Natural Remedies & Supplements for Healthy Gums & Receding Gums

| Modified on Mar 08, 2024
Receding Gum Natural Remedies

Gum recession is a dental condition where the gums pull away from the teeth, exposing more of the root. This can lead to tooth sensitivity, decay, and potentially tooth loss if not addressed properly.

Instead of surgical methods like gum grafts, there are various natural remedies and supplements that can enhance gum health and aid in preventing further gum recession. This article will explore effective options for supporting healthy gums.

What Leads to Gum Recession?

Gum recession can be caused by several factors, such as inadequate oral hygiene, gum disease, genetic factors, hormonal changes, teeth grinding, and tobacco usage. Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids can also contribute to gum disease and recession by weakening the immune system and reducing bone density.

To prevent gum disease and recession, it's crucial to maintain a balanced diet, good oral hygiene, and regular dental checkups. Supplementation with essential nutrients may be necessary if deficiencies are identified.

Natural Remedies for Gum Recession

Numerous natural remedies can support gum health and help prevent gum recession. Here are some effective options:

  1. Vitamin C: Essential for healthy gums, it's an antioxidant that protects gum tissue and promotes collagen production.
  2. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): A natural antioxidant important for healthy gum tissue.
  3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: These polyunsaturated fats have anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial for gum health.
  4. Green Tea: Green Tea contains polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful for gum health.
  5. Oil Pulling: An ancient practice that involves swishing oil in the mouth to remove toxins and bacteria, beneficial for oral health.
  6. Aloe Vera: Known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, aloe vera can help improve gum health.
  7. Tea Tree Oil: A natural essential oil with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, useful for gum health.
  8. Echinacea: An herb with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, echinacea can support gum health.
  9. Vitamin D: Essential for healthy bones and teeth, vitamin D also has anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for gums.
  10. Probiotics: Beneficial bacteria that can improve gum health by reducing inflammation.
  11. Myrrh: A resin with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, useful for gum health.

In summary, various natural remedies and supplements like vitamin C, CoQ10, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, and others can support gum health and help prevent gum recession. Alongside these natural solutions, maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental visits are key to preventing gum disease and recession.

We invite you to share your experiences and knowledge regarding dental health treatments and remedies. If you have tried any treatments or know of any not listed here, please feel free to share with us. Continue reading below to learn which natural remedies helped Earth Clinic readers with gum issues.




Apple Cider vinegar

1 User Review
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Posted by Lillian (Shasta, California) on 01/07/2018

I used (rinsed with) apple cider vinegar yesterday in the hopes that it would help with what might be a tooth infection. In my ignorance, I brushed my teeth (with electric toothbrush) right after using the vinegar. As I brushed, I thought that I had somehow broken all of my teeth and all the nerves were firing and the pain was excruciating! Side note: I have a mouth full of receding gums. I have been in excruciating pain every since. Does anyone know of anything that might help?

Replied by Marnie
(Madera, Ca)
01/08/2018

Try rinsing with baking soda dissolved in water. Do this before and after you brush.

I would recommend also getting some black walnut green hulls tincture to restore enamel and eliminate sensitivity. Add 2 full droppers (2 droppers-full) of the tincture to a quarter cup of water. Rinse for a minute or more, and then SWALLOW the mixture. Do this three times per day until you have no more sensitivity.

If you want to disinfect the mouth/ teeth/ gums, 4-5 drops of 5% Lugols iodine (or 10-15 drops 2%) in a small cup of water is an excellent mouthwash. You can spit this out after rinsing for a couple of minutes. Your body will have absorbed the iodine anyway.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
01/08/2018

Lillian, try rinsing with water and baking soda every few hours.

Replied by Lillian
(Shasta, California)
01/08/2018

Thank you. I have been using baking soda. I will try the black walnut green hulls tincture.

Replied by Smiggy
(Singapore)
07/15/2018

You can't use Apple Cider Vinegar for such thing. U wash your mouth with salt water and water or if you have infection or inflammation, you can drink some colloidal silver or spray some onto the teeth or gum.

Apple cider vinegar is acidic and its best to take it during the day and not at night unless you thoroughly rid the mouth of the residue.


Avoid SLS

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Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 10/23/2012
★★★★★

Hi Dina, You may want to re-consider your regimen. You are using products that are extremely harsh to the body. The marketing may convince people these are good choices but, in fact, they are not. I'll list just one ingredient you don't want in or on your body- sodium lauryl sulfate. That's just a start!

My suggestion would be to use sea salt, neem oil, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, oil pulling (you can read about that here on EC. ) These are what I use on a daily basis. I haven't used toothpaste in years at this point. Long ago I had a large pocket at the back of my top tooth and the dentist said the only way to take care of that would be with surgery. I said I didn't believe that and would heal it. On my next visit, they measured it and it was gone! He couldn't believe it.

I have put up video of Nadine Artemis, a leading authority on healing gums and re-mineralizing teeth. If it is of interest to you, I would be happy to do that again. I know a few people really learned a lot from it. Oh, and diet plays a big role too in the health of our teeth and gums. Google the work of Weston Price. Hope this helps. Wishing you the best, Lisa


Breathe Through Your Nose

3 User Reviews
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Posted by Sunshine (Dublin, Ireland) on 04/10/2017
★★★★★

I have receding gums for years now. I am not too sure why it started in the first place, but they would get better and then worse again. I am 35. I am doing oil pulling with sesame or coconut oil + drop of oregano oil regularly, try and maintain good oral hygiene. regular visits to dentist, started taking vitamins and minerals. The gums improved a little, but I would expect them to get better after all that I've been doing. So only yesterday I came across an article about mouth breathing and it's negative effects on oral health. And I am definitely a mouth breather when I sleep and I have a gut feeling that this is what's stopping my gums from healing. Plus I breathe mostly through my mouth when walking for 2 hours almost every day. I am going to try and retrain myself breath through my nose and hope for some improvement. I tried breathing only through my nose when walking today and I must say it does take some effort. Hopefully this could be of some help for someone out there having gum issues.

Replied by Sara
(Devon U.k.)
05/08/2017
★★★★★

Butekyo breathing is all about breathing through your nose, the exercises are brilliant to help retrain your breathing and with an added bonus of being really calming.

Replied by Elaine
(Minnesota)
12/10/2020
★★★★★

Keep your tongue in the roof of your mouth. It is very hard to breathe through your mouth if your tongue is in that position. Easy to do when you are walking. Not so easy during sleep...

Replied by Ela
(London, UK)
04/25/2021

A paper tape over your mouth at night works brilliantly and helps change the habit of mouth breathing in a week or two!


Castor Oil

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Posted by Anne-maree (Qld) on 03/07/2024
★★★★★

I had a dental implant 8 years ago to replace my front tooth and in the last few years the gum started to recede, revealing the top of my crown. I read that Green Tea and coconut oil pulling helped and I have been faithfully doing it and seen improvements. However, about a month ago, after doing a bit more research, I started to rub some organic castor oil on it every night after I brushed my teeth. The results have amazed me. My gum is looking a lot more full and is moving down my tooth and now only exposes a fraction of the top of the crown. It is looking much better! Thanks again to all who post and share their wisdom, without your contributions I wouldn't know what to do. Grateful!


Diatomaceous Earth

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Posted by Teresa (Texas) on 03/05/2022
★★★★★

Diatomaceous earth taken in water daily for several weeks helped tighten receding gums. I think it is high in silica.


Folic Acid

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Posted by Tara (Idaho) on 06/24/2013
★★★★★

My husband has really bad gum recession in his mid 20s and I was freiking out about it. His dental hygenist said he couldn't regrow it... That it isn't possible. Well, his mom was an herbalist guru and she used 2 or 3 items (unfortunately the only one I remember was large doses of folic acid) and his gums completely regrew. His dental hygienist was flabbergasted! I was amazed. So, I know it's possible. Don't give up hope. Just try things out till you find answers. Good luck to you.


Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

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Posted by Had (White River Jct, Vermont) on 06/02/2012
★★★★★

For Homemade Toothpaste recipe, this is my own.

1 scoop of calcium citrate powder(comes in the container)
2-5 TBS extra virgin coconut oil
1-3 TBS baking soda
2 caps, opened, potassium citrate (I buy 100 mg per pill)
a few shakes of sea/himalyian salt
10-20 drops essencial oils (I use peppermint-anti bac and viral, and clean feel, and Lemon-same reason and cuts the burn of peppermint to refreshing, also for tooth sensitivity--clove)
pure stevia to 'sweeten', add as needed to taste.

Start w/ EVCO and BS and potas/calcium/salt--mix and rub on teeth and spit, until you like the level of smooth/gritty, then the oils, start w/ 5-10 drops and mix/rub on teeth, spit, so you don't make the oil flavor to strong in you mouth, then stevia to tone it down and not be so offensive in the mouth.

I do not put magnesium citrate in toothpaste, it was throw it away gross to taste. I do drink it in water everyday to make sure I get enough magnesium. I love this mix, it works very well and tastes good and is geared to clean, remineralize, and breakdown plague etc... You can use different ess. Oils. Research benefits for teeth of diff. Ess. Oils and go for it.

I also oil pull w/ EVC, and was using Hydroperoxide 3% as mouthwash, I am going to look into milk of magnesia, but would Borax in water have same effect? I have that and use it.

You can also mix up a breath freshener for through out the day, water, peppermint/lemon, and stevia ( tones down the oil/sweethens). If I am out and eat or whatever, I spray my teeth and tongue, swish around and spit to have a clean mouth.


Hyaluronic Acid

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Posted by Prioris (Fort Pierce, Fl, Usa) on 06/24/2013
★★★★★

I think small molecule Hyaluronic Acid will help the gums regrow. Use a formula with collagen and chondroitin.


Iodine, DMSO + Turpentine Rinses

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Posted by Anna W. (Yosemite) on 12/15/2018
★★★★★

I alternate iodine and DMSO/Turpentine mouth rinses daily with no side effects. I had to have a major bone infection removed a month ago and am super paranoid about cleaning my teeth and mouth. I also do oil pulling with VCO every other day now, and add Oregano oil once a week. So far so good. No new infections and my mouth does feel clean.


MSM

1 User Review
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Posted by Charity (Faithville, Us) on 01/08/2018
★★★★★

Receding gums are from a deficiency and many things could help I had three bad ones and used msm and it helped two of them but not the third one. Msm depletes vitamin c and molybdenum and boron or borax so balance is required with some study on minerals. Phytic acid on grains and sprouts causes malnutrition of minerals and dental failure. Lack of healthy gut enzymes also causes mineral imbalances ... I use kefir.

Finally, Alpha lipoic acid relieves dental pain ...

Hope you find the right balance.

Replied by Charity
(Faithville, Us)
07/07/2020

Msm is a Sulphonylmethane our body gets low on as we age .When we add msm our body also needs vitamins c for collagen production while it upgrades. You can buy it as tablets capsules or powder . I have used all three . I have used a boatload of stuff trying to heal my mouth. Currently I am using comfrey which can restore your cells, bones, skin, and teeth. I rubbed some leaf on my fingernails for half an hour and the lines in them started to smooth out .I put some leaf on a dark spot on my face and it turned dry and red and now it's forming new skin, no brown spot. At first it seems to make things look worse then the resurrection power moves. It can heal a twenty year old bone injury . This is my second year of experimenting with it and I have more plants to utilize. It helps eyes heal. I read that race horses ate 40 pounds of it a day.


Multiple Remedies

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Posted by Cheryl (Cooroy, Queensland. Aust.) on 12/02/2015
★★★★★

After everything I have been through and all my research, I believe the reason we all get gum disease and periodontitis is bacteria or fungus which ends up in our gums. It could be coming from decay in the teeth to start with and let me tell you, you cannot take notice of a dentist if they say you have no decay, it took me 3 dentists and an oral pathologist later to find out that I DID have decay in a crowned tooth which I had for 25 years. I was told by 2 dentists and an oral pathologist that there was NO DECAY UNDER THAT CROWNED TOOTH! There was as it turned out, that bad that the tooth had to be removed.

Straight away my health got better, not 100% but much better. I am now in the process of making sure I get rid of any other decay in remaining teeth, then maybe hopefully all the parasites and bacteria and fungi will be gone and hopefully then my gums will start to heal. If you have no decay for certain in your teeth you may need to do a parasite cleanse and get rid of them in other parts of your body, if you don't they keep traveling through the bloodstream setting up home wherever they like, even the gums. Mora therapy is a good way to diagnose and treat any kind of pathogens.

I have been coconut oil pulling with oregano, clove, thyme (they say the best for fungus) neem oil is very good and tea tree oil. Swishing with baking soda and taking internally capsules of oregano, neem, and thyme essential oils. (make sure they good quality essential oils, I use doterra)

For me taking 2 extra strength garlic capsules first thing in the a.m. with 2 heaped teas. diatomaceous earth and good 1/2 teas bentonite clay helps me heaps, then again I have been diagnosed with aspergillus, (a fungus) which I have no idea how I got, then who knows it could have also come from decay. Hope this info. helps anyone with a similar problem, all this has come from many hours of research and listening to oral health summits online.


Red Sage Tincture

1 User Review
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Posted by Maria (Plymouth) on 05/01/2018
★★★★★

I also use coconut oil for oil pulling along with red sage tincture a few times a day to help grow the gums back. I have lost a few teeth but really don't want to lose anymore.

I was told by an ex drug addict that her dentist saved her from losing her teeth by rinsing her mouth several times a day with red sage tincture and luke warm water.

My gums are slowly growing back but I'm a smoker so that doesn't help my cause.


Salt Water

1 User Review
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Posted by Bas (California ) on 10/16/2019
★★★★★

I've tried several remedies and nothing was as effective as a simple daily gargle of salt water. It completely restored my gum wellness in less than a month!


Sea Salt + Baking Soda Mouthwash

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Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 02/21/2022
★★★★★

I have been experiencing loose teeth due to bone loss, receding gums, gingivitis. This will eventually lead to tooth loss. As an experiment, I'm trying to re-mineralize my teeth and gums and destroy the gingivitis for the past 30 days and the results are amazing.

So here is what I've been doing.

Make a natural re-mineralizing mouth wash.

Materials needed:

* Sea salt (NOT Table salt) 2 TBSP
* Baking Soda 6 TBSP
* Water 1 liter
* 1 Liter empty soda bottle

Method:

Add 2 tablespoons of sea salt and 6 tablespoons of baking soda to the empty bottle. Add water to about within 2 inches from the top and cap bottle. Now shake the bottle til salt and baking soda are completely dissolved. Your mouth rinse is now ready. I keep this bottle in the shower and use it as a mouth wash while I'm showering. Swish it between teeth for 2 minutes. Then spit it out. Do this once daily.

Next, I changed out my toothpaste for a tooth powder (Dr. Christopher Herbal Tooth and Gum). I remember reading about glycerin used in toothpaste and how it coats the teeth and prevents any absorption of any kind. “When glycerin is spread over the surface of our teeth, it leaves a film or residue which does not easily come off — it can take somewhere between two and three dozen rinsings of the mouth to completely remove it.” I think this is part of my problem with my teeth. So, I switched to an herbal tooth powder with nothing but herbs and spices in it. Results: The jaw bone and teeth are MUCH stronger. Not lose and wiggly anymore and don't move around when I push on them. Pain in my upper teeth and gums is almost gone (think god).

Overall they feel better. I will be continuing this treatment for a few more months based on the improvements I've already seen. Using a sea salt mouth rinse to aid in dental health is by no means a new practice. In fact, many ancient medical scripts refer to the use of saltwater.

There are even a few papyruses dated as far back as 16000 B.C. in which Egyptians detailed how to use their recipes to treat a variety of medical ailments. One of the most commonly used treatments seems to have been utilizing salt for its anti-infectious properties. The Ancient Egyptians were not alone in their understanding of the benefits of salt; the Greeks are another ancient civilization that had an early understanding of the anti-inflammatory benefits of using salt. The presence of salt and baking soda in your mouth increases its pH balance. The environment that results is very alkaline, and bacteria cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Bacteria is only able to thrive in an atmosphere that is very acidic. When salt is used on a regular basis, bacteria will not be healthy enough to reproduce, resulting in a healthier mouth.

Replied by Mama to Many
(TN)
02/21/2022

Wow, Rob, that is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Replied by Barb
(Oh)
02/23/2022

Be certain products used have no glycerin-like ingredient to close up tooth surface. Take care of bones with sun, vit d3 and k2. Thank you for this. I'm gonna try.

Replied by Mel
(Canada)
02/24/2022

VITAL MINERALS/vita-mins!! You have started on the right track. If you have bone loss then you need boron/borax and definitely sea salt, bicarbonate.... Search Earth Clinic for information on taking boron/borax as they have extensive info on this here. Boron will activate your parathyroid and help you absorb and properly distribute minerals to your body where they are needed. Take Boron to strengthen your bones and stop bone loss in it's tracks. Boron is also a strong detox, anti-fungal agent so use this wisely and liberally.

Congratulations! You have discovered the secret of Vitamins/ Vital Minerals/ vita-mins. Can you see the slight of hand the ruling elite have played on us? Minerals are vital to proper functioning of our bodies and sea salts contain an abundance of these. Get the most out of your current solution by adding boron to your regime.

sandy
(Il)
05/19/2023

In which form you have taken boron? tablet or powder. Did you take it internally or applied on your gums

Replied by Carola
(Larkspur)
06/15/2022

Thank you! This problem began for me when I started using a mouthwash with glycerin as one of the ingredients! I would never have realized had I not read your post. Thanks so much!

Replied by Jamila
(NYC)
04/30/2023

How in the world did you get all that baking soda to dissolve?! I've tried in the microwave and even on the stove and theres still some on the bottom! :-0 Also, is it okay to drink water after doing these things or is it best to wait awhile? Thanks!

Replied by Rob
(Kentucky)
06/03/2023

If the baking soda is not dissolving, you can try making it dissolve into boiling water, then let the BW cool to room temperature and then add the sea salt. Or, cut the amount of baking soda down by half. Some is better than none. All baking soda must not be equal...


Ted's Remedies

2 User Reviews
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Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 11/27/2008
★★★★★

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



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