We all brush our teeth at least once a day, and most of us do it at least twice a day.
But did you know that unless you are brushing properly with the right motion, the right toothbrush and the right product, your teeth may not be as healthy as you think they are.
Gum disease, also called gingivitis, is inflammation that destroys the tissue that supports the teeth including the gingiva or gums.
There are a number of causes, but by far the leading cause of gingivitis is the buildup of plaque.
Plaque is a sticky material that is created when we eat.
If not removed in a relatively short period of time, it can harden into tarter.
Tarter is a very hard substance that sticks to the teeth at the gum line like cement and is extremely hard to remove.
Usually this requires several expensive and painful trips to the dentist, but you can avoid this by removing the plaque before it has a chance to harden.
Some of the symptoms of gingivitis include gums that are red, swollen and bleed easily.
Sometimes there is bad breath too, but most people are too polite to mention it.
At this stage there is still no damage to the surrounding tissue that supports the teeth, and inflammation will usually pass after a good brushing and flossing to remove all the plaque.
Although regular checkups at the dentists are always recommended, you want to avoid the need for repeated visits for periodontal treatment.
It's painful and expensive.
So what can you do to treat and prevent gum disease? First, don't neglect your teeth and gums.
Maintaining oral hygiene is the best way to prevent gum disease in the first place.
Brush teeth at least twice a day, but use care if gums are bleeding.
This is a sign that inflammation and irritation are already present.
Brush with a natural toothpaste that has a blend of essential oils.
This will not only clean the surface of the teeth, but the essential oils are also antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory, so they will help clear up any infection or inflammation that may be present.
Be sure to floss twice a day as well, although if you're teeth are tightly crowded or your gums are inflamed, you will need to be very careful that the floss doesn't cut into your gums.
You can use a blend of any of the essential oils we list here and coat your dental floss with it to really help get it down between your teeth.
You can also mix essential oils with some water and make a mouth rinse to help clean and heal as well.
We strongly recommend that you brush your tongue also, as this is where the bacteria accumulate from leftover food.
Tongue cleaning is simple and can be done with your toothbrush while brushing daily or you can use a special tongue cleaner that is available at any drug or discount store.
Many toothbrushes are now including a small tongue cleaner on the back of the brush to be sure that you undertake this important step in dental health.
Several essential oils can help with treating gum disease.
Peppermint oil and Wintergreen oil are two very common oils used in natural toothpastes and give it that minty taste, but they are excellent for treating gum problems.
Tea tree, oregano, clove bud, and juniper are also excellent for treating gum disease and there are blends of these oils on the market to take the guess work out of choosing oils.
But did you know that unless you are brushing properly with the right motion, the right toothbrush and the right product, your teeth may not be as healthy as you think they are.
Gum disease, also called gingivitis, is inflammation that destroys the tissue that supports the teeth including the gingiva or gums.
There are a number of causes, but by far the leading cause of gingivitis is the buildup of plaque.
Plaque is a sticky material that is created when we eat.
If not removed in a relatively short period of time, it can harden into tarter.
Tarter is a very hard substance that sticks to the teeth at the gum line like cement and is extremely hard to remove.
Usually this requires several expensive and painful trips to the dentist, but you can avoid this by removing the plaque before it has a chance to harden.
Some of the symptoms of gingivitis include gums that are red, swollen and bleed easily.
Sometimes there is bad breath too, but most people are too polite to mention it.
At this stage there is still no damage to the surrounding tissue that supports the teeth, and inflammation will usually pass after a good brushing and flossing to remove all the plaque.
Although regular checkups at the dentists are always recommended, you want to avoid the need for repeated visits for periodontal treatment.
It's painful and expensive.
So what can you do to treat and prevent gum disease? First, don't neglect your teeth and gums.
Maintaining oral hygiene is the best way to prevent gum disease in the first place.
Brush teeth at least twice a day, but use care if gums are bleeding.
This is a sign that inflammation and irritation are already present.
Brush with a natural toothpaste that has a blend of essential oils.
This will not only clean the surface of the teeth, but the essential oils are also antibacterial as well as anti-inflammatory, so they will help clear up any infection or inflammation that may be present.
Be sure to floss twice a day as well, although if you're teeth are tightly crowded or your gums are inflamed, you will need to be very careful that the floss doesn't cut into your gums.
You can use a blend of any of the essential oils we list here and coat your dental floss with it to really help get it down between your teeth.
You can also mix essential oils with some water and make a mouth rinse to help clean and heal as well.
We strongly recommend that you brush your tongue also, as this is where the bacteria accumulate from leftover food.
Tongue cleaning is simple and can be done with your toothbrush while brushing daily or you can use a special tongue cleaner that is available at any drug or discount store.
Many toothbrushes are now including a small tongue cleaner on the back of the brush to be sure that you undertake this important step in dental health.
Several essential oils can help with treating gum disease.
Peppermint oil and Wintergreen oil are two very common oils used in natural toothpastes and give it that minty taste, but they are excellent for treating gum problems.
Tea tree, oregano, clove bud, and juniper are also excellent for treating gum disease and there are blends of these oils on the market to take the guess work out of choosing oils.
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