Your mouth is more than just a smile—it’s a mirror reflecting your overall health. Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, doesn’t just affect teeth and gums; it may also play a significant role in the progression of several serious chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and even certain types of cancer.1Zemedikun DT, Chandan JS, Raindi D, et al. Burden of chronic diseases associated with periodontal diseases: a retrospective cohort study using U.K. primary care data. BMJ Open. 2021;11(12):e048296. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048296,2Bouziane A, Lattaf S, Abdallaoui Maan L. Effect of periodontal disease on Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e46311. Published October 1, 2023. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.46311
Gum disease occurs when inflammation and infection form in the gums or bones surrounding and supporting teeth. Almost 50 percent of U.S. adults 30 or older have some level of gum disease, including periodontitis and gingivitis.3Eke PI, Wei L, Borgnakke WS, et al. Periodontitis prevalence in adults ≥ 65 years of age, in the USA. Periodontol 2000. 2016;72(1):76-95. https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12145
Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease, affecting 90 percent of the population. When gingivitis progresses into a chronic, destructive, and irreversible inflammatory condition, it’s called periodontitis. If left untreated, periodontitis can result in bone or tooth loss.1Zemedikun DT, Chandan JS, Raindi D, et al. Burden of chronic diseases associated with periodontal diseases: a retrospective cohort study using U.K. primary care data. BMJ Open. 2021;11(12):e048296. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048296,4Gasner NS, Schure RS. Periodontal disease. StatPearls. 2023;Apr 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554590/?report=reader#_NBK554590_pubdet
Risk Factors for Gum Disease
Some people are more prone to gum disease than others. Understanding the factors that increase your risk is crucial for effective prevention and early detection:
- Age
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Family history of dental disease
- Chronic stress
- Medication use, including oral contraceptives, antidepressants, and certain heart drugs
- Clenching or grinding teeth
- Obesity
- Poor nutrition
“With periodontal disease, there are deep pockets [in the mouth] where teeth lose attachment from surrounding tissue,” says Dr. Rohina Azizi, dentist and naturopathic physician at Portland Dental and Naturopathic Clinic. “These pockets are great spots for anaerobic bacteria to form colonies and surround themselves with biofilm, making the condition difficult to treat.”
Periodontal Disease Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of gum disease are hard to miss:
- Bleeding, receding, or inflamed gums
- Plaque build-up
- Persistent bad breath
- Mouth sores
- Loose or separating teeth
Preventive Care
Poor oral hygiene can lead to plaque build-up and bacterial growth, which is directly linked to gum disease.4Gasner NS, Schure RS. Periodontal disease. StatPearls. 2023;Apr 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554590/?report=reader#_NBK554590_pubdet A consistent cleaning routine and regular checks help keep gums healthy:
- To remove plaque and debris, brush twice a day and floss daily.
- Schedule professional cleanings as your dentist recommends.
- Get at least one checkup per year, more often if needed.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure for oral health, and good hygiene is the best way to avoid deterioration. Proactive care is also ideal. When caught early, reversing gum disease is possible.
How to Fight Gum Disease Naturally
Dr. Azizi opts for a holistic, integrative approach to treating gum disease. “I am not against using conventional approaches, such as scaling and root planing or laser-assisted periodontal treatments,” she says. “But when these are combined with more natural treatments, the results are even more effective.”
Conventional dentistry incorporates surgical and non-surgical treatments, dental implants, and cosmetic procedures. Scaling removes plaque and tartar below the gum line, while root planing helps gums reattach to teeth.5Scaling and root planing. American Dental Association. MouthHealthy. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.ada.org/sitecore/content/ADA-Organization/ADA/MouthHealthy/home/all-topics-a-z/scaling-and-root-planing
Ozone therapy is a holistic treatment that flushes ozonated water below the gum line or infuses ozone gas into the gums and supporting tissue to harden tooth structures and reduce bacterial infection.6Nayak A, Tamgadge S. Holistic dentistry-tooth as an anchor to mind, body, and soul. Int J Integr Health Sci. 2021;9(2):94-98. https://journals.lww.com/jihs/fulltext/2021/09020/holistic_dentistry_tooth_as_an_anchor_to_mind,.9.aspx
“We find that ozone therapy is a great adjunct to periodontal scaling and planing,” says Dr. Azizi, “because it’s one of the most effective biofilm busters that kill harmful mouth bacteria. These dangerous bacteria not only have negative effects in the mouth but can also be found in distant areas of the body and have even been discovered in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s, postmortem.”
After ozone therapy, Dr. Azizi recommends patients take probiotics for two to four weeks to replenish good bacteria, “as [the treatment] doesn’t discriminate between good and bad bacteria.”
Dr. Azizi also uses platelet-rich fibrin for facial esthetics and gingival health. This non-surgical treatment involves injecting centrifuged blood to speed healing, reduce infection risk, and ease post-operative pain.7Petrescu B, Mirica I, Miron R, et al. Platelet rich fibrin as a gingival tissue regeneration enhancer. J Dent Sci. 2021;16(1):536-539. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1991790220302038?via%3Dihub
A Holistic Treatment Plan
In naturopathic medicine, dental care is about more than fixing what’s visible—it’s about tackling symptoms while delving deep into the underlying causes to prevent them from returning. A holistic approach treats oral health as a vital piece of the wellness puzzle.
“With a natural treatment strategy, we focus more on identifying and treating root causes to eradicate the problem,” says Dr. Azizi. “If you do a periodontal procedure without addressing the root causes such as diet, lifestyle, and maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, the chances of the disease coming back or getting worse increase.”
Natural Remedies for Good Oral Health
Natural dental remedies include topical products, oils, herbs, and rinses with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help enhance gum health, prevent decay, and destroy harmful bacteria:
- Turmeric gel
- Tea tree oil mouthwash
- Vitamin C
- Aloe vera gel
- Green tea
- Saltwater
Dr. Azizi cautions against using antimicrobial mouthwashes regularly because they can kill good bacteria. “Patients can easily make mouthwash [at home] rather than buying OTC, which can have some toxic ingredients,” notes Dr. Azizi. “Some ingredients we recommend for make-it-yourself mouthwashes are gotu kola, aloe, eucalyptus, neem, and xylitol.”
Footnotes
- 1Zemedikun DT, Chandan JS, Raindi D, et al. Burden of chronic diseases associated with periodontal diseases: a retrospective cohort study using U.K. primary care data. BMJ Open. 2021;11(12):e048296. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048296
- 2Bouziane A, Lattaf S, Abdallaoui Maan L. Effect of periodontal disease on Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review. Cureus. 2023;15(10):e46311. Published October 1, 2023. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.46311
- 3Eke PI, Wei L, Borgnakke WS, et al. Periodontitis prevalence in adults ≥ 65 years of age, in the USA. Periodontol 2000. 2016;72(1):76-95. https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.12145
- 4Gasner NS, Schure RS. Periodontal disease. StatPearls. 2023;Apr 10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554590/?report=reader#_NBK554590_pubdet
- 5Scaling and root planing. American Dental Association. MouthHealthy. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.ada.org/sitecore/content/ADA-Organization/ADA/MouthHealthy/home/all-topics-a-z/scaling-and-root-planing
- 6Nayak A, Tamgadge S. Holistic dentistry-tooth as an anchor to mind, body, and soul. Int J Integr Health Sci. 2021;9(2):94-98. https://journals.lww.com/jihs/fulltext/2021/09020/holistic_dentistry_tooth_as_an_anchor_to_mind,.9.aspx
- 7Petrescu B, Mirica I, Miron R, et al. Platelet rich fibrin as a gingival tissue regeneration enhancer. J Dent Sci. 2021;16(1):536-539. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1991790220302038?via%3Dihub
