Without question, gingivitis treatment is something that any of us would rather avoid. In the best of cases, treating gum disease or gingivitis involves the use of some antiseptic agent to destroy the infection that causes the problem. If the condition progresses to necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, then you will probably need so use some antibiotics for a week or ten days in order to kill the bacteria which cause the infection in the gum tissue. Such treatment is only necessary when prevention techniques fail and you fail to practice good oral hygiene while making certain that your mouth remains properly salivated.

 

The harmful bacteria responsible for causing gum disease and gingivitis problems are anaerobic in nature-anaerobic meaning “in the absence of oxygen”. These microbes like to hide behind plaque which then may harden into that stuff the dentist needs to scrape off during a cleaning: tartar. Anaerobic bacteria hide behind tartar because neither oxygen nor good oral hygiene like brushing or flossing can affect them.

 

Another substance that cannot reach the harmful bacteria responsible for gingivitis and periodontitis is saliva. Believe it or not, gum disease and gingivitis problems are rare when a person is properly hydrated and producing plenty of saliva. The fact is that saliva is the body’s first defense against the anaerobic bacteria because it can help control the bacteria population and prevent problems like gingivitis and periodontitis from ever starting.

 

Human saliva happens to be rich in oxygen and will thus help slow the rate of reproduction for anaerobic bacteria. Your saliva also has these specialized enzymes which help the body produce antibodies that neutralize bacteria before they can cause an infection in your gums. Behaviors that will lower the rate of salivation due to dehydration are:

• Smoking (also weakens immune system and the body’s ability to prevent gum disease and gingivitis problems before they start) deprives body of vital nutrients and also leads to lower salivation rates
• Diet pills-many dietary supplements use stimulants to suppress appetite and speed up the metabolism rate in order to control weight. However, stimulants act as diuretics and will dry you out and lower salivation rates leaving you more susceptible to prevent gingivitis or periodontitis naturally
• Drinking Alcohol-the symptoms of a hangover are actually caused by dehydration and this is because alcohol consumption will dehydrate the body.
• Taking Medication-a number of medications can cause side effects like dehydration and thus increase your chances of developing necrotizing gingivitis or more advanced forms of periodontal disease. Medications known to cause dehydration are: antidepressants, sleeping pills, pain killers, high blood pressure medicine, diabetes and parkinson’s disease medicine

 

Any behavior or substance that causes dehydration lowers the ability of your body to prevent gum disease and gingivitis problems. In addition to avoiding these substances and behaviors, you also want to make sure to drink at least ½ ounce of water for every pound of body weight to maintain proper hydration so that your body has plenty of saliva to naturally prevent the need for gingivitis treatment or other dental health procedures.