Yes, You Can Reverse Gingivitis at Home: Here's How

Gingivitis is just a fancy term for gum inflammation and is the early stage of gum disease.

It’s actually more common than you might think. Some studies suggest that chronic gingivitis affects over 90% of the global population to some extent. This might surprise you, as gingivitis is often so mild that it’s barely noticeable.

The tricky part is that if left untreated, gingivitis can advance to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. At this stage, the inflammation starts affecting the underlying bone. The result? Loose teeth that might eventually fall out.

Not everyone with gingivitis will develop periodontitis. Some people are more immune than others. But is it a reason to leave gingivitis unchecked?

If you’ve noticed any signs of gingivitis, it’s time to take action now. Keep reading to find out the right steps to take to reverse this common issue.

The Main Culprit Behind Gingivitis

Plaque is the primary cause of gingivitis. This whitish, thin, bacteria-laden film constantly forms on your teeth and gums. When you neglect your oral hygiene and don't brush regularly, plaque builds up and thickens, especially along the gum line.

Pathogenic bacteria can then infiltrate the space between your teeth and gums, leading to inflammation—this is gingivitis. Over time, plaque can absorb minerals from your food and saliva, becoming calcified, stickier, and even more difficult to remove. At this stage, it's known as tartar.

In addition to plaque, other factors can indirectly worsen gingivitis. These include anything that promotes more plaque buildup, such as dental crowding, cavities, or poorly fitting dental crowns and bridges.

People who breathe through their mouths are more prone to severe forms of gingivitis. Mouth breathing dries out the mouth, preventing saliva from doing its natural cleaning function.

There are also less common forms of gingivitis that aren’t caused by plaque but by other factors, such as viral infections (like herpes), fungal infections (like oral thrush), autoimmune diseases (like pemphigus), or allergies to certain ingredients in oral care products or foods.

You Can Reverse Gingivitis (If You Catch It Early Enough)

The tooth is supported and held in place by various tissues. On the outer side are the gums, and deeper down are the bone, ligaments, and cementum.

Gingivitis is a stage where only the outer gum tissue is affected, meaning the bone, ligaments, and cementum have not yet been impacted by inflammation.

The good news is that, unlike bone, the gum tissue can repair and build itself. The damage caused by inflammation can be reversed with proper oral hygiene measures.

However, if gingivitis is left untreated, the inflammation can spread to the deeper tissues that support the teeth, causing irreversible damage. Unlike the gums, these deeper tissues cannot repair themselves, which is why periodontitis is considered irreversible.

It's crucial to catch and treat gingivitis early to prevent it from progressing further. In its early stages, gingivitis is easily manageable—something that cannot be said once periodontitis sets in.

The Symptoms to Look Out For

When checking the health of your gums, there are several signs to be aware of. Here's what to look for:

• Your Gums Color: Healthy gums are usually pink, though this can vary depending on your ethnic and genetic background. Unhealthy gums may appear red or darker due to inflammation, which is a clear sign of gingivitis.


• Your Gums Texture and Consistency: Healthy gums are firm to the touch and have a stippling texture, similar to an orange peel. In contrast, unhealthy gums may feel soft, shiny, swollen, or spongy, lacking that firmness.


• Gum Bleeding: Healthy gums do not bleed when you brush, floss, or eat. When they bleed during these activities, it's a sign of inflammation.


• Check Your Gum Line: A healthy gum line fits snugly around your teeth and has a regular shape. In gingivitis, the gum line may become uneven due to swelling. If your gum line has receded or your teeth appear longer than before, it could indicate the progression to periodontitis.


• Bad Breath: Bad breath or halitosis is not always associated with gingivitis. However, it almost always indicates that your oral hygiene needs improvement, and that you probably have a build-up of plaque and tartar that you must get rid of.


• Loose or Shifting Teeth: These are major red flags for periodontitis. If you notice your teeth are no longer stable or have started to shift, see your dentist immediately. This indicates that the bone supporting your teeth is deteriorating, and timely action is necessary to save your teeth and prevent further damage.

How Does the Dentist Check for Signs of Gum Disease?

When you visit the dentist, which is the right thing to do, he or she will do several tests to check the health of your gums and make a diagnosis. These include:

• Asking Questions: Your oral hygiene routine, diet, and overall health can provide important insights about the condition of your gums. Your dentist will also ask if you have any concerns or discomfort. For example, if your gums are sore, they might recommend a gel or mouthwash to relieve the pain.


• Visual Examination: This involves looking for any signs of inflammation, such as redness, swelling, and bleeding.


• Periodontal Probing: Using a specialized instrument, your dentist will measure the space between your gums and teeth. This will help detect any bleeding or the presence of periodontal pockets—widened spaces that are indicative of periodontitis.


• X-rays: If periodontitis is suspected, your dentist may order X-rays to evaluate the condition of your jawbone. This will help determine whether you are in the gingivitis or periodontitis stage.

The Right Actions to Reverse Gingivitis

If you’ve noticed the first signs of gingivitis—such as bleeding, swelling, redness, or gum sensitivity—what should you do next? While you can reverse gingivitis at home, the best thing to do is to see your dentist as soon as possible. Again, the earlier you seek treatment, the easier, more effective (and cheaper) it will be.

At this stage, all we need to do is remove the root cause of the problem. No surgery or heavy treatment is required. Your dentist will perform a professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and provide you with oral hygiene instructions to follow at home.

Managing gingivitis isn't a one-time fix; it requires consistent and thorough oral care.

From your side, here's what you can do to reverse gingivitis at home:

Brush Your Teeth Properly with the Right Technique

It's not enough to just brush your teeth—you need to do it properly. The best brushing technique to clean both your teeth and gums is the Modified BASS Technique. Here's how to use it:

1. Hold the toothbrush parallel to your teeth.
2. Tilt the brush to a 45-degree angle.
3. Position the brush so the bristles are slightly under the gumline.
4. With firm but gentle pressure, use a circular motion 15 to 20 times before moving to the next area.
5. Brush all the front surfaces of your teeth, then clean the backs using the same motions.
6. Hold the toothbrush vertically behind your front teeth and brush up and down.
7. Brush the chewing surfaces of your back teeth.

Make sure to brush for a full 2 minutes, twice a day. Once you start brushing properly, you've already done most of the work to fight off most oral conditions.

Change Your Toothbrush When It Shows Signs of Wear

It's crucial to replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become frayed or matted. A worn toothbrush is less effective at removing plaque and can harbor bacteria that may harm your gums and teeth.

I also recommend using an electric toothbrush over a manual one. Electric toothbrushes are better at removing plaque. They are a convenient alternative if you find manual brushing cumbersome. With an electric toothbrush, you simply slide the brush over your teeth and it does the work for you.

Floss Once a Day

If you skip flossing or cleaning between your teeth, you're missing out on 40% of your teeth and gums surfaces. This means that after brushing, 40% of your dental surfaces can still retain plaque and food residues.

I recommend cleaning between your teeth once a day, preferably at night before bed. You can use whichever tool you find most comfortable, whether it's dental floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser. Studies have shown that water flossers are actually more effective at reducing gum inflammation.

Scrape Your Tongue Once a Day

Your tongue can also collect harmful bacteria that contribute to bad breath. Clean it once a day using your regular toothbrush or, ideally, a tongue scraper specifically designed for this purpose. By doing this, you not only reduce the bacterial load in your mouth but also improve your breath. Most odor-causing bacteria tend to hide on the tongue.

Balance Your Diet

What you eat affects not only your overall health but also the health of your gums. To stay healthy, the gums need essential nutrients, including vitamins C, D, E, and B-complex vitamins. Research has shown that people deficient in these nutrients have: increased inflammation, more bleeding, and more severe gum disease.

Choose anti-inflammatory foods over pro-inflammatory ones. It's no surprise that foods known to promote inflammation are also generally harmful to your health. These include sodas, refined carbohydrates, and other processed foods.

Anti-inflammatory foods are also those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as vitamins D and E.

Stop or Cut Back on Risk Factors

Certain factors and habits can increase your risk of gum disease. These include:

• Smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease. Tobacco and its by-products weaken the body’s defense mechanisms, reduce blood flow to the gums, and impair their ability to heal.
• Bruxism: Grinding or clenching your teeth (bruxism) can aggravate any gum problem. These habits put undue pressure on the tissues surrounding the tooth and can actually promote the progression of existing gum disease.
• Mouth Breathing: Breathing through your mouth can dry out your gums and reduce the natural cleaning effect of saliva.
• Aggressive Tooth Brushing: Brushing too hard can damage your gums and contribute to gum recession.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated throughout the day helps prevent your mouth from drying out. This also prevents the bacteria from gathering and forming plaque, which is the primary cause of gingivitis.

Try Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient practice that is proven to reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and improve gum health. By swishing oil around in your mouth, you can fight plaque buildup and prevent many oral health problems. It's worth giving it a try to see if it suits you and works effectively for your gum health.

How to Oil Pull:

1. Choose Your Oil: Use 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, sesame oil, or sunflower oil.
2. Swish the Oil: Swish the oil around your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes. Make sure to push and pull the oil through your teeth and around your gums.
3. Spit It Out: After swishing, spit the oil out.
4. Brush Your Teeth: Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth as usual to remove any remaining oil and bacteria.

One of the most common concerns I hear from patients is, “I can’t brush or floss because my gums bleed so much!” Even if your gums are bleeding, it’s crucial to continue with your oral hygiene routine. Consider bleeding as a necessary step towards healing.

If your symptoms aren’t improving or are worsening despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to make an appointment. You might be dealing with an advanced form of gum disease (periodontitis) that requires more than just routine brushing. In such cases, your dentist may recommend a deep dental cleaning (scaling and root planing) to remove plaque and tartar from below your gum line.

How Do I Know If My Gums Have Healed?

With consistent care, you can expect your gums to return to their healthy state within a few weeks. But how can you tell if your gums have healed?

Fortunately, most patients notice some improvement as soon as they improve their oral hygiene. You’ll notice your gums gradually changing to a light pink color. The gum line will become more defined and firmly attached to your teeth.

Additionally, any swelling will subside, and your gums should no longer bleed when you brush or floss.

From Gingivitis to Periodontitis: The Risk Factors

If plaque is not removed through proper oral hygiene, it can build up and harden into tartar. Tartar, a calcified mass of bacteria, cannot be removed at home and can cause gingivitis to progress to periodontitis.

Here are some risk factors for periodontitis:

• Smoking: Besides weakening the immune system and affecting blood flow, tobacco and its by-products can actually mask early signs of gum inflammation. As a result, you might not notice the problem until it reaches an advanced stage.
• Stress: Stress releases hormones that affect the immune response. Plus, it can lead to bruxism or involuntary teeth grinding, which can exacerbate gum disease.
• Medications: Certain medications, such as antidepressants, antihypertensives, and immunosuppressants, can negatively impact gum tissue by affecting saliva production and immune response.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are more susceptible to gum disease, and gum disease can make it harder to control blood sugar levels, worsening diabetes symptoms.
• Genetics: Genetics plays a significant role in periodontitis. Some people may never develop the condition, even with poor oral hygiene, while others may be more prone to it despite good practices.

Periodontitis represents an imbalance between the immune response and pathogenic bacteria. When bacteria dominate or the immune response is insufficient, the disease can progress severely and rapidly.