Weak gums and other oral health issues are pretty common amongst people these days. While aloe vera is known for its multiple benefits for hair and skin, it is used to make gums healthier. Being high in antioxidants, the plant has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which may relieve gum inflammation and other oral health problems.
How to Use Aloe Vera for Gums
It’s easy to make it a part of your oral health care routine. There are multiple products available in the market with aloe vera as the main ingredient. Mouthwashes and toothpaste are common oral health care products that contain it. Using them regularly helps prevent bacteria and infections.
Aloe vera juice is another way to ensure that it is incorporated into your oral health care routine. Aloe vera juice can be bought from stores or be made at home if you have the plant. [1]
Best Aloe Vera for Gums
You should opt for high-quality products to ensure you can get maximum benefits from it products. These products shouldn’t contain high amounts of water and alcohol; hence you should read the ingredients label thoroughly before buying. If a product contains fewer ingredients, then it is a high-quality product, and since the actual gel is clear in color, don’t opt for green-colored products.
The American Dental Association has developed a list of approved and certified products, many of which contain aloe vera. It is better to choose an expensive but high-quality product rather than opting for a cheaper version that might contain harmful chemicals. [2]
How to Use Aloe Vera for Receding Gums
Receding gums, also known as gingival recession, happen when the gum surrounding the teeth starts to wear away. This leaves the teeth and roots exposed to viral and bacterial infections. While medical treatments are present to reverse receding gums, opting for a natural route may save you the trouble of relying heavily on medicines.
It is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties and can do wonders for receding gums.
A study conducted in 2013 included 45 people suffering from gingivitis divided into 3 groups of 15. The first group used aloe vera mouthwash for 3 months, the second group only received scaling treatment, and the third group received both scaling and aloe vera mouthwash. It was found that the third group had the fastest rate of improvement in treating receding gums. [3]
Moreover, to treat inflammation due to receding gums, many trained dental professionals choose to inject the gums with medicinal aloe vera gel. However, only a trained medical professional should carry out this procedure if they think it is the only way to treat receding gums.
How to Make Aloe Vera Mouthwash
Aloe vera mouthwash is a product that can easily be concocted in your home. Rather than buying a chemically infused mouthwash, you can make one yourself with natural ingredients found within your kitchen. All you need is aloe vera juice, distilled water, and baking soda. You can choose to add essential oil if you want to.
Add all the ingredients to a bottle and after closing the lid tightly, mix it vigorously so the ingredients are mixed properly.
It needs to stay refrigerated, so you should store your mouthwash in the refrigerator. For usage, pour a small amount of mouthwash into a glass and rinse your mouth thoroughly for 20 to 30 seconds before spitting it out; gargle in the back of your throat. Don’t swallow the mouthwash. [4]
Benefits for Gums
It has multiple benefits for gums and oral health care problems.
Gingivitis
Too much plaque accumulates on the teeth, it causes inflammation, leading to painful and bleeding gums. Typically, dental cleanings are sufficient to remove the plaque, but it also reduces inflammation and quickens the healing process.
Periodontitis Disease
If gingivitis is left untreated, it progresses into periodontitis disease, which harms the bones supporting the teeth. The symptoms are similar to gingivitis, but in this disease, people have bad breath, extra spaces between the teeth, receding gums, and loose teeth. Bacterial presence during periodontitis leads to swollen and painful gums, which are treated through scaling and root planing, sometimes even bone grafts.
it lessens inflammation in the gums and fights the bacteria with its antibacterial properties.
Other Oral Health Problems
Due to its healing, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, it can control other mouth issues such as canker sores, cold sores, and lichen planus. Bacterial infections due to dental impacts are also reduced with it since it acts as an anti-bacterial agent.
Aloe Vera Side Effects
It has certain risks and drawbacks despite being a natural solution to various oral health problems. Diabetic patients must consult their doctor before using it since it may dangerously decrease blood glucose levels, especially if they’re on diabetes-controlling medication. [5]
Run allergy tests before consuming aloe vera products. Using the gel or juice may cause severe cramps and diarrhea if you’re allergic to the plant. Moreover, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, then be sure to discuss the effects it may have with your doctor.
The Bottomline
Aloe vera not only treats oral health problems but also helps heal infections such as gingivitis. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties make it an effective tool in combating gum diseases. However, further research is required in the field to have substantial evidence to prove the claim.
Using aloe vera for dental solutions tends to have fruitful results, but discussing it with your dentist before doing so is necessary.
Disclaimer: This article is only a guide. It does not substitute the advice given by your own healthcare professional. Before making any health-related decision, consult your healthcare professional.
Editorial References And Fact-Checking
- Mangaiyarkarasi, S. P., Manigandan, T., Elumalai, M., Cholan, P. K., & Kaur, R. P. (2015). Benefits of Aloe vera in dentistry. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences, 7(Suppl 1), S255–S259. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-7406.155943
- Karim, B., Bhaskar, D. J., Agali, C., Gupta, D., Gupta, R. K., Jain, A., & Kanwar, A. (2014). Effect of Aloe vera mouthwash on periodontal health: triple blind randomized control trial. Oral health and dental management, 13(1), 14–19.
- Kitts, E. (2021, February 17). DIY Homemade Mouthwash Recipes You Can Easily Make. Soundview Family DentalTM. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://soundviewfamilydental.com/blog/diy-homemade-mouthwash-recipes/
- Choudhary, M., Kochhar, A., & Sangha, J. (2014). Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect of Aloe vera L. in non-insulin dependent diabetics. Journal of food science and technology, 51(1), 90–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-011-0459-0