The following therapies may prevent/treat gingivitis:

/Home/Health Conditions/Gingivitis - Alternative Remedies/Gingivitis - Vitamins

Folic Acid:
Rationale:
Several clinical studies have found that mouthwashes containing 0.1% folic acid swished around the mouth for one minute, twice per day, reduce the symptoms of gingivitis.
Other studies have found that oral folic acid supplementation may also reduce gingivitis symptoms and prevent gingivitis.
Dosage:
1 – 5 mg per day.
Alternatively folic acid-containing mouthwash is swished around the mouth.

Vitamin C:
Rationale:
Vitamin C deficiency significantly increases the risk of gingivitis.
Vitamin C helps to counteract the various toxic bacteria that are responsible for the symptoms of gingivitis and also strengthens the collagen structures of the gums, which may help them to resist the degradation caused by the bacteria that cause gingivitis.
Dosage:
1,000 – 3,000 mg per day.

Zinc:
Rationale:
Zinc deficiency increases the permeability of the gums, permitting the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis to enter the gums more readily.
Several studies have shown that the use of mouthwashes containing zinc significantly reduces the severity of gingivitis.
Dosage:
15 – 50 mg per day.
Ideally, a mouthwash containing zinc is used for gingivitis, although zinc mouthwashes may be “hard to find”.

Fish Oils:
Rationale:
The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oils help to suppress the inflammation that occurs in gingivitis patients.
In a clinical study, persons consuming fish oils who stopped brushing and flossing their teeth experienced less severe gingivitis compared with persons not consuming fish oils.
Dosage:
10,000 mg (10 grams) per day for fish oils products containing 18% EPA and 12% DHA. This dosage level would provide 1,800 mg of EPA and 1,200 mg of DHA per day.

Propolis:
Rationale:
Propolis kills most of the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis and may therefore help to prevent and treat gingivitis.
Dosage:
Propolis liquid is used as a mouthwash to prevent gingivitis.
Propolis lozenges can be sucked every two hours during painful gingivitis.

Green Tea:
Rationale:
Tea polyphenols from green tea inhibit the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis.
Tea polyphenols must come into direct contact with gum tissue in order to exert their anti-bacterial effects, therefore encapsulated green tea is not effective for gingivitis – it must be consumed in beverage form when used for the treatment/prevention of gingivitis.
Dosage:
Green tea is consumed as a beverage for gingivitis prevention/treatment.

Tea Tree Oil:
Rationale:
Tea tree oil (used as a mouthwash) helps to kill many of the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis.
Dosage:
For the treatment of gingivitis, a few drops of tea tree oil are diluted in ½ cup of warm water and swished around the mouth.

Coenzyme Q10:
Rationale:
There are case studies showing that coenzyme Q10 can halt the further progression of gingivitis and may heal the gum damage caused by gingivitis.
In one case, a patient with advanced gingivitis received daily coenzyme Q10 supplementation. Within one week the patient experienced a reduction in pain (enabling him to brush his teeth) and a reduction in inflammation. After six months, coenzyme Q10 was ceased and within four days the symptoms of gingivitis reappeared.
Dosage:
50 – 100 mg per day.

MSM:
(Methylsulfonylmethane)
Rationale:
MSM (as a constituent of toothpaste) has been reported to reduce the gum inflammation that occurs during gingivitis after one week of treatment.
This aspect of MSM has not yet been studied using modern scientific methods.
Dosage:
MSM-containing toothpaste is used.

Grapefruit Seed Extract:
Rationale:
Grapefruit seed extract kills many of the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis. It is most effective when used as a mouthwash.
Dosage:
3 - 5 drops of liquid grapefruit seed extract are placed in a small glass of water, and then swished around in the mouth for 30 seconds or more.

Goldenseal:
Rationale:
Goldenseal contains an alkaloid named berberine that suppresses the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis.
Dosage:
Goldenseal fluid extract is diluted in water and used as a mouthwash.

Mastic:
Rationale:
Mastic helps to destroy the toxic bacteria that cause gingivitis.
Mastic (as a constituent of chewing gum, toothpaste or mouthwash) may help to prevent and treat Gingivitis (by counteracting the Detrimental Bacteria involved in Gingivitis).
Dosage:
Mastic-containing chewing gum, toothpaste or mouthwash is used for the prevention/treatment of gingivitis.

Lifestyle Changes to Assist the Prevention of Gingivitis
Oral Hygiene:
Failure to regularly brush the teeth increases the risk of gingivitis.
Regular flossing helps to prevent gingivitis.