Gingivitis

Gingivitis

American Indians used bloodroot as an oral antiseptic. Modern research has shown that there is actually solid science to back up this ancient practice. The red root of this herb--from which the plant's name is derived--contains the antiseptic compound sanguinarine. This compound, which is now used in a few oral hygiene products, has the remarkable ability to prevent bacteria from forming plaque.

That's a powerful form of dental care, because when bacteria form gummy plaque on teeth, it causes the gum disease gingivitis. So anything that gets rid of plaque is really a way to head off gum problems.

These are the facts. But I got caught up in a controversy when I advocated wider use of bloodroot in toothpastes and mouthwashes. When I submitted a pro-bloodroot article for a conservationist wildflower journal, the editor sent the article out for review to a leading ethnodentist, someone who investigates the use of plant substances around the world for treating tooth and gum problems. The ethnodentist urged that the article be rejected.

Since this man's reaction was entirely unexpected, I did some checking on my own. It seems that this particular ethnodentist was busily promoting another herbal oral antiseptic, neem, and was dead set against bloodroot.

The ethnodentist maintained that bloodroot's active constituent, sanguinarine, caused cancer and glaucoma, which seemed to me to be a serious exaggeration. Sanguinarine is less toxic and presumably less carcinogenic than caffeine. Not only that, when it's used in toothpastes and mouthwashes, you spit it out rather than swallowing it. It's hard to believe that it could be very harmful, at least under these circumstances.

I have used toothpaste containing sanguinarine--without fear, I might add. I think both sanguinarine and neem should be available, but personally, I prefer the sanguinarine.

Gum Service

Gingivitis means "inflammation of the gums." It causes swelling, redness, a change in normal gum contours, watery discharge and bleeding. When it gets more serious, it becomes pyorrhea, degeneration of the gum tissue supporting the teeth. Together, gingivitis and pyorrhea are known as periodontal disease, a problem that all of us are more likely to have as we get older.

At age 10, about 15 percent of Americans have at least a mild form of gingivitis. At age 20, some 38 percent have it, and at 50, about half. People who don't brush, floss or get regular dental care are at greatest risk.

But you can get gingivitis even if you do brush and floss, because brushing and flossing don't clean out the deep, bacteria-harboring pockets between the teeth and gums. For those areas you need a little extra help.

Green Pharmacy for Gingivitis

Dentists treat gingivitis by irrigating the deep pockets with antiseptics. But if you want an alternative route to gum care, here are some herbs that can also help.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). My advocacy of the compound sanguinarine, found in bloodroot, is backed up by many well-designed studies. Research shows that toothpaste containing sanguinarine is modestly effective against several types of oral bacteria and that it helps reduce the amount of dental plaque in the mouth in as little as eight days.

If you'd like to try this herb, look for sanguinarine in the list of ingredients on the labels of toothpastes and mouthwashes. The most widely available brand is Viadent.

In addition to their use in over-the-counter products, bloodroot extracts are used by dentists to treat periodontal disease.

Camomile (Matricaria recutita). Commission E, the panel of experts that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German government, considers camomile effective as a gargle or mouthwash for treating gingivitis. Camomile contains several anti-inflammatory and antiseptic compounds.

In addition to treating gum disease, you can use camomile to help prevent it. Try brewing a strong camomile tea using two to three teaspoons of herb per cup of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes, strain, and drink after meals. Or use it as a mouthwash. While ethnodentists caution that camomile, because it's kin to ragweed, may cause allergies, in my experience it is very rare. If you do notice an allergic reaction--itching or any discomfort--discontinue use of this herb.

Echinacea (Echinacea, various species). In the Handbook for Herbal Healing, California herbalist and botanist Christopher Hobbs recommends echinacea for treating gingivitis, among many other conditions. The herb is antibacterial and immune-stimulating. Add a dropper or two of echinacea tincture to anti-gingivitis teas and mouthwashes. (Although echinacea can cause your tongue to tingle or go numb temporarily, this effect is harmless.)

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza gla-bra). Licorice is a sweetener that won't cause cavities or gingivitis. Try it in teas instead of sugar or honey. In addition, licorice is high in magnesium and the compound glycyrrhizin, which some studies suggest help control gum inflammation and plaque formation.

While licorice and its extracts are safe for normal use in moderate amounts--up to about three cups of tea a day--long-term use or ingestion of larger amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, excessive loss of potassium and high blood pressure.

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). Foods high in magnesium and vitamin C have often been recommended for treating gum disease. Because I am a big fan of spinachlike purslane, I can't help suggesting it as a good source of magnesium. Several other herbs, including coriander, cowpeas, dandelion, licorice root, lettuce leaf, poppy seeds, spinach, stinging nettle greens and string beans are high in magnesium as well.

Which brings me to my Magnesium Medley for keeping gingivitis at bay: Steam a mixed mess of dandelion, stinging nettle greens, purslane and spinach leaves. (Reminder: You'll need to wear gloves when harvesting nettle greens, but the stinging hairs lose their sting when the leaves are cooked.)

Sage (Salvia officinalis). In the European herbal folk tradition, sage leaves, which are rather gritty, are rubbed on the gums and teeth as a stimulant dentifrice. I've done this, and it seems to help, thanks to sage's astringent tannin and several aromatic antiseptic compounds. I find sage leaves in my herb garden almost year-round, and collecting these leaves is a lot cheaper than buying products containing sanguinarine. Sage tea is perhaps as effective as a sanguinarine toothpaste.

Some modern research appears to support this folk medicine approach. Commission E endorses using two to three teaspoons of dried sage leaves per cup of boiling water to make an anti-gingivitis tea. It's best, though, to use sage in moderation, as it contains a fair amount of thujone, a compound that in very high doses may cause convulsions.

Tea (Camellia sinensis). Like sage, tea is astringent, which helps fend off the bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gingivitis. Tea also contains at least five antibacterial compounds. Sweeten it with licorice.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis). With antibacterial, antiviral and immune-stimulating properties, calendula extracts may be useful in treating gingivitis. Just beware if you have hay fever, though, because people who are allergic to ragweed might be allergic to this plant as well. And if you take it and have a reaction--itching or any other discomfort--discontinue use.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita). You can't count on the "peppermint" in toothpastes to be of any help in preventing gingivitis, as most products are artificially flavored these days. But real peppermint fights the bacteria that cause tooth decay. You can make a tea using two teaspoons of crushed peppermint leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes, then sweeten it with licorice and drink the tea or use it as a mouthwash. You can also chew fresh mint leaves instead of sweetened mint candies and gums.

Rhatany (Krameria triandra). Commission E approves of using rhatany bark to treat gingivitis. Like tea, this herb is rich in astringent, antiseptic tannin. To make a rhatany tea, steep a teaspoon of dried herb in a cup of boiling water. Drink it or use it as an astringent mouthwash.

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). In addition to the magnesium in nettle greens, Russian studies show that nettle tea has antibacterial activity. Mouthwashes and toothpastes containing nettle reduce plaque and gingivitis. It's even more effective if you add juniper. Look for dental products containing these herbs at health food stores.

Teatree (Melaleuca, various species). Teatree oil is a significant antiseptic, and many herbalists regard it as their first-choice disinfectant for external use. But if you're using teatree to treat gingivitis and canker sores, make sure you don't swallow it.

To combat gingivitis, add a couple of drops of teatree oil to a glass of water, then swish it in your mouth. As with any other essential oil, teatree should never be taken internally, as surprisingly small amounts--a teaspoon or so--can be fatal.

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale). Pharmacognosist (natural product pharmacist) Albert Leung, Ph.D., author of Chinese Herbal Remedies, tells the story of how watercress was introduced into China a little over 100 years ago.

In nineteenth-century China, ancestral home of Dr. Leung's family, people used to call San Francisco Gum San, which means "golden mountain." Young men left China for Gum San, hoping to find fame and fortune.

Once in San Francisco, they were hauled off to work on the railroad, and many died from tuberculosis. Legend has it that they discovered through desperate experimentation that watercress helped treat tuberculosis. Some who recovered after eating it decided to take the secret home to China. With what money they had saved and the seeds of the lifesaving plant, they returned to their homeland.

Today southern Chinese chew watercress to treat sore gums. If you like the taste of watercress, you might try chewing it to treat gingivitis.