Turmeric has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, making it a great option for treating your gum infection at home.
How much aloe vera gel you use depends on big the infected area is. Start with a dime-sized amount, adding more as needed to cover all the infected gum area.
For best results, use Manuka honey from New Zealand, which has more potent antibacterial healing properties than regular honey.
Clove oil may also help reduce swelling due to infection. [7] X Research source Peppermint oil also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great option if your gums are irritated and inflamed. [8] X Research source
If you decide to try home treatments first, contact your dentist if you don’t see any improvement within a few days, or if the infection starts to get worse.
When examining your gums, your dentist may also use a probe to measure the pocket depth of the groove between your gums and teeth. If the pocket depth is more than 4 mm, this may indicate that you have a more severe infection. [12] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
During a scaling and root planing treatment, the dentist will first scrape away the plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Then, your dentist will smooth out the roots of your teeth to help the gums reattach to your teeth. This treatment can also remove any plaque or tartar that is causing the pocket depth between your gums and teeth to increase. Once removed, your gums can begin to heal and the pocket gap will begin to get smaller. [14] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source In general, scaling and root planing treatments are no more (if not less) painful or uncomfortable than a normal dental cleaning. [15] X Research source
How often you should use a prescription mouth wash will depend on the specific type of wash, as well as the severity of your infection. As a result, make sure that you follow your dentist’s instructions on how often and how long you should use prescription mouthwash.
The amount of topical or oral antibiotics that you should use will depend on the specific antibiotics, as well as your specific infection. Follow the instructions provided by your doctor or the pharmacist to make sure that you are using the antibiotics correctly.
A flap surgery, for example, may be performed if your dentist needs to lift back some of the gum tissue in order to perform a more comprehensive scaling and root planing treatment. [19] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source A soft tissue graft may be done if the infection has caused your gum line to recede. In this surgery, a small amount of tissue is removed from the roof of your mouth and attached to the infected site. [20] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Either a bone graft or guided tissue regeneration surgery may be performed if the infection has caused some part of your tooth to root. [21] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
If you aren’t sure if you brush your teeth long enough, bring a stopwatch or clock into the bathroom so you can time yourself while you brush.
If you have any risk factors, such as smoking, chronic dry mouth, or diabetes, you may need to see the dentist more often. If you have any of these conditions, talk to your dentist about developing an infection prevention plan. [27] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
