To get rid of gingivitis at home, you can use a hydrogen peroxide solution, licorice tea or a turmeric paste. These are used as mouth gargles or applied as pastes after brushing the teeth. Home remedies for gingivitis tend to contain anti-inflammatory, analgesics, antiseptic and antibacterial action which can help to get rid of gingivitis and relieve symptoms like pain, swelling, redness and bleeding.
Gingivitis generally occurs due to an accumulation of bacterial plaques between the teeth and gums. This is usually due to poor dental hygiene and not using tooth floss regularly or correctly. This condition is associated with gingival inflammation that can even lead to tooth loss in very serious cases.
The best treatment to relieve bleeding gums to remove built-up tartar, brush your teeth appropriately with a soft or electric brush, and to use floss everyday. While home remedies can help to get rid of gingivitis symptoms, they do not replace brushing nor your dentist’s recommendations.
Some ways to get rid of gingivitis include:
1. Warm water and salt solution
A solution made with warm water and salt is a great way to get rid of gingivitis, as salt water helps to heal and soothe inflamed gums and relieve pain. It is a natural antiseptic that reduces the amount of bacteria that cause lead to gingivitis and bad breath.
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 cup of warm water
How to prepare
Add the salt to the warm water, and stir with a spoon. Rinse your mouth and then gargle with this solution for 20 to 30 seconds, two or three times per day. Spit the solution out once you are done.
You can gargle with this solution for a maximum of a week, as longer use can damage tooth enamel (given this solution is acidic in nature).
2. Licorice tea
Licorice tea contains licoricidin and licoisoflavan, which are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substances. These act by inhibiting bacterial growth that cause gingivitis, making it a great home remedy. This tea can also help to manage foul breath, which is a symptom of gingivitis.
This tea should be used for gargling and should not be consumed
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of licorice roots
- 1 cup of boiling water
How to prepare
Add the licorice to the boiling water, cover and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and use the tea as a gargle, twice a day.
Licorice tea should not be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by anyone with cardiac disease.
3. Cinquefoils tea
Cinquefoils tea contains tannins, catechins, and proanthocyanidins, which have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. They help to eliminate the bacteria that cause gingivitis as well as relieve pain and inflammation. Cinquefoil tea can also help to prevent calories.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of cinquefoils roots
- 1 liter of water
How to prepare
Place all ingredients in a pot and boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Cover, allow to soak until the water has cooled, then strain and drink. Gargle this tea 2 to 3 times per day, making sure to spit it out.
4. Clove tea
Clove tea helps to reduce pain and inflammation from gingivitis due to the eugenol in its composition. Eugenol contains analgesic and anti-inflammatory action, making it a great way to treat gingivitis at home.
Ingredients
- 10 cloves
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare
Place the cloves in the water and boil for 5 minutes. Then cover, allow to cool, strain and gargle for 20 to 30 seconds, twice per day. Be sure to spit it out once done.
Another option is to use clove essential oil instead of the roots. Add 2 to 3 drops onto a cotton ball and apply directly to the gums for 30 seconds.
5. Hydrogen peroxide solution
Hydrogen peroxide contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action which can help get rid of the bacteria that contributes to gingivitis. This can lead to a reduction in pain, redness and swelling, as well as decrease gum bleeding.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide (10 volumes)
- ½ cup of water
How to prepare
Mix the water and hydrogen peroxide in a cup and gargle for 30 seconds, 2 to 3 times per day. Be sure to spit it out once done.
It is not necessary to rinse your mouth with water after this gargle, however you can rinse to get rid of any remaining flavors.
6. Blueberry tea
Blueberry tea contains tonic and anti-inflammatory action that helps to fight inflammation, swelling and bleeding gums, making it a great options for getting rid of gingivitis.
Blueberry tea can also help to prevent the formation of bacterial plaque that can contribute to gingivitis.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of dried blueberries
- 1 liter of water
How to prepare
Boil the ingredients in a pot for 15 minutes, cover and allow to cool. Then strain and use as a gargle for 30 seconds, twice a day.
7. Salvia infusion
A salvia infusion can help to decrease gingivitis symptoms, like swelling, pain and bleeding. Salvia contains cineol and camphor in its composition, which have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action that helps to remove bacterial plaque and prevent worsening.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of fresh salvia or 1 tablespoon of dried salvia
- 1 cup of boiling water
How to prepare
Add the salvia to the cup of boiling water, cover and infuse for 5 to 10 minutes. Wait for it to cool, then strain and gargle for 20 to 30 seconds. You can repeat this 2 to 3 times per day. Be sure to spit it out once done.
8. Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil is rich in menthol and menthone, which contain antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help to treat gingivitis. This essential oil also helps to relieve pain and maintain a fresh breath.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare
Add the essential oil drops to the cup of water and stir. Gargle for 30 to 40 seconds, two or three times per day, being sure to spit it out once done.
9. Gentian violet solution
Gentian violet solutions contain anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial action, that can help to fight and improve gingivitis symptoms like pain, redness, swelling and bleeding.
Ingredients
- 20 to 30 drops of gentian violet tincture
- 1 cup of water
How to prepare
Stir the ingredients together and gargle two or three times per day for up to 3 days.
This solution should not be used by children, breastfeeding women, pregnant women or anyone with open wounds in their mouth.
10. Turmeric paste
Turmeric paste is another great home remedy for gingivitis, as turmeric contains curcumin. This substance contains anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial action which helps to reduce inflammation and get rid of bacterial plaque.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of mustard or olive oil
How to prepare
Mix all the ingredients in a dry and clean bowl until a paste forms. Then place the paste on a cotton bawl and gently massage into the gums for 20 to 30 seconds, Rinse your mouth with water after. You can use this paste up to twice per day.
Because it contains salt, this turmeric paste may cause burning or pain if the gums are very swollen, red or bleeding. If you feel burning or more pain, remove the paste immediately and rinse your mouth. You can opt to leave the salt out of this paste if necessary.
