If you’re like anyone else, the night before the dentist appointment you are floss, brush and rinse your mouth several times. The routine is almost always done in the hopes of counteracting six or more months of active neglect. Perhaps you know you are going in for a receding gums treatment. Or, maybe you are hoping just for a visit with the hygienist and a quick checkup with the doctor. However, you want to be certain your teeth are as clean as possible upon entering the dentist’s office.

Unfortunately, there is no chemical shortcut to good oral hygiene. Even an unenthusiastic dental patient understands a month of neglect cannot be fixed overnight. In the same vein, the reliance on harsh chemicals for your at-home hygiene may be the very reason you are now in need of a dental treatment for receding gums. Sure, the mouthwashes and rinses were supposed to protect you against the dangers of gingivitis and periodontitis, but there is a chance that they did the very opposite.

If you are experiencing tender and perhaps even bleeding gums, treatment must be swift to avoid other illnesses from taking a hold in your bodily systems. The bacteria at work in your mouth easily travel throughout your body, requiring a full systemic response from your immune system. The constant need for antibody production will eventually weaken your overall structure. Instead of being healthy, you are now subject to potential infections. This is due to the immune system being weakened to such an extent you no longer have the ability to fight off even the most harmless diseases.

While you were using harsh chemically laden mouthwashes, your body responded with a normal side effect: dry mouth. One of the most commonly experienced side effects when taking medication; it has been identified as a major causative agent in the need for gingivitis treatment appointments. Dry mouth is directly related to the application of alcohol and other astringents to the oral cavity. With those using mouthwashes based on alcohol just before retiring to bed, there is an increased risk. The substance stays inside the mouth for a prolonged period of time and only underscores the problem of creating a dry mouth.

Ask your dentist about alternative mouthwashes that will not cause your mouth to go dry. Using natural products will support any periodontal disease treatment you may experience in the dentist’s chair. They will also help you protect your body from the problems associated with gum disease. There are no chemical shortcuts to oral hygiene and commercially available mouthwashes may be easy to use. However, they are expensive not only to purchase but also to treat resulting side effects in the aftermath. Your dentist may suggest something as simple as rinsing out your mouth with lukewarm salt water instead of a mouthwash. When you take the natural route, the desired effect of killing the bacteria will not also harm the mucous membranes of your oral cavity.