Over half the British public have signs of gingivitis. Gingivitis, a painful inflammation of the gums, is a precursor to periodontal disease [bacterial infection of the gums and teeth] which can cause tooth decay, receding gums and even bone loss in the jaw, as well as affecting the rest of the body.
is related with most chronic inflammatory diseases of aging, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic kidney disease. Research shows that the worse the gum disease, the worse the complications of diabetes.
Therefore, taking care of our teeth and gums is imperative. Most gingivitis is caused by a lack of poor dental hygiene, allowing plaque and tartar to build up. But according to Neesha Patel, clinical director at Pure Periodontics and Consultant Periodontist at King’s College Hospital, London, there are also some less obvious ways you can prevent gum disease from developing too.
Talk to you I to share how she protects her own gums every day – and the things she’ll always avoid.
Always use an electric toothbrush, interdental brush and tongue scraper
We all have bacteria in our mouths, but what matters is how we react to those bacteria and how we reduce them.
I know it seems pretty obvious, but using an electric toothbrush is vital. The jury was out a few years ago on whether it was gimmicky or not, but now we have very good evidence that it is much more effective at removing bacteria and plaque in the mouth.
I also floss and interdental brushes, which are pretty basic when it comes to cleaning between teeth.
Nothing replaces the electric toothbrush and interdental cleaning, but we should also look at auxiliary ways. There are other methods I learned from Eastern medicine that I have added to my practice. One uses a tongue cleaner, specifically a horseshoe-shaped copper one that has antimicrobial properties.
Whenever a patient diagnosed with gingivitis asks me what they should do, I tell them a good electric toothbrush, interdental cleaning by any method, and a tongue scraper. Those are the three things we focus on.
Coconut oil over mouthwash
It’s something that the West hasn’t embraced yet and it’s not one of those things that’s mainstream, but oil drilling [involving vigorous swishing of oil in the mouth] it has been around for a long time and has been around decent evidence behind it in terms of its ability to reduce bacteria.
I try not to give general recommendations – a recommendation will be tailored to the patient I see in practice. But that’s also why I love things like tongue scraping and coconut oil pulling. Unless you are allergic (which of course is a separate issue) coconut oil has many benefits and no real downsides.
If you use a mouthwash such as Corsodyl, which is marketed as a treatment for gum disease, there are side effects. This comes from the alcohol in the mouthwashes – if you already have gum problems or inflammation, this is just another irritant. If you use mouthwash, make sure it does not contain alcohol.
Another side effect is that it can actually discolor your teeth with a rough stain and that surface is just another trap for more stain and more bacteria. It can end up being counterproductive. It can also change the taste of food, make your tongue or gums feel like they’re burning, or lead to dry mouth. The mouthwash should only be used for a short time. [On its website, Corsodyl states the intensive treatment should only be used for a few weeks; others can be used daily].
Add vitamin D and probiotics
When it comes to gum disease and oral health, people often look for a quick fix, when in reality it’s much more about being well balanced and ensuring you don’t have any nutritional deficiencies.
Vitamin D is big – if you’re low on vitamin D then it has a big effect on how you heal, especially in mouth and gum disease. So vitamin D supplements are good.
And probiotics are also very important. There are probiotics that dissolve in the mouth, but I recommend that you consume it, either in liquid or tablet form. I take Symprove and Athletic Greens.
The mouth is just an extension of the gut, and we’re all starting to realize how important that gut microbiome is. I also think about prebiotics throughout my day – thinking about what fermented foods I can add to my diet so that they are a part of my life.
Do not drink carbonated beverages – including carbonated water
I am quite careful with acidic foods and drinks and alcohol. The point is not to avoid them completely, but in moderation.
Acidic foods and drinks can cause tooth decay and erosion, something we’re seeing more and more of now. As people become more health conscious, they are swapping their drinks for healthier ones because they are low in sugar. But they are still carbonated – anything carbonated like kombucha or even sparkling water is acidic. This can erode the teeth and make them quite thin and almost transparent. Then they become brittle and you can break and break them.
It’s also better to drink your carbonated drinks at specific times. Our saliva is supposed to buffer the acid, but if you drink anything during the day, even if it’s just a can or something, you’re not letting your saliva buffer anything. You just keep bombing it.
If I’m going to have a treat like a fizzy drink, I’d have it at mealtime and nothing else after.
Do not brush your teeth immediately afterwards
In the same vein, if you drink something acidic, like a fizzy drink, don’t go brush your teeth right after. This acid demineralizes the plaque on your teeth, and it didn’t have a chance to remineralize when you stopped drinking that fizzy drink.
After a while, remineralization will occur as a natural process, but if you stop immediately, you will actually remove more of the enamel.
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