Herbs For Gum Inflammation And Best Herbal Antibiotics For Tooth Infection (Among Other Natural Remedies)
Gum inflammation can cause many problems, including tooth and gum pain. This is an awful feeling, but it can be alleviated with the help of natural remedies. Using herbs for gum inflammation and toothaches is beneficial and often recommended by professionals.

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Taking gum health seriously now will be something you are thankful for later down the road. We have had to deal with gum inflammation on a couple of occasions for different reasons.
Of course, the better care you take of your teeth, the better your chances are of not having gum inflammation. However, taking good care of your teeth does not necessarily mean gum inflammation will not occur.
We know this firsthand. And due to this, we have firsthand experience with home remedies that effectively take care of inflammation and pain.
Although I call these home remedies, these natural and herbal remedies have been used and recommended to us by periodontists.
They have worked to heal and restore healthy gums and have even eliminated oral infections quickly.
Causes of Gum Inflammation
These are some of the causes of gum inflammation according to research, which lead to toothaches and other ailments. Some of these causes have overlapping criteria.
- Ineffective tooth brushing that allows harmful bacteria to linger
- High-sugar foods left on the teeth for an extended period of time
- Malnutrition
- Smoking or chewing
- Low calcium and vitamin intake
- Sex hormone fluctuation
- Medications that block calcium channels
- Oral contraceptive use
Best Natural Herbs For Gum Inflammation
This is the top herbal choice when it comes to dental health for many reasons.
The compound eugenol is one of the elements that make this herb highly effective.
- Firstly, it works to prevent dental erosion of the teeth. Dental erosion happens when the tooth becomes demineralized, also known as decalcification. Clove oil helps in the remineralization of tooth enamel.
- Secondly, cloves are a natural remedy used in Ayurvedic medicine, proven effective against many strains of yeast and many bacterial pathogens that cause inflammatory issues.
- Also, the herb's cumulative bioactive properties give clove the ability to cure toothaches, tooth pain and reduce inflammation in the gums.
We know firsthand clove's amazing anti-inflammatory properties. Cloves (the actual dry herb itself) were inserted into the socket of my daughter's mouth after wisdom tooth removal.
She unfortunately experienced dry socket and was in a lot of pain.
The anti-inflammatory effects and antibacterial properties of the clove went to work on the affected area.
My daughter was feeling no pain in an amazingly small amount of time. Cloves are a great natural dental remedy.
Using it, especially clove oil, in the recommended amount is highly effective.
However, too much clove oil can be hard on the liver. Therefore, do research before implementing this herb randomly if using clove oil.

Mint / Peppermint
Peppermint oil is used in many toothpastes and mouthwashes for its preventative properties against periodontal diseases.
It is also used for its freshening and soothing properties.
The distilled concentration of peppermint essential oil has been shown to be just as effective as antibiotics in killing certain strains of bacteria.
Therefore, choosing products that have this natural ingredient may be a smart choice in your dental routine.
Additionally, peppermint makes one salivate more. Increased saliva benefits dental health as well.
Simply chewing on mint leaves can help teeth as well.
The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of the mint leaves will take effect to freshen your breath and add another layer to the health of your teeth and gums.
Besides, you will get additional benefits of the mint, such as aiding digestion
Turmeric
It is no secret concerning Turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it only makes sense that it can be beneficial for gum health, too.
Using turmeric can be an added benefit to the prevention of gum inflammation.
Turmeric is used during root canal procedures, in mouthwashes, and in sealants for teeth.
This is because of turmeric's effective qualities against oral diseases and cancers. You may want to consider these qualities when skimming the ingredients list on dental products.
Additionally, you can create your own home remedy paste with the ingredients of turmeric and coconut oil to help whiten teeth (but you need to make sure you rinse well) and kill germs in the mouth.
The whitening of teeth will be shown to the extent of the removal of some stains.
Baking soda may be used as well in the paste, however, baking soda can be hard on tooth enamel, so use caution if you go this route.
Holy Basil
Lastly, we come to the herb Holy Basil. Holy basil is a good source of vitamin C and the mineral calcium, which are both important for good dental health.
Also, Holy Basil possesses properties that aid in the reduction of gum inflammation.
Mouthwashes and toothpastes that use this herb shows strong effectiveness in the removal of dental plaque.
Another important aspect of Holy basil is the influence it has on the immune system.
This fact has made it a beneficial therapy to explore in gingival and oral diseases.
This herb can be found in many dental care products, including pastes and mouthwashes.
It can also be applied in a gel format to help gum health, and the leaves can be chewed on for an added benefit.
Other Helpful herbs for your dental routine
The quote below is taken from the journal Inflammopharmacology.
"These primitive twig "brushes" are surprisingly effective, providing disposable brushes with natural bristles that contain healing properties inherent to the plants themselves. Twigs possess volatile oils that stimulate blood circulation, tannins that tighten and cleanse gum tissue, and other beneficial substances like vitamin C that promote healthy gums. Plants such as bay, eucalyptus, oak, fir, and juniper are particularly effective for this purpose."
Therefore, these herbals are helpful as well, just in a different way.
Something to consider if you are looking for more natural remedies to add to your dental care routine.
Other Natural Remedies for Preventing & Reducing Gum Inflammation
Saltwater Rinse
A saltwater rinse is great for helping to remove food particles, especially ones that are stubborn or stuck in hard-to-get areas.
Also, the salt is proven in studies to help with gum healing and promotes migration, which is an important step in the healing process.
We have used saltwater rinses many times and find them great at preventing inflammation from worsening.
Using up to a teaspoon of salt in warm water is recommended for the best results. However, it is best to begin with a smaller amount to see what you can tolerate.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is a great remedy for tooth decay prevention. Often coconut oil is used.
The method of oil pulling has many benefits according to research. Some of these benefits include decreased gum inflammation, decreased bleeding of gums, whitening of teeth, the relief of dry mouth and chapped lips.
The process involves sipping oil into the mouth and letting it glide between and over the teeth before spitting the oil back out. You do not swallow the oil.
The point is to discard bacteria that the oil picks up due to its antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.
The process takes approximately 15 minutes in total. We find this effective and helpful, although a bit time-consuming.
Aloe Vera Gel
The quote below can be found in the International Journal of Dental Hygiene. The information was obtained from six clinical randomized controlled trials involving a combined total of 1358 individuals.
"All included studies showed that aloe vera was effective in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation."
Ways to Prevent Gum Inflammation
- Regular dental checkups
- Gentle and thorough brushing for approximately 2 minutes, 2-3 times daily
- Floss and Mouthwash
- Appropriate intake of vitamins and minerals
- Low sugar food intake
- No smoking or chewing
Using herbs for gum health is an important step to a natural dental routine. Getting routine dental checkups and cleanings are important as well. However, there are many effective ways to take care of your oral health that will prevent dental disease in the future.
- All included studies showed that aloe vera was effective in reducing plaque and gingival inflammation.
- Kouidhi, B., Zmantar, T. & Bakhrouf, A. Anticariogenic and cytotoxic activity of clove essential oil (Eugenia caryophyllata) against a large number of oral pathogens. Ann Microbiol 60, 599–604 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-010-0092-6
- Marya, C. M., Satija, G., J, A., Nagpal, R., Kapoor, R., & Ahmad, A. (2012). In vitro inhibitory effect of clove essential oil and its two active principles on tooth decalcification by apple juice. International journal of dentistry, 2012, 759618. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/759618
- Vinay Kumar Pandey, Shivangi Srivastava, Ashish, Kshirod Kumar Dash, Rahul Singh, Aamir Hussain Dar, Tripti Singh, Alvina Farooqui, Ayaz Mukkaram Shaikh, Bela Kovacs, Bioactive properties of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil nanoemulsion: A comprehensive review, Heliyon, Volume 10, Issue 1, 2024, e22437, ISSN 2405-8440.
- Anwar, M. A., Sayed, G. A., Hal, D. M., Hafeez, M. S. A. E., Shatat, A. S., Salman, A., Eisa, N. M., Ramadan, A., El-Shiekh, R. A., Hatem, S., & Aly, S. H. (2025). Herbal remedies for oral and dental health: a comprehensive review of their multifaceted mechanisms including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant pathways. Inflammopharmacology, 33(3), 1085–1160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-024-01631-8
- Anwar, M. A., Sayed, G. A., Hal, D. M., Hafeez, M. S. A. E., Shatat, A. S., Salman, A., Eisa, N. M., Ramadan, A., El-Shiekh, R. A., Hatem, S., & Aly, S. H. (2025). Herbal remedies for oral and dental health: a comprehensive review of their multifaceted mechanisms including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant pathways. Inflammopharmacology, 33(3), 1085–1160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-024-01631-8
- Rajinder Singh, Muftah A.M. Shushni, Asma Belkheir, Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Mentha piperita L., Arabian Journal of Chemistry, Volume 8, Issue 3, 2015, Pages 322-328, ISSN 1878-5352
- Nagpal, M., & Sood, S. (2013). Role of curcumin in systemic and oral health: An overview. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine, 4(1), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-9668.107253
- Hosamane, M., Acharya, A. B., Vij, C., Trivedi, D., Setty, S. B., & Thakur, S. L. (2014). Evaluation of holy basil mouthwash as an adjunctive plaque control agent in a four day plaque regrowth model. Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry, 6(5), e491–e496. https://doi.org/10.4317/jced.51479
- : Rinsing with Saline Promotes Human Gingival Fibroblast Wound Healing In Vitro
Huynh NCN, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS (2016) Rinsing with Saline Promotes Human Gingival Fibroblast Wound Healing In Vitro. PLOS ONE 11(7): e0159843. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159843
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