Like most people you brush your teeth twice or three times daily and try to follow your hygienist’s advice about flossing. Yet even with these good oral care habits, you may still begin to see the effects of periodontal disease. As you get older, it gets tougher to maintain healthy gums, so what can you do?

Fortunately, a lot of natural remedies are available that you can use everyday in addition to maintaining regular dental care with the professionals here at Stoner Periodontic Associates. A trip to your grocery store or a health food store will provide many of the natural remedies that can help protect your gums. Best of all, natural remedies don’t contain any artificial chemicals that can harm you. To improve your oral health, try these tips to naturally protect your gums.

Get Adequate Vitamin D. Oral health is not entirely about what you put in your mouth, but what you put in your body as a whole. Research indicated that Vitamin D may be good for your mouth by helping kill bacteria. Many people in northern latitudes are Vitamin D deficient and therefore are more likely to get gum disease. Foods that have high amounts of Vitamin D are eggs, tuna, salmon and fortified milk and orange juice. Consider using a Vitamin D supplement, especially in winter.

Green Tea. Various studies indicate that drinking green tea can help on a variety of levels. Green tea reduces inflammation and helps destroy bacteria that causes periodontal problems. Rinsing with green tea may help prevent your teeth from eroding. It may also stop starchy foods from causing tooth decay that can also affect gum health.

Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera is another anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent. Use fresh gel from the aloe plant when you brush your teeth. You can also use it as a mouthwash to prevent receding gums and to aid in healing of damaged gums.

Natural Oils. The list of natural oils that you can use to keep gums from becoming inflamed and to kill bacteria in your mouth is long. These include oils made from eucalyptus, tea tree, coconut, sesame seeds, lemon, cloves and even myrrh. Each has slightly different properties that can help prevent receding gums and in some cases, even regrow tissue.

If you are unsure which natural remedy would be best for you, the professionals at Stoner Periodontic Specialists, can help you choose and provide additional tips on maintaining gum health.