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How to Treat Gum Disease With Vinegar
Gum disease is not just a mouth problem. While it is characterized by inflammation of the gums and tissues in the mouth, it can eventually lead to more serious conditions from bone loss in the jaw, to trench mouth, to an increased risk of heart disease. The bacteria that causes gum disease can invade other parts of the body, leading to other complications. One of the best, and most inexpensive treatments for gum disease is apple cider vinegar 1. Apple cider vinegar destroys the harmful bacteria that attack the gums, and when combined with baking soda, it is a powerful fighter of gum disease 1.**
Run your toothbrush under warm water, and then sprinkle a layer of baking soda on the bristles of your brush.
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Brush your teeth and gums with baking soda. Brush thoroughly for at least 5 minutes. Be sure to thoroughly brush your gums and your tongue, as well as your teeth.
After brushing, do not rinse. Instead, put 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in your mouth and swish around 1. At this point, you will feel the baking soda foaming up in response to the acid from the apple cider vinegar 1. This is not harmful.
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Brush your teeth one more time with the vinegar and baking soda in your mouth. Spit out.
Rinse your toothbrush under water, and brush your teeth one final time with plain water. Rinse your mouth out with water, and you are ready to go.
Repeat this brushing after each meal, if possible.
Tips
For a midday rinse, swirl some apple cider vinegar around in your mouth. Avoid using toothpaste if you have gum disease, as toothpaste has harsh chemicals.
Warnings
If you experience severe pain or excessive bleeding while using the apple cider vinegar treatment, discontinue use and make an appointment to see your dentist.
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References
- Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.
- Shishehbor F, Mansoori A, Shirani F. Vinegar consumption can attenuate postprandial glucose and insulin responses; a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017;127:1-9. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2017.01.021
- Kondo T, Kishi M, Fushimi T, Ugajin S, Kaga T. Vinegar intake reduces body weight, body fat mass, and serum triglyceride levels in obese Japanese subjects. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009;73(8):1837-43. doi:10.1271/bbb.90231
- Mohammad P, Mojtaba H, Mohammad N. Successful treatment of chronic scalp seborrheic dermatitis using traditional Persian medicine: a case report and literature review. Galen Med J. 2017;6:157-9. doi:10.22086/GMJ.V6I2.706
- Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A. Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x
- Atik D, Atik C, Karatepe C. The effect of external apple vinegar application on varicosity symptoms, pain, and social appearance anxiety: a randomized controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2016;2016:6473678. doi:10.1155/2016/6473678
- Chang J, Han SE, Paik SS, Kim YJ. Corrosive esophageal injury due to a commercial vinegar beverage in an adolescent. Clin Endosc. 2019 Aug;2019:ce.2019.066. doi:10.5946/ce.2019.066
- Biswal B. Drug-excipient interaction study for apple cider vinegar with 20 potential excipients using modern analytical techniques. Asian J Pharma. 2016;2016:107. doi:10.22377/ajp.v10i1.530
Tips
- For a midday rinse, swirl some apple cider vinegar around in your mouth. Avoid using toothpaste if you have gum disease, as toothpaste has harsh chemicals.
Warnings
- If you experience severe pain or excessive bleeding while using the apple cider vinegar treatment, discontinue use and make an appointment to see your dentist.
Writer Bio
A certified nutritionist who majored in health, fitness and nutrition, Traci Vandermark has been writing articles in her specialty fields since 1998. Her articles have appeared both online and in print for publications such as Simple Abundance, "Catskill Country Magazine," "Birds and Blooms," "Cappers" and "Country Discoveries."