Gum massage is beneficial for everyone. It improves blood circulation, lymph flow, tissue metabolism, oxygenates tissues. Regular procedures increase the thickness of the epithelium, which protects the gums from the penetration of bacteria. However, there are diseases in which gum massage is a mandatory component of complex therapy. These are periodontal diseases: tissues and ligamentous apparatus that hold the tooth in the gum. This is gingivitis, periodontitis, periodontal disease. All of them are characterized by bleeding gums.
Gums bleed due to excessive bacterial growth in the oral cavity. Most often this indicates poor hygiene, but there are cases when bleeding provokes improper dentures, smoking, internal diseases.
Gum massage is carried out in medical institutions as a physiotherapeutic procedure and at home as a supportive therapy.
Types of massage
Before you start a course of massage, you need to sanitize the mouth. Otherwise, there will be no result. The dentist conducts treatment of caries, removal of tartar, plaque and only after that prescribes massage procedures.
Massage can be:
Conducted in the clinic with a special apparatus. Vacuum massage of the gums with periodontitis and other inflammations of the mucosa, helps to stimulate immunity, improve trophics, oxygenation of the blood.
A glass tube with an extension at the end is applied to the gums for 1-4 minutes. Due to the difference in pressure, a rarefied air (vacuum) is created in the tube and it is sucked to the mucosa. Recently, vacuum therapy has been combined with laser beam irradiation. The beam is low-frequency, red spectrum. It has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
- Hydrolaser
On the mucous membrane is directed by a jet of water, most often mineral water, combined with infrared laser radiation. The water jet from the massager washes out food residues, decay products not only from the interdental crevices, but also from periodontal pockets. Hydrolaser gum massage for periodontal disease relieves pain and bleeding. Recommended for gum recession, to improve their nutrition and blood supply.
- Massage of gums irrigator
Conducted at home. The jet of water cleans food debris from the interdental spaces. Washes away plaque from the teeth. Well helps with periodontal diseases, after implantation, prosthetics, fixed dentures, braces.
How to massage with an irrigator will show the dentist or hygienist.
- Using a brush
There are brushes for massaging gums, but most often at home use ordinary soft toothbrushes. It is recommended that you massage your gums daily, for at least 3 minutes in one of the ways:
- Holding the brush at an angle of 45 degrees make circular movements, capturing the gum and the place of its connection with the tooth.
- When the teeth are closed, the circular motion is done by holding the brush perpendicularly.
The most accessible, simple and cheap method – self-massage with fingers
How to massage the gums with fingers
Dentists believe that the method should be applied 2 times a day, for 5-7 minutes. There are studies that confirm that it is correct to massage the gums with the use of olive, coconut or sesame oil [1]. After the application of oils, the number of bacteria decreases as much as after rinsing the mouth with chlorhexidine.
Technique
Before proceeding to the procedure you should brush your teeth and wash your hands with soap and water.
With the edge of the index finger, we carry out from top to bottom, capturing the area from the front incisors to the wisdom teeth. 10 movements on one side and 10 on the other. On the lower jaw, the movements go from bottom to top.
With the pad of the index finger, we run along the gum from the center teeth to the far teeth. 10 movements for each half. Then move to the other jaw. The pressure when rubbing is stronger, but so that there was no painful sensations. Having warmed up the tissues in this way, we move on to the second stage of rubbing – circular movements. We move the same way from the center to the depths, making at least 10 circular movements around each tooth.
Clamp the gum between the index finger and thumb, slightly squeezing it. Still moving from the central incisors to the wisdom teeth.
- Repeat stroking
If you properly massage the gums every day, you will be able to strengthen the periodontal tissues and reduce the risk of tooth loss in periodontal disease and periodontitis. It should be remembered that this is only part of a complex therapy and it must be combined with other methods.
Contraindications
Like any procedure, gum massage has contraindications. They are few and almost all of them are relative.
Do not do massage in the exacerbation of periodontal diseases, especially if they are accompanied by the formation of purulent foci.
From massage is better to refuse in diseases of the blood vessels, which make them fragile and brittle. It is not indicated massage after tooth extraction, it can provoke bleeding
Systemic blood diseases, stroke, heart attack, malignant tumors of the jaw – a reason to avoid unnecessary pressure on the vessels.
If the condition improves, you can return to the procedure. It should always be remembered that massage should not cause pain. If it is impossible to tolerate the touch, consult a dentist. This may be a sign of hidden pathology.
Gum massage is also useful as a preventive measure. If you notice that your gums are pale, carry out several procedures to enrich the tissues with oxygen, to return them to a healthy appearance.
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158583/