Want to Avoid Bad Breath and Receding Gums? Head to your Herb Garden and WF!

Gum diseases like pyorrhea and gingivitis are common in today’s society. They are usually progressive disorders affecting the gums and underlying bone structure. Gum diseases can be successfully treated with herbs.

Symptoms of gum disease include red, swollen gums that bleed easily, loose or shifting teeth, receding gums, loss of teeth, changes in bite pattern, bad breath, and hot and cold sensitivity.

Causes of gum disease include plaque and tarter build-up, nutritional deficiencies,systemic illnesses, allergies, lack of fresh food, too much meat, refined food or sugar in the diet, and poor brushing and flossing habits.

The best way to insure healthy gums is an improved diet. Eating lots of fresh, crunchy foods like celery, apples, cereal, seeds, and green salads can improve gum health. Always chew food well and avoid acid forming foods like tomatoes, soft drinks, and refined foods when brushing is inconvenient.

Another way to keep the mouth and gums healthy is to get your gut healthy, quit smoking (or don’t start), do not chew tobacco and rid yourself of old broken root tips of teeth and old infected root canals. .

Everyone should visit a dentist at least twice a year. Getting the teeth cleaned by a professional is a must for removal of plaque and tarter build-up.

If gum disease is diagnosed, rub the gums with baking soda, sage leaves, manuka honey and lemon juice. Other helpful tinctures and oils are St John’s wort, peppermint, chamomile and drink lots of ginseng tea. To control infection and stop bleeding use yelowroot, myrrh powder poultice or bentonite clay and apply it to the gum area. Other remedies include licorice root extract, diluted tea tree oil, aloe vera juice and echinacea.