Gum pockets are actually quite a serious health problem, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. In general, gum pockets indicate a problem with the gums, which is more commonly known as periodontitis, and should be treated by a doctor immediately. In many cases, the depth of the gap or pocket in the gums can be reduced using various natural ways, such as maintaining oral hygiene, practicing natural remedies, and making lifestyle changes. Combining all three with medical treatment methods will undoubtedly reduce gum pockets significantly and sooner or later, able to restore your oral health.
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Method 1 of 4: Improving Oral Hygiene
Step 1. Brush your teeth twice a day
One very effective way to reduce gum pockets is to brush your teeth regularly. Whenever possible, use very soft bristles and brush your teeth in no less gentle motions, especially since the bristles and rough brushing motions can cause the gums to shrink even further. In addition, brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning and at night, to clean all food debris and bacteria that accumulate in the gum pocket.
If your main goal is to reduce gum pockets, try always brushing your teeth after eating. Thus, the area that needs to be restored does not have a chance to be exposed to bacteria and food debris
Step 2. Try using an electric toothbrush
Before use, make sure the toothbrush is fully charged, yes! Then, pour a little toothpaste on the bristles of the brush, put the toothbrush in your mouth, and immediately turn it on. In particular, divide your teeth into four areas, and focus on cleaning one area to the maximum before moving on to another. After brushing your teeth, turn off your toothbrush, throw away any remaining toothpaste, rinse your mouth thoroughly, and clean your bristles as well.
An electric toothbrush can clean gum pockets more deeply and thoroughly than a regular toothbrush. Since these products are more effective at cleaning the area below the gum line, try using them to speed up the healing process of your gums
Step 3. Floss your teeth at least once a day
Dental floss has the ability to clean food debris between the teeth that are difficult to reach by a toothbrush. To do this, try to prepare 50 cm of dental floss in advance. Grasp each end of the floss with the thumbs and forefingers of your hands, then slide the floss between your teeth in a gentle scrubbing motion. After cleaning the area between your teeth, tie a floss to each tooth and scrub the area again in a gentle motion.
Be careful not to cut the floss while it is between your teeth so you don't hurt your gums. In particular, apply gradual rubbing movements to minimize the risk of injury to the gums
Step 4. Use a water flosser to clean the area between your teeth and gums
A water flosser is a device that can spray water between the teeth and gums and clean the area thoroughly. To use it, you first need to fill the available space with water, point the tip of the water flosser at your teeth, and then turn on the appliance. Once the water flosser is on, try moving it along the gum line to clean the area between your teeth.
- Don't worry, you can find water flossers at major pharmacies and online stores.
- Although dental floss can reach deep enough gaps between teeth, a water flosser can provide far more maximum benefits. As a result, the tool can help clean all the germs, bacteria, and food residue that has accumulated in the gum pocket and prevent the gap from widening.
Method 2 of 4: Doing Natural Remedies
Step 1. Gargle with a salt water solution 2-3 times a day
To make it, you only need to mix 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. salt with 250 ml of warm water. Then, use the solution to rinse your mouth for 30 seconds before discarding it.
Do this method 2-3 times a day to clean the gum pocket and help it to heal
Step 2. Gargle with essential oils
In fact, there are various types of essential oils that can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. For example, you can pour 2-3 drops of tea tree, lemongrass, clove or basil essential oil into 250 ml of warm water. After that, rinse your mouth with the solution for 30 seconds, then throw the solution that has been used to rinse in the sink.
- Apply this method once to twice a day to maintain healthy gums.
- Essential oils can be purchased at many health stores both offline and online. If possible, buy products that are labeled “food grade” or proven safe to ingest, especially since you'll be putting the oil in your mouth later.
Step 3. Try applying the oil pulling technique
In this technique, you just need to rinse your mouth with a small amount of oil, usually coconut oil, to clean the area inside your mouth. In particular, pour 1-2 tbsp. Put the oil in your mouth, then gargle for 5-20 minutes. When the time is up, remove the oil and brush your teeth thoroughly. Repeat the process before you brush your teeth the next time.
- If gargling for too long makes your jaw sore, just apply this method for 5-10 minutes. If you want, repeat the process of gargling for 5-10 minutes on the same day so that the 20-minute quota is fulfilled.
- This technique is able to remove toxins and bacteria from the gum pocket so that it can increase the effectiveness of the gum recovery process.
- Although relatively new and still being researched in various countries, this technique has been used for quite a long time in various cultures that apply ayurvedic medicine methods.
Step 4. Use chewing gum, menthol-scented gum, or mouthwash containing xylitol to improve the health of your teeth and gums
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that can suppress the development of gingivitis and may improve gum health over time. In particular, xylitol is a common ingredient used to make sugar-free gum and menthol-flavored candies. If you want to buy it, you can find xylitol on shelves that sell baking supplies in supermarkets. To maximize results, use products containing xylitol 2-3 times per day.
- Make sure xylitol is the main ingredient in the product.
- You can buy xylitol mouthwash at pharmacies or supermarkets that sell dental hygiene kits. If you want, you can also make your own by mixing 1/2 tsp. xylitol powder with 250 ml of warm water.
Step 5. Take supplements to restore healthy gums
Basically, there are several types of nutrients that can increase the body's ability to restore the condition of the gums. Some of them are omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, and calcium. Try to consult the right type of supplement to the doctor and the dosage.
You can generally find supplements in various brands in various online and offline health stores
Method 3 of 4: Changing Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Quit smoking
Smoking actually has a very negative impact on the health of your teeth and gums! Therefore, try to break the habit to prevent the gum pocket from getting wider. If you have trouble quitting completely, at least reduce the intensity of smoking and observe the positive effects!
If you have trouble breaking the habit on your own, try asking your doctor for help to achieve this goal. Chances are, your doctor can recommend medications or special programs that can make the process easier
Step 2. Quit the habit of consuming alcoholic beverages
Alcoholic beverages can trigger, or worsen, gum problems. That is why, you must eliminate beer, fermented wine (wine), liquor (liquor), and mixed alcoholic beverages from your daily diet.
- Try replacing alcohol with a non-alcoholic mocktail.
- If you find it difficult to stop drinking alcohol, try asking your doctor for help or joining a relevant support group.
Step 3. Reduce the amount of sugary foods and drinks you consume
Sugary foods, such as soda and candy, can damage the gums and widen the gum pockets that form. To prevent this from happening, keep your consumption of sugary foods and drinks to a minimum so your gums don't have to interact with sugar while they're trying to heal.
If you can't stop eating sugar completely, make sure you always brush your teeth after eating or drinking sugary products. However, if the product you are eating is not only sweet, but also sour like a fizzy drink, wait a few minutes before brushing your teeth to prevent damage to the enamel
Step 4. Have a healthy diet
Eating healthy foods can improve overall oral health and specifically, overcome the problem of gum pockets. Therefore, make it a habit to eat a healthy and balanced diet so that your teeth and gums can receive the nutrients they need. Some types of food that deserve to be consumed regularly are green leafy vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, and meats that contain healthy fats such as fish.
- Eat foods that are rich in anti-inflammatory substances, such as fish. Since gum pouches are caused by inflammation in the body, eating foods that contain anti-inflammatory agents can solve the problem.
- Eat as much food as possible that contains omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, and calcium. Some of these include dairy products, low-fat protein, and fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and miso.
Step 5. Drink at least 8 glasses of water with a volume of 250 ml each to hydrate the mouth area
Water is an essential natural product for maintaining oral health and in particular, preventing dry mouth. In addition, water can also hydrate the body and therefore, can support overall body health. Every day, drink at least 8 glasses of water, each with a volume of 250 ml, and increase the dose if you feel thirsty or experience increased activity.
Method 4 of 4: Doing Medical Treatment
Step 1. Clean your teeth at the doctor every 3 months
If you have gum pockets, your doctor will likely ask you to do the cleaning procedure more often than other patients who don't have the problem. Follow this advice and make an appointment with your doctor for regular dental cleanings. In addition to maintaining dental hygiene, doing so is also effective in speeding up and simplifying the recovery process of your gums.
- The effectiveness of a professional dental cleaning service is, of course, much higher than the self-cleaning process at home, especially since the doctor will focus more on cleaning the area below the gum line.
- Cleaning the teeth every 6 months also helps the doctor to monitor the condition of the gum pocket and evaluate whether or not additional treatment is needed.
Step 2. Remove tartar and plaque from teeth using scaling and root planing procedures
If the depth of the tooth pocket exceeds 4 mm, your doctor may suggest that you perform a more thorough and deep cleaning procedure than usual. Two methods commonly used to clean the area of the teeth below the gum line are scaling and root planing. As the name implies, root planing is also able to flatten the surface of the tooth roots. As a result, the gums can re-attach and the gum pockets that form can be reduced.
Both procedures can cause minor pain. That is why, doctors usually will numb the nerve of the tooth with a topical or local anesthetic, depending on the intensity of the treatment that will be carried out afterward
Step 3. Use a special mouthwash or medications prescribed by a doctor
In some cases, after the scaling and root planing procedure is done, the doctor will ask you to rinse your mouth every day with a special mouthwash, or prescribe antibiotics that you will have to take every day. Don't worry, both procedures can help treat the infection in the gums that triggers the formation of gum pockets.
As with other medicines prescribed by a doctor, antibiotics and/or mouthwash should be used as long and as often as directed by the doctor. Do that to make sure all infections that occur are completely treated
Step 4. Perform an operative procedure if the presence of a gum pocket is considered a threat to the health of the surrounding teeth
If the depth of the tooth pocket exceeds 7 mm, the chances of the tooth roots being exposed to bacteria will increase greatly. As a result, these conditions can sooner or later lead to tooth decay, so generally, doctors will recommend surgical procedures to reduce the depth of your gaps or pockets.
- In this procedure, the oral surgeon will remove the gums so that they can access the roots of the teeth more easily. Then, the doctor will clean the area of food residue, germs, and bacteria, then restore the position of the gums and sew them with special sewing thread.
- Generally, this procedure is the last resort that doctors use to save your tooth. Therefore, do not ignore the doctor's recommendations and carry out the procedure, if possible.
