sore gums

[swell_mel]

Eeesh. My gums are sore. I'd say 75% of the time they bleed a little bit when I brush. They don't look swollen to me. Just a little darker red where they are really sore. Today dh and I decided to start brushing by soaking our toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide then putting baking soda on our brush in an attempt to whiten our teeth over time and yowzers! My gums had white all over them whereas dh had none! I didn't realize how hurt they were. My gums on the bottom look like they have receeded (sp?) a bit. I know I tend to brush hard so I'm trying to ease up. I'd like to avoid going to the dentist if I can. Any tips on getting my gums healthy again? TIA!!

[flowmom]

I've read that hydrogen peroxide is NOT good for health gums. My somewhat alternative dentist recommended Perioclear mouthwash. Also, taking vitamin C is very important for gum health.

[Koalamom]

swish with cold pressed coconut oil. Also see uncle harrys .com for his gum healing protocol.

[dds07]

if they are red and bleed, you really should have them checked for periodontal disease. you could have deposits under the gums that you can't see that are causing the redness. these deposits ulitmately contribute to bone loss around the teeth and tooth loss. I'd at least go in for a cleaning and ask about gum/periodontal disease. Not worth the risk of avoiding the dentist...