Can hydrogen peroxide be used as a mouthwash for gingivitis?

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on August 31, 2024
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Gingivitis can be treated with hydrogen peroxide mouthwash, as hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid with an irritating odor, and medically, it is commonly used for disinfecting wounds and otitis media. When the skin is infected or there are wounds and pus or contamination in the oral mucosa, 3% hydrogen peroxide can be used for disinfection, as it can destroy the bodies of bacteria and kill them. During oral treatment, such as some root canal treatments, hydrogen peroxide can be used for rinsing because most oral infections originate from anaerobic bacteria, and hydrogen peroxide has a strong bactericidal effect. However, as hydrogen peroxide is a topical medication, care should be taken not to swallow it while using it for mouthwash.

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How to treat severe gingivitis?

Gingivitis is relatively common in daily life, mainly due to poor oral hygiene, dental calculus, plaque, food residues, and soft tartar, which irritate the gums, causing redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums. If severe, it can lead to gum recession, absorption of the alveolar bone, and loosening or loss of teeth. For severe gingivitis, initial treatment involves supragingival cleaning followed by subgingival scaling and root planing. If individual teeth continue to experience recurring swelling and pain after scaling, surgical treatment such as gingival flap surgery may be performed. This involves cutting open the gums to thoroughly remove calculus, plaque, food residues, and soft tartar, which can subsequently improve tooth mobility. In cases where teeth cannot be preserved and need to be extracted, severe gingivitis can also lead to the formation of gum abscesses. In such cases, oral cephalexin can be taken, and using a compound chlorhexidine mouthwash can help alleviate the condition and reduce pain.

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Internal Medicine
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Symptoms of gingivitis

Gingivitis is a common and frequently occurring disease. If it is not treated in time, it can lead to pulpitis, periodontitis, and even cause dental pain, necrosis, tooth loosening, and loss. When gingivitis occurs, the gingival tissues exhibit vascular congestion, leading to a change in the color of the gums from normal pink to dark red or purplish red. Additionally, symptoms of gingivitis include edema and a change in the appearance of the gums, which become looser and do not adhere tightly to the teeth. There may also be pain, increased fragility of the gums, and spontaneous bleeding, particularly noticeable during brushing and when biting hard objects.

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Dentistry
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Can gingivitis be transmitted through kissing?

The patient presents with gingivitis, generally due to intrinsic causes. It could be caused by the patient's internal heat leading to inflamed gums, resulting in gingivitis and periodontitis. Typically, kissing does not lead to transmission because it is not a contagious disease. It is advised that the patient pays attention to their oral hygiene, regularly undergoes dental cleaning, and avoids causing other dental diseases. Gingivitis and oral ulcers do not spread through kissing. However, it is recommended that the patient seeks timely treatment and avoids kissing during this time. While it does not cause contagion, it can lead to the spread of some bacteria in the mouth, which may exacerbate the condition. Therefore, early treatment is advised, but there is no need for excessive worry.

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What should I do about recurrent gingivitis?

Gingivitis is caused by not cleaning the mouth promptly after eating, with the presence of irritating factors around the teeth causing repeated outbreaks. For example, bleeding during brushing or eating. This situation requires teeth cleaning, which includes ultrasonic scaling to remove dental calculus and other basic causative factors. Only by removing the irritating factors and treating the cause, applying medicine around the gums and improving the bleeding condition, can the symptoms of gingivitis improve. If oral hygiene is not maintained after removal, over time, dental calculus or dental plaque can reattach around the teeth, leading to a recurrence of gingivitis.

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Is amoxicillin effective for gingivitis?

Gingivitis is primarily caused by the presence of dental plaque on the gums, which is erosive due to the large amount of bacteria. Taking oral amoxicillin, an antimicrobial drug, does not show a very obvious effect. One reason is that the gum tissue is relatively tough, and the concentration of the drug in the gum tissue when administered systemically is not sufficient to provide the expected therapeutic effect. Another reason is that oral bacteria, mostly anaerobic bacteria, cause this condition, and general anti-inflammatory drugs do not work well. The best method to treat gingivitis is still dental cleaning, which can directly remove the bacteria on the gums, clearly affecting the treatment. Subgingival scaling is also effective, which can lead to better outcomes.