after brushing and I leave it on overnight. I heard it takes a while to regrow the gums. The higher strength Bee Propolis will stick to the teeth and it would be hard to brush it off. Hope this helps!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 09/17/2009: Lita from Sanford, Fl writes: "Whenever I have problems with my gums I buy ___ at any pharmacy. This is a mouthwash made of Peroxide but on a gel base. The gel allows the peroxide to stay longer in your mouth to keep killing bacteria. Good luck!"
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