Alternative names : Sore gums, Bleeding gums.
The commonest cause of sore or bleeding gums, gingivitis, is a deposition of dental plaque. The age old advice, to brush one’s teeth in the morning and at bedtime, and to gargle after meals, is a golden rule which should always be followed.
Causes and Symptoms For Gingivitis (Sore gums)
When you eat anything, the teeth masticate the food before you swallow it. Some pieces may get lodged in the small crevices or at the base of the teeth. If these are not got rid of by brushing the teeth or gargling after meals, they keep collecting and harden to form plaques. They soften the junction of the teeth with the gum. This loosened area attracts bacteria and other micro-organisms, leading to mild, moderate or severe inflammation. This causes pain and sometimes even bleeding gums while brushing teeth. Bad breath, loose teeth, cavities in the teeth, are all associated with this problem. Sweets and carbohydrate-rich food aggravate it.
Vitamin deficiency, anaemia, allergic disorders, drug reactions, certain blood dyscrasis are other causes.
Home Remedies to Cure Gingivitis
- Take a tablespoon of mustard oil and add a teaspoon of common salt to it. Wash your hands well. With the forefinger take a small amount of this mixture and massage the gums gently in upward, downward and circular strokes. Do this for 30 seconds and then gargle with warm water. Do this 2-3 times a day.
- Take half a teaspoonful of omum. Grind it to a fine powder and add a few drops of mustard oil to it. Now use this to massage the gums. Gargle with warm water. Repeat at least twice a day.
- Use a herbal tea made with henna leaves as a mouthwash.
- The bark of acacia has astringent properties. Make a decoction, dilute and use it as a gargle thrice a day. It is very refreshing and leaves a sweet taste in the mouth.
- Burn alum in a non-stick pan. Powder the burnt mass. Use a pinch of this as a tooth powder for gum massage. Gargle with plain water. Do this once or twice a day. It reduces spongy gums and heals toothache. Alum is an astringent.
- Take a teaspoon of castor oil. Add a large pinch of powdered camphor to it. Mix and gently massage the gum with it. Rinse mouth with warm water.
- To prepare a soothing mouthwash for sore gums, boil 10-15 fresh eucalyptus leaves in a litre of water. Simmer for five minutes, then switch off heat. Cover and keep aside. Strain and add 2-3 drops of clove oil. If you do not have clove oil, add the powder of 6-7 finely ground cloves and bring the mixture to the boil again. Filter, cool and use as a mouthwash after every meal. This can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days.
- Soft neem or acacia twigs should be used as tooth brushes. Chew on the twig till it softens and splits. This takes about five minutes. Then spit out the fragments and gargle. It is a disinfectant, and excellent for gum massage and mastication.