Gum Disease / Periodontitis (adjunctive care)
Also known as: periodontitis, gum disease, bleeding gums, receding gums
Periodontitis is advanced gum disease: gums recede, teeth loosen, and bone around teeth is lost. Dental treatment (cleaning, deep scaling, sometimes surgery) is the core; home hygiene does the rest. Chinese medicine reads gum problems as stomach fire attacking upward or kidney deficiency failing to secure the teeth, with stasis in chronic disease, and supports the inflammation pattern alongside dental care.
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Lifestyle & Diet
- •Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth daily — this is the treatment.
- •Keep dental appointments for scaling and monitoring.
- •Stop smoking — it accelerates gum destruction.
- •Manage diabetes tightly; it worsens gum disease.
Cautions & Contraindications
- •No acupuncture inside the mouth over inflamed gum tissue.[]
- •Dental treatment is the core therapy — herbs support only.[]
When to reassess or seek care again
Review every 3 months with dental checks: bleeding score, pocket depths, hygiene habits.
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Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- Healthdirect Australia · 2024
- Victorian Government · 2024
- Australian Dental Association · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.