09 Nov 5 Holistic At-Home Dental Care Tips
A radiant smile not only enhances your appearance, but also reflects good oral health. Regular dental checkups are crucial and should never be skipped. But in addition to dental visits, taking a holistic approach to at-home dental care can contribute significantly to maintaining a healthy and beautiful smile. Here are some natural remedies for dental health you can use on your own at home between appointments to help keep your smile beautiful and healthy, the way that nature intended!
A Guide to Holistic At-Home Dental Care
1. Oil Pulling
This detoxifying technique has been around for thousands of years and is now recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Oil pulling reduces plaque-induced gum disease and the amount of bacteria in the mouth. Swish about 2 teaspoons of sesame or coconut oil for 20 minutes a day. Just be sure to spit it out rather than swallowing it—and avoid spitting it down the sink as this can clog the pipes!
2. Tongue Scraping
According to Ayurveda, the tongue is associated with the thyroid, lungs, heart, kidneys, stomach, and colon. By scraping the tongue, you not only maintain a healthy mouth, but on a deeper level, you also support your organs. It is believed to remove toxins and dead bacteria, enhance the flavor of your food, improve bad breath, and clear your mind.
3. Green Tea
Green tea contains compounds called polyphenols, a unique kind of antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and fight plaque-causing bacteria. If you’re not a big tea drinker, you can try oral care products that contain green tea, such as toothpaste and mouthwash. You can even chew gum or suck on candy made with green tea—just make sure they’re sugarless! Here are 5 things green tea can do for your dental health:
- Fight bad breath
- Prevent cavities
- Help with tooth sensitivity
- Control oral cancer growth
- Fight gum disease
4. Water
Our bodies are composed of roughly 60% water, which is one reason it’s so important to stay hydrated. Water helps the body absorb essential vitamins and minerals, get rid of waste, keep the skin healthy and elastic, digest food, and lubricate the joints. And believe it or not, staying hydrated also plays an important role in our dental health. Swishing water after meals is a great way to get rid of food particles and sugar on the teeth, but simply drinking water throughout the day is also important to keep the teeth clean and prevent cavities. Drinking plenty of water also helps dry mouth. Not only does it keep the mouth moist, it also stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which is the first defense against tooth decay. Water also prevents bad breath and tooth staining and helps protect the tooth enamel from damaging acids.
5. Oral probiotics
The mouth normally contains a number of microbes that together, are called the oral microbiome. This microbiome includes healthy and harmful bacteria. A healthy microbiome protects the mucous membranes of the mouth, as well as the teeth. When the microbiome becomes unbalanced by diet, drugs, or disease, dysbiosis occurs. Dysbiosis can lead to cavities, bad breath, and gum disease. Probiotics work by restoring a healthy balance to the microbiome. Oral probiotics help to:
- Prevent cavities
- Fight bad breath
- Protect against gum disease
Holistic Dentist in Prescott
At Prescott Dentistry, we believe natural remedies are always the best way to support your dental health, in addition to regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings. As the only fully trained and certified biomimetic dentists in Arizona, we seek to restore your mouth to its natural state with minimally invasive treatment options. If you have further questions about holistic dental care, give us a call to schedule an appointment—we look forward to seeing you!
Photo by Verena Böttcher on Unsplash