The use of salt and salt water to clean teeth and maintain oral hygiene has been promoted since ancient times. A very suitable method that can be used easily and without any problems.
But in the meantime, a question arises for the public what the benefits of using the salt are? What are the disadvantages of salt? Is it possible to strengthen gums with salt and brush teeth with salt?
The benefits and harms of salt water for teeth are a deep topic that requires expert investigation, and we intend to explain it in this article thoroughly.
If you are looking for answers to your questions, staying with us in this article is better.
Salt and Brine Compounds
As you know, edible salts, which are mainly used, consist of a combination of sodium and chlorine ions, which makes the body’s metabolism regular. Also, salt helps the nervous system transmit the necessary messages to different body parts.
Of course, it is noteworthy that the use of salt will not be without flaws and problems. If you overuse this substance, the risk of developing problems such as high blood pressure and even osteoporosis in some situations awaits you.
Now that we have provided comprehensive information regarding the composition and generalities of salt, it is better to go to use salt for oral and dental health.
Using Salt to Whiten Teeth
The belief that salt can be used instead of toothpaste to whiten teeth is wrong. Dentists reject this belief because toothpaste contains very effective substances such as fluoride and mouth fresheners to prevent caries.
Some teeth are not present in salt, and using it for this purpose is not good. Dentists believe that the problems that occur to people regarding the mouth and teeth are due to the structure of the teeth and the supporting tissue of the teeth (gums).
Maintaining oral and dental hygiene includes using a toothbrush, floss, and antibacterial mouthwashes. Saltwater changes the mouth’s pH, preventing events like the proliferation of many microorganisms, and eliminatingminate their various forms.
To prevent infection or tooth abscess or even when you have a mouth ulcer, salt water or salt alone can be used to eliminate the disease.
Although salt water does not have the properties of commercial mouthwashes, it can be considered a suitable alternative. When the percentage of salt present is higher than five percent, it is called salt water if the salinity in the water is between three and a half to about 26 percent.
The first percentage (three and a half percent) is the amount of salt in seawater, and the second is the usual percentage in water saturated with salt. Among the properties of salt water, we can mention the reduction of infection, pain, and inflammation.
Brushing Teeth with Salt Water
One question that has always bothered people is whether you can use salt to brush your teeth or replace salt with toothpaste.
Some salts can replace toothpaste with rich salts and complete sources; enriched salts and sea salt can be considered salts.
It is noteworthy that enriched salts are made from nutrients that make up the body, and sea salt is also created by evaporating water from lakes.
Benefits of Brushing with Salt
As we mentioned, salt has attractive properties, and for this reason, brushing with salt has many benefits. Sea salts, as well as enriched salts, are rich in various minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron, which can be beneficial for the gums. Using enriched salts makes your gums and teeth strong, and it is one of the best ways to use salt to prevent tooth decay.
Salt Water for Tooth Infection
Using sea salt for tooth infection is one of the advanced methods to solve dental problems. Stay with us in this part of the article to explain this matter. Like any other treatment method, the use of salt water also has specific steps that you must implement correctly to get the desired result. If you are planning to use sea salt for your tooth infection, follow the steps below to prepare salt water for your teeth:
- First, put half a teaspoon of sea salt in a container
- Now you have to wet your toothbrush and rub it on the salt so that the right amount of salt sticks to it
- Now, in addition to the spilled salt, you should apply toothpaste on your toothbrush and then immediately clean your mouth with toothpaste.
- Finally, you should make a salt and water solution and use it to clean your mouth.
Why Do Doctors Recommend Gargling Salt Water?
The use of sea salt and enriched salt has many benefits that have made this substance very popular. According to statistics published by the American Oral Cancer Foundation, when you use alcohol and chemical mouthwashes to clean your mouth, the alcohol in the mouthwash can irritate your gums, damaging your mouth in the long run.
A small study in 2017 on the tissues of the mouth and teeth and the effect of salt on them showed that washing with salt water, in addition to the usual control of plaque, is also effective in reducing dental plaque and the number of oral microbes. For this reason, we saw that experts got a complete theory about the benefits of salt.
Many believe salt water after dental procedures causes restoration because it destroys gingival fibroblasts and increases the extracellular matrix.
Salt Water for Toothache
One of the problems that always occur after people’s teeth are damaged is the occurrence of toothache in an excruciating way that deprives the patient of sleep. In this situation, you can temporarily use home remedies such as cloves or salt water to solve or suppress your problem.
Strengthen the Gums with Salt
Among other benefits of using salt, you can mention the ability to strengthen the condition of the gums. Salt can be beneficial and practical in different situations due to having the necessary salts for the mouth, teeth, and body.
We recommend you do the salt water coil once daily after brushing to benefit from the result fully.
Pouring Salt on a Decayed Tooth
When your teeth start to decay, there are many ways to improve their condition, but they often carry many risks.
Using this liquid and pouring salt on a decayed tooth can be one of your best choices because it will not harm a person’s mouth and teeth so that you can do the salt water coil after brushing to get the best possible result.
Can Salt Water Heal a Gum Infection?
The key to using salt water to help with gum disease is knowing how to do it. We recommend mixing about a teaspoon of sea salt in a glass of warm water.
Rinsing with salt water does not mean swallowing it. Instead, take the saltwater in the mouth and move it around for 15 to 30 seconds. When done rinsing, spit out the salt water.
Repeat the rinsing 2 to 3 times a day. Overusing rinsing with salt water can damage the enamel and lead to more problems.
The last case is a gum infection, which in a way, is considered to improve the condition of the gums. You can enhance the gums’ state by using different salts such as water and salt solution. Of course, it should be noted that this washing will help to draw out excess fluids in the infected gum tissues, and the gum infection will disappear in the shortest possible time.
