Do you know that if you don’t take good care of your teeth and gums at home sooner or later you’ll find yourself paying for restorative dental services? The thing is, caring for your oral health is not that hard. In fact, dental care is so easy that you can incorporate it into your lifestyle without problems. However, it takes a great amount of discipline to fully integrate an oral care routine into your daily life.
Caring for your oral health is a life-long commitment. It doesn’t end. But, don’t worry because once you turn these natural tips into habits, you’ll enjoy the journey. We’ve come up with several natural ways to improve your oral health. Let’s check them out.
Oil Pulling – oil pulling is the practice of swishing edible oil in your mouth for a good twenty minutes. According to experts, practicing oil pulling helps keep your teeth clean and healthy by removing accumulated plaque. Aside from removing plaque, it also prevents bacteria from clinging to your teeth. Doing so will stop bacteria from eroding your enamel.
Avoid Snacking – do you know that if you snack on carbs in between meals throughout the day you are supplying your mouth with more bacteria? Remember, your mouth is teeming with bacteria, and every time you eat you are giving bacteria something to feed on.
When bacteria feed on the food they release acids that in turn will compromise the integrity and strength of your enamel leading to cavities and tooth decay. If you ever happen to snack mid-morning or in the afternoon, make sure to rinse your mouth with water to dilute the sugars.
Eat a Healthy Diet Rich In Minerals – your teeth are highly porous and because of this, they can lose or gain important minerals. To ensure that your teeth constantly receive minerals (a process called re-mineralization), you are encouraged to consume mineral-rich foods such as bone broth, dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, and broccoli, Himalayan salt, cheese, mushrooms, meat, poultry, and eggs.
Cut Back on Sugars – there’s no question anything that contains sugar tastes good. In fact, the taste can even be highly addictive. Sad to say, sugars in your food are the reason why bacteria continue to produce acids in your mouth – acids that are known to damage your enamel. When you remove refined sugars from your diet the number of bacteria in your mouth will significantly drop.
Brush Your Tongue – when brushing your teeth, don’t forget to include your tongue. Your tongue contains thousands of bacteria and the only way to remove them is to brush your tongue as well.
Consume Foods That Are High in Fat-Soluble Vitamins – eating foods that are rich in vitamins E, A, K2 and D will help keep your teeth strong and healthy. Vitamin D helps your body absorb phosphorous and calcium better while K2 allows calcium to go to your bones and teeth.
Hydrate–drinking water helps remove food debris, germs, and bacteria that have lodged in your teeth and gums. It also helps dilute damaging acids produced by bacteria. People who don’t drink water tend to have a dry mouth and sad to say, dry mouth increases your risk of developing tooth decay.
Dental Visits – aside from protecting your teeth and gums at home you should also strive to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a dental checkup and professional teeth cleaning. Although brushing and flossing will help keep bacteria and plaque to a minimum, sadly, there are certain areas in your mouth that only your dentist can check and clean. It is for this reason why dental visits are a must.
Takeaway
These natural dental tips will surely help maintain your oral health for as long as possible. If you ever encounter dental problems, please do not attempt to try natural methods but instead go straight to your dentist.
