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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