Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAt-Home CareSeeing ImprovementWhen to See a Dentist
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
At-Home Care
Seeing Improvement
When to See a Dentist
You may be able to get rid of mild, early-stagegingivitis(gum inflammation) on your own. You could even start to see improvement within a week, but preventing gingivitis requires a commitment. It’s also important to schedule a professional dental cleaning to get proper care.
Symptoms that become severe can take longer to resolve and may require medical treatment. Gingivitis can progress togum disease, so it’s worth tackling it as quickly as possible. This article covers what you can do to reverse gingivitis, signs that it’s progressing, and when it’s time to see a dentist.
Eva-Katalin / Getty Images
At-Home Gingivitis Care: How to Intervene in the Early Stages
If your gums are tender or slightly red or inflamed, you may be in the early stages of gingivitis. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible.It may take a combination of good oral hygiene, home remedies, and routine dental care.
Effective Brushing Technique
You probably already know that you shouldbrush your teethat leasttwice a day, but technique matters, and most people could use a refresher. The American Dental Association suggests:
Getting Between Teeth
It’s a simple concept, but it takes a little effort. The bristles of your brush can’t always reach the food and bacteria hiding between your teeth and under the gumline, so it’s important to clean between your teeth once a day.Here’s how:
If you have trouble using floss, try:
Saltwater Rinse
Rinsing with salt wateris a well-known way to help heal mouth wounds. It’s inexpensive, nontoxic, and easy to do. Try mixing 1 teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of water. Swish it around your mouth for about two minutes three times a day.
Chlorhexidine Mouthwash
Studies show rinsing with chlorhexidinemouthwash, along with tooth brushing and cleaning between teeth, can help reduce bacteria,plaque, and gingival inflammation.
Be sure to follow the directions on the product label. Keep in mind that chlorhexidine mouthwash should only be used for a short time. Using it for four weeks or longer can lead to:
How to Get the Most Out of Mouthwash
Baking Soda
Research showsbaking sodacan help reduce plaque and inflammation due to gingivitis.One study found that brushing with fluoride toothpaste with 20% to 35% baking soda reduced plaque, inflammation, and bleeding better than regular fluoride toothpaste. The 35% mix was the most effective.
Oil Pulling
Oil pullinghas been around for a long time. It involves using oils such as:
You swish the oil around your mouth, similar to the way you would use a mouthwash or other oral rinse. Research shows it may reduce oral bacteria and plaque and improve gingivitis.However, more rigorous studies are needed.
Fluoride
Stannous fluoride is an antimicrobial agent. When used daily,fluoride toothpasteor dental rinse has been shown to help control plaque and gingivitis and reduce the number of bleeding sites.
Studies showing that brushing twice a day can help reduce the risk of gingivitis were specific to fluoride toothpastes.
Turmeric Gel
Green Tea Mouthwash
Optimize Your Diet
Research suggests that a dietlow in carbohydrates, and rich inomega-3 fatty acids, vitaminsCandD,antioxidants, andfiber,may reduce inflammation due to gingivitis.
Drinkinggreen teais associated with overall good oral health due to antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and cancer-preventive properties.
Does Anything Help Get Rid of Gingivitis Quickly?
For mild gingivitis, you might start to see improvement within a few days of stepping up your oral care routine. It may take many more weeks to get your gums back to a healthy state.
But much depends on the severity of gingivitis. In early-stage gingivitis, a professional dental cleaning, along with good oral care, might be all you need.In other cases, it’s more persistent and can take much longer to resolve.
When to Visit a Dentist
See a dentist if symptoms of gingivitis don’t start to improve within a couple of weeks. A dentist can help identify contributing factors such as uncontrolled diabetes or taking certain medications.
Untreated gingivitis can lead to permanent damage to the gums, teeth, and bones.A dentist can assess the level of gingivitis and make personalized recommendations for home care.
Treatment may include a deep cleaning procedure called debridement orscaling and root planing. The goal is to remove bacterial plaque and tartar from the teeth and above and below the gumline. This stops disease progression and starts the healing process, which can take several weeks.
Signs and Symptoms of GingivitisSigns and symptoms of gingivitis includebad breath (halitosis), redness, swelling, and tenderness of the gums, and bleeding when you brush or floss.Signs that you may be progressing toperiodontitisare:Yourgums are receding.Teeth are shifting or getting loose.Teeth don’t fit together the same way they have.You have bad breath or a bad taste that won’t go away.
Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis
Signs and symptoms of gingivitis includebad breath (halitosis), redness, swelling, and tenderness of the gums, and bleeding when you brush or floss.Signs that you may be progressing toperiodontitisare:Yourgums are receding.Teeth are shifting or getting loose.Teeth don’t fit together the same way they have.You have bad breath or a bad taste that won’t go away.
Signs and symptoms of gingivitis includebad breath (halitosis), redness, swelling, and tenderness of the gums, and bleeding when you brush or floss.Signs that you may be progressing toperiodontitisare:
Summary
Gingivitis is reversible and there’s a lot you can do on your own. It’s important to make sure you’re using effective brushing and flossing techniques. You can also try mouthwashes and rinses that can help reduce gingivitis. Without proper care, gingivitis can progress and cause permanent damage to your gums and teeth.
Seeing a dentist can help you get things back on track faster. It’s also crucial to keep up with your improvedoral careand regular dental appointments to prevent gingivitis and gum disease.
21 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Dental Association.Gingivitis.American Dental Association.Home oral care.American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.National Institutes of Health.Don’t toss the floss!Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLOS ONE.2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843James P, Worthington HV, Parnell C, et al.Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2021(12). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008676.pub2Brookes ZLS, Bescos R, Belfield LA, Ali K, Roberts A.Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review.J Dent.2020;103:103497. doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103497Ripari F, Cera A, Freda M, Zumbo G, Zara F, Vozza I.Tea tree oil versus chlorhexidine mouthwash in treatment of gingivitis: a pilot randomized, double blinded clinical trial.Eur J Dent.2020;14(1):55-62. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1703999Sabharwal A, Scannapieco FA.Baking soda dentifrice and periodontal health.The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2017;148(11):S15-S19. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2017.09.010Ghassemi A, Hooper WJ, Vorwerk LM, et al.The effects of two baking-soda toothpastes in enhancing mechanical plaque removal and improving gingival health: a 6-month randomized clinical study.Am J Dent.2020;33(5):265-272.Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel K, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review.Heliyon. 2020;6(8):e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789King A.Bad science: oil pulling.Br Dent J. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281Parkinson CR, Milleman KR, Milleman JL.Gingivitis efficacy of a 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride dentifrice: a 24-week randomized controlled trial.BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):89. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01079-6Mackay M.The role of turmeric (Curcumin) in gingival health.BDJ Team. 2021;8(8):14-15. doi:10.1038/s41407-021-0708-7Kandwal A, Mamgain RK, Mamgain P.Comparative evaluation of turmeric gel with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel for treatment of plaque induced gingivitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.Ayu.2015;36(2):145-150.Vyas T, Nagi R, Bhatia A, Bains SK.Therapeutic effects of green tea as an antioxidant on oral health- A review.J Family Med Prim Care.2021;10(11):3998-4001. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_943_21Woelber, J.P., Bremer, K., Vach, K. et al.An oral health optimized diet can reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation in humans - a randomized controlled pilot study.BMC Oral Health17, 28 (2017). doi:10.1186/s12903-016-0257-1Mark AM.Keeping an eye on your gums.J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(7):662. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.05.002University of Michigan School of Dentistry.Do I have periodontitis?Intan Suhana M, Farha A, Hassan B.Inflammation of the gums.Malays Fam Physician. 2020;15(1):71-73.
21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Dental Association.Gingivitis.American Dental Association.Home oral care.American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.National Institutes of Health.Don’t toss the floss!Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLOS ONE.2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843James P, Worthington HV, Parnell C, et al.Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2021(12). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008676.pub2Brookes ZLS, Bescos R, Belfield LA, Ali K, Roberts A.Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review.J Dent.2020;103:103497. doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103497Ripari F, Cera A, Freda M, Zumbo G, Zara F, Vozza I.Tea tree oil versus chlorhexidine mouthwash in treatment of gingivitis: a pilot randomized, double blinded clinical trial.Eur J Dent.2020;14(1):55-62. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1703999Sabharwal A, Scannapieco FA.Baking soda dentifrice and periodontal health.The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2017;148(11):S15-S19. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2017.09.010Ghassemi A, Hooper WJ, Vorwerk LM, et al.The effects of two baking-soda toothpastes in enhancing mechanical plaque removal and improving gingival health: a 6-month randomized clinical study.Am J Dent.2020;33(5):265-272.Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel K, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review.Heliyon. 2020;6(8):e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789King A.Bad science: oil pulling.Br Dent J. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281Parkinson CR, Milleman KR, Milleman JL.Gingivitis efficacy of a 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride dentifrice: a 24-week randomized controlled trial.BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):89. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01079-6Mackay M.The role of turmeric (Curcumin) in gingival health.BDJ Team. 2021;8(8):14-15. doi:10.1038/s41407-021-0708-7Kandwal A, Mamgain RK, Mamgain P.Comparative evaluation of turmeric gel with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel for treatment of plaque induced gingivitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.Ayu.2015;36(2):145-150.Vyas T, Nagi R, Bhatia A, Bains SK.Therapeutic effects of green tea as an antioxidant on oral health- A review.J Family Med Prim Care.2021;10(11):3998-4001. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_943_21Woelber, J.P., Bremer, K., Vach, K. et al.An oral health optimized diet can reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation in humans - a randomized controlled pilot study.BMC Oral Health17, 28 (2017). doi:10.1186/s12903-016-0257-1Mark AM.Keeping an eye on your gums.J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(7):662. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.05.002University of Michigan School of Dentistry.Do I have periodontitis?Intan Suhana M, Farha A, Hassan B.Inflammation of the gums.Malays Fam Physician. 2020;15(1):71-73.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Dental Association.Gingivitis.American Dental Association.Home oral care.American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.National Institutes of Health.Don’t toss the floss!Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLOS ONE.2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843James P, Worthington HV, Parnell C, et al.Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2021(12). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008676.pub2Brookes ZLS, Bescos R, Belfield LA, Ali K, Roberts A.Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review.J Dent.2020;103:103497. doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103497Ripari F, Cera A, Freda M, Zumbo G, Zara F, Vozza I.Tea tree oil versus chlorhexidine mouthwash in treatment of gingivitis: a pilot randomized, double blinded clinical trial.Eur J Dent.2020;14(1):55-62. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1703999Sabharwal A, Scannapieco FA.Baking soda dentifrice and periodontal health.The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2017;148(11):S15-S19. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2017.09.010Ghassemi A, Hooper WJ, Vorwerk LM, et al.The effects of two baking-soda toothpastes in enhancing mechanical plaque removal and improving gingival health: a 6-month randomized clinical study.Am J Dent.2020;33(5):265-272.Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel K, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review.Heliyon. 2020;6(8):e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789King A.Bad science: oil pulling.Br Dent J. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281Parkinson CR, Milleman KR, Milleman JL.Gingivitis efficacy of a 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride dentifrice: a 24-week randomized controlled trial.BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):89. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01079-6Mackay M.The role of turmeric (Curcumin) in gingival health.BDJ Team. 2021;8(8):14-15. doi:10.1038/s41407-021-0708-7Kandwal A, Mamgain RK, Mamgain P.Comparative evaluation of turmeric gel with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel for treatment of plaque induced gingivitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.Ayu.2015;36(2):145-150.Vyas T, Nagi R, Bhatia A, Bains SK.Therapeutic effects of green tea as an antioxidant on oral health- A review.J Family Med Prim Care.2021;10(11):3998-4001. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_943_21Woelber, J.P., Bremer, K., Vach, K. et al.An oral health optimized diet can reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation in humans - a randomized controlled pilot study.BMC Oral Health17, 28 (2017). doi:10.1186/s12903-016-0257-1Mark AM.Keeping an eye on your gums.J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(7):662. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.05.002University of Michigan School of Dentistry.Do I have periodontitis?Intan Suhana M, Farha A, Hassan B.Inflammation of the gums.Malays Fam Physician. 2020;15(1):71-73.
American Dental Association.Gingivitis.
American Dental Association.Home oral care.
American Dental Association.Brushing your teeth.
National Institutes of Health.Don’t toss the floss!
Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLOS ONE.2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843
James P, Worthington HV, Parnell C, et al.Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;2021(12). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008676.pub2
Brookes ZLS, Bescos R, Belfield LA, Ali K, Roberts A.Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review.J Dent.2020;103:103497. doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2020.103497
Ripari F, Cera A, Freda M, Zumbo G, Zara F, Vozza I.Tea tree oil versus chlorhexidine mouthwash in treatment of gingivitis: a pilot randomized, double blinded clinical trial.Eur J Dent.2020;14(1):55-62. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1703999
Sabharwal A, Scannapieco FA.Baking soda dentifrice and periodontal health.The Journal of the American Dental Association. 2017;148(11):S15-S19. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2017.09.010
Ghassemi A, Hooper WJ, Vorwerk LM, et al.The effects of two baking-soda toothpastes in enhancing mechanical plaque removal and improving gingival health: a 6-month randomized clinical study.Am J Dent.2020;33(5):265-272.
Naseem M, Khiyani MF, Nauman H, Zafar MS, Shah AH, Khalil HS.Oil pulling and importance of traditional medicine in oral health maintenance.Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2017;11(4):65-70.
Woolley J, Gibbons T, Patel K, Sacco R.The effect of oil pulling with coconut oil to improve dental hygiene and oral health: A systematic review.Heliyon. 2020;6(8):e04789. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04789
King A.Bad science: oil pulling.Br Dent J. 2018;224(7):470-470. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2018.281
Parkinson CR, Milleman KR, Milleman JL.Gingivitis efficacy of a 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride dentifrice: a 24-week randomized controlled trial.BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):89. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01079-6
Mackay M.The role of turmeric (Curcumin) in gingival health.BDJ Team. 2021;8(8):14-15. doi:10.1038/s41407-021-0708-7
Kandwal A, Mamgain RK, Mamgain P.Comparative evaluation of turmeric gel with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate gel for treatment of plaque induced gingivitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.Ayu.2015;36(2):145-150.
Vyas T, Nagi R, Bhatia A, Bains SK.Therapeutic effects of green tea as an antioxidant on oral health- A review.J Family Med Prim Care.2021;10(11):3998-4001. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_943_21
Woelber, J.P., Bremer, K., Vach, K. et al.An oral health optimized diet can reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation in humans - a randomized controlled pilot study.BMC Oral Health17, 28 (2017). doi:10.1186/s12903-016-0257-1
Mark AM.Keeping an eye on your gums.J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(7):662. doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2018.05.002
University of Michigan School of Dentistry.Do I have periodontitis?
Intan Suhana M, Farha A, Hassan B.Inflammation of the gums.Malays Fam Physician. 2020;15(1):71-73.
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