Benefits of Warm Salt Water and Vitamin C for Gum Health

Gum Health Los Angeles

For those of you wishing to avoid antibiotics for gum disease, natural remedies may offer relief, depending on the severity of the infection. According to Dr. Shervin Louie, your Los Angeles dentist infections in the gums can form from various reasons ranging from injury to the tissue, and more commonly, to the presence of periodontal gum disease. Because natural remedies may not fully remove a gum infection, a dentist should be consulted if pain, swelling, bleeding or redness persists.

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Warm Salt Water

For the early stages of gum infections or irritation, rinsing the mouth with warm salt water may be helpful in preventing the infection from fully forming. According to Dr. Louie, your Los Angeles dentist a graduate and past faculty member of USC, you should dissolve one teaspoon of salt into a 8oz cup of warm water. The water should be as warm as you can stand it. Allow the salt to fully dissolve and rinse the mouth for 2 minutes, twice a day, after breakfast and before bedtime.

 

 

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Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary for overall health of the body, and especially for the gums and teeth. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that fight infection and help to build strong, healthy gums. Vitamin C powder can be topically applied to gums that are irritated or infected. This should be done several times a day and repeated until the infection is gone, according to Dr. Louie.

In addition, grapefruit seed extract, which is high in vitamin C, can be used to treat a gum infection. This product is high in antioxidants and possesses antibiotic properties as well, helping to fight oral disease. A drop or two can be added to the toothbrush when brushing once or twice a day. Alternatively, make a swish with a few drops of grapefruit seed extract in a cup of water and rinse the mouth until the infection is gone.