Home Remedies to treat Dental Issues

Having good oral health habits is important, but what can you do if you can’t get into the dentist immediately?  While there’s no substitution for preventative care, home remedies might serve you pretty well, especially in the interim before you can get to your dentist. 

Knocked out and Broken Teeth 

There’s nothing worse than falling. Except, maybe losing a tooth, especially the front.   Losing teeth is a huge emergency, but if you need to wait before getting care, here’s a few ways to minimize overall damage. 

For baby teeth, you don’t need to take action. In fact, it might even be knocked inside and will re-emerge later on. 

But for adult teeth, rinse this in water, but do not touch the root.   Put the tooth back in the socket if you can till you get to the socket.   If it can be put back in, there’s a better chance it will survive. Never let the tooth dry out. 

If you cannot put the tooth back into the socket, place it in water then get to the dentist. 

If the tooth is cracked and broken, but not totally dislodged, try to get all of the pieces that are broken. There is a chance that you can repair this tooth with bonding using the fragments you originally lost. 

Canker Sores and ulcers 

Sores and ulcers are painful and can really stink! If you have one, but don’t want to go to the dentist yet, or you can’t get in, use warm water and salt rinses to soothe that discomfort. Oragel is also great for reducing the pain, however make sure that the area is dried before you apply the product. 

Try to avoid salty and spicy foods, as this will exacerbate the inflamed tissues in many instances. 

Yellowed Mouthguards 

Mouth guards are great for protecting the mouth, but you want a mouth guard that isn’t yellowed and gross. 

Not just because it looks nasty, but if you don’t take care of it, you’re going to introduce the bacteria into the body and mouth, which puts you at risk for diseases. 

The best solution is to brush the mouthguard with some baking soda and water on some toothpaste. Make sure that the brush is only used for this. along with it, soak the mouthguard in a rinse every other day for about 30 minutes. 

Do not use blue mouthwash, unless of course, you want a blue appliance! 

Make sure monthly you do a deeper cleaning by using a solution that’s a third bleach, and two-thirds cold water for a few hours. Rinse it in a thorough manner, then submerge this again for another half hour. Then, put the mouthguard in a mouth rinse for another 30 or so minutes. Then, let it air dry after you’re done cleaning it.

As of note, NEVER put the mouthguard in some boiling water, the dishwasher, or microwave. When you don’t wear it, keep it in safe locations for pets and children. 

Bad Breath 

Finally, you’ve got bad breath, which might be due to food, but also might be because there’s something else going on there. it can be an indication of gum disease or GERD, or it might just be dry mouth. Take care of your teeth through brushing and flossing, but if it’s still lingering, utilize essential oils to mask the scent, and gargle with a drop of this inside a cup of water. If certain medications are causing this, then you should talk to your dentist, and get an appointment to help with offsetting these major issues too. n

Why It’s time to Start Taking Care of Your gums

Your gums might not seem like anything special, but gum health is actually really important. If your gums aren’t healthy, it can cause tooth decay, and other problems as well. it even ties into your overall health too. Here, we’ll dive into the importance of gum health, and steps you can take in order to have better gum health that lasts a long time. 

The Gums—why they’re Important 

Your gums might not seem like much, but they’re actually some of the most important parts of our mouth. 

They anchor your teeth and are what keep the bone in the jaw protected. They cover the bottom layers of the teeth, the roots. With their security your teeth stay.

It’s more than just that though. your gums are also intimately connected to other parts of the body. If garbage gets in them, it can seep into other parts of the body, putting you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other problems. 

Basically, without healthy gums you not only lose all your teeth, but you compromise your entire oral health system, which is a big problem. 

The types of Gum Disease 

When you brush your teeth, your gums shouldn’t bleed. But if they do, that’s a sign they might be unhealthy.   This is something that you should be mindful of, because if you notice it, talk to your dentist right away.

There is gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums.   This is where the bleeding and swollen gums come from, and generally is simple to fix.

But, as it goes on, you have periodontitis, which is a more advanced form of this. with periodontitis, there’s a chance of the teeth becoming loose and falling out, creating a lot of trouble for your oral health.

In general, you don’t want any of this, but know that periodontitis is preceded by gingivitis. 

How to maintain healthy gums 

There are certain ways to make sure that your gums are taken care of.

First, your daily habits. I know this should be obvious, but brushing and flossing is the most effective way to protect your gums. It gets rid of the plaque and debris, ultimately protecting the structures from further damage.   Simple enough, right? 

Your diet is another place you should look at. Most don’t talk about it, but the diet you have plays a huge part in your gum health. Sugars and starches, while they taste good, end up causing more harm than good as the damage grows.   Bacteria in the mouth feed off it, so if you give that to them, then it grows. This contributes to decay of not just the tooth, but the gums too.

Eating healthy foods such as greens and reducing the sugar you have is a great place to start. If you want to have a sweet treat, be sure to have water, and brush thirty minutes after consumption.

When to Get Treatment 

If you haven’t been seeing your dentist, you should go see them. They can clean off the tartar, which is a calcified plaque.

They can also give you treatment for gum disease. A deep cleaning or dental scaling is the first thing they’ll do. Usually these are painless, but you can ask for a little more to help ease the pain.

In serious situations, they might have to extract the teeth if it gets too bad, and then put in a bridge or implant.

Overall, gum disease is something that isn’t a joke, and you should be mindful of your gum health, taking care of it constantly.

Top Myths About Oral Health

You take care of your teeth a lot, but did you know that there are many misconceptions about the oral health you have. Sometimes these messages are improperly interpreted, and dental myths can pass for many generations. Let’s set this record straight with the top dental myths, and the misconceptions there. 

Sugar Causes Cavities 

It isn’t sugar itself that’s the major problem, but basically you’re feeding the bacteria that will eat this. sticky foods such as starches also will cause bacteria to thrive near the teeth. They’re basically producing acids that will cause tooth decay. So, the solution is to rinse and then brush after your meals in order to reduce the acid and the plaque buildup. 

Bleeding Gums are Normal! 

They’re not. They happen because of gum inflammation. When gums are inflamed, they bleed, simply because of too much plaque building up, and gingivitis settling in, along with gum disease and the like. If you find they’re bleeding a lot, talk to the dentist and get an exam. 

It’s Better to harder brush 

No, it’s actually not. In fact, it can undo a lot of the things you’re trying to do to your teeth, and if you brush too hard, it causes tooth trauma to the enamel and gum tissue. It eventually leads to gum recession, so make sure to brush two minutes, twice daily with soft-bristled toothbrushes. 

Flossing isn’t necessary 

It is! it’s an integral element to good oral health. With only about 20% of Americans flossing, most of the time less than half the people floss daily. But flossing removes up to 80% f the plaque in your mouth. The plaque deposits in the mouth contribute to tooth decay, but flossing aims to help with removal of the problems and can ultimately be the best way to eliminate the presence of bad bacteria. 

You can replace brushing with chewing gum. 

No you can’t. in fact, gum is not a replacement for brushing those teeth. Sure, some gum will be able to help with making sure you’ve got better breath and clean out the teeth. Some dentists even consider this to be a better alternative to candy, for those with a sweet tooth. But, while gum might be great for oral health, they don’t clean up in the manner that brushing the teeth will. 

White teeth Mean healthy Teeth 

That’s not always the case. Teeth will become white, but over time they’re discolored through damage and staining. 

While whitening is good for color, if there are underlying issues, it will impact the overall luster. If you notice this, then talk to the dentist right away, to find out just what you can do to make your teeth better. 

Charcoal toothpaste works better 

It is commonly marketed to people, but the reality of this is simple. Charcoal teeth aren't good as a protectant for teeth, and the toothpaste works against your teeth through absorbing those agents that are meant to keep the teeth nice and strong. 

Kids don’t have to brush their teeth. B

Ad oral health leads to a lifetime of problems, and sometimes, kids never develop the habit. They’ll lose these teeth that they have, and over time, it causes some major health issues. Tooth decay in kids does cause some big problems once the baby teeth are gone too, so keep that in mind. 

These myths are important to remember, and you should keep these in mind in order to have a happier, healthier smile, and to help solidify the idea of taking care of your teeth for the long haul too.

The Science Behind Saliva

Saliva is something that our mouth forms. Think of when you need to spit. That’s saliva. But, saliva isn’t just a nice thing to have in your mouth for when you need to spit out gunk. It’s actually important for your oral health. 

Here, we’ll go over why saliva is the defense against bad breath and plaque, and why without it, you’re going to be missing something invaluable. 

How it Neutralizes Acids 

Saliva is a natural acid neutralizer. This is because our mouths tend to have a baser pH to it with saliva. Acids will wash away when saliva is in contact with it. 

Think of saliva as like a broom that will sweep away some of this gross plaque and acids.   When it’s done early on, it neutralizes plaque formation, along with the acids, giving you long-term success and happiness when you’re building the ultimate protection against bad mouth bacteria. 

What causes our Mouths to Get Plaque-Infested 

The simple solution is bacteria, but it is more than that.

When we eat food, we give sugars to the bacteria in our mouths that feed on it. They release a chemical, which creates a biofilm on the mouth.  This is known as plaque. 

However, it’s more than just that.   saliva also prevents our mouths from crying. It may seem weird that our mouths can get dry without it, but dry mouth is a big problem for many people. With a dry mouth, it creates cavities, because there’s no saliva to wash this away. 

It also reduces tooth sensitivity as well, which in turn can cause pain and discomfort for many people. 

Finally, it causes halitosis, which is bad breath. While also being unsettling, it means that you have a mouth that’s a bacteria playground, which again, is gros.   You owe it to yourself to not have this, and the best ways to prevent this is to have some saliva-beneficial foods and habits. 

Foods and Habits that Stimulate Saliva Production 

Water is going to be one of those things that will naturally help to lubricate your mouth, and aid with making your mouth moist. 

But, what about food?   One of the most common is crunchy foods, such as fruits and veggies. So apples, carrots, pears, celery, broccoli, even cauliflower all trigger the production. 

If you don’t have any of these, consider chewing some sugar free gum, as this will increase saliva production. Just don't have too many if you’re consuming xylitol, because it can increase blood sugar.

Watermelon has a high water content, which naturally hydrates your mouth and is responsible for improving saliva. 

Dairy, including yogurt and milk, are also good, because they can contain probiotics, and also moisturize your mouth. 

Anything that hydrates you, and also improves the moisture in your mouth is considered a beneficial food. 

You should also get in the habit of brushing and flossing when you can, and drinking water instead of other drinks. 

When you take care of your oral health by also having the right foods and stimulating the saliva in the mouth, you’ll benefit. So start today, and improve your oral health now. 

Saliva is important to a healthy mouth. By harnessing its power, you’re naturally able to give your mouth a happier experience, and an environment that really shines. Start today, and leave your mouth not only nice and fresh, but also moistened, healthy, and also ready for the healthy teeth and fresh breath that you are always supposed to have, whenever you can get it, and whenever you’re able to get a moment to take care of yourself as well.