{"id":220,"date":"2016-06-24T11:45:06","date_gmt":"2016-06-24T15:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pointedentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=220"},"modified":"2017-11-03T10:38:31","modified_gmt":"2017-11-03T14:38:31","slug":"how-to-treat-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.pointedentalgroup.com\/blog\/how-to-treat-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Ways to Treat Gum Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"a<\/p>\n

Gum Disease, or Something Else?<\/h2>\n

First, if you\u2019re interested in learning how to treat gum disease, you must be pretty confident that you have gum disease.<\/p>\n

But do you?<\/p>\n

Gum disease, or gingivitis, is only one type of gum disease and it is a mild form of the disease. It\u2019s easy to treat (and we\u2019ll get into how to treat it in just a bit). Untreated gingivitis, however, may advance to periodontitis.<\/p>\n

Do I have Periodontitis?<\/h2>\n

Periodontitis is advanced gum disease<\/a> and comes in many forms, including aggressive periodontitis and chronic periodontitis. It can also appear as a manifestation of systemic disease, or even advance into necrotizing periodontal disease.<\/p>\n

How to Treat Gum Disease<\/h2>\n

If you have mild gingivitis, you are probably experiencing red, swollen gums that may bleed after you brush or floss. It\u2019s possible that you have a little case of haliotosis (bad breath). At this stage it\u2019s easy to treat gum disease with proper oral hygiene.<\/p>\n

If you suffer from periodontitis, you may require additional treatment above and beyond great oral hygiene, including dental visits, scaling and polishing, root planing, antibiotics, or possibly surgery.<\/p>\n

Here are the 5 Best Ways to Treat Gum Disease:<\/p>\n

#1 \u2013 Brush Your Teeth<\/h2>\n

Want to know how to treat gum disease? The basics work well: Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Use a fresh toothbrush and effective toothpaste along with proper brushing technique.<\/p>\n

Toothbrush<\/h3>\n

Choose soft bristles \u2013 they\u2019ll get into the crevices of your teeth easier than hard bristled toothbrushes. Plus, they\u2019re less irritating on your sore gums.<\/p>\n

Toothpaste<\/h3>\n

There are several great commercial toothpaste options available today, including toothpastes that target gum health. Most professionals recommend using a toothpaste approved by the ADA that also includes fluoride.<\/p>\n

For a more economical toothpaste, try a homemade toothpaste made of coconut oil, baking soda, essential oils, and other organic ingredients (get the recipe from this great article about coconut oil toothpaste<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Brushing Technique<\/h3>\n

Here are a few tips to improve your brushing technique:<\/p>\n