Salt water can help to remove the plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums. Salt has healing properties that can treat and heal inflamed or swollen gums caused by gum disease. Even though salt water is extremely effective in helping to treat gum disease, salt water cannot cure gum disease.
Research proves a saltwater rinse containing 0.9 percent to 1.8 percent sodium chloride helps heal the gums. In addition, disinfectant properties are present in salt, helping kill harmful bacteria in the mouth while easing swelling and pain in the infected gums.
How Long Should I Rinse with Salt Water for Swollen Gums? You should rinse with salt water between 15-30 seconds, and you're not supposed to swallow it.
A saltwater rinse can be performed three to four times a week, but it is important that you don't go beyond this because salt contains sodium, and too much sodium can impact your tooth enamel negatively.
Salt water is one of the most commonly used remedies for oral problems. It neutralizes the mouth's pH and soothes the inflamed gums (3). It also helps to alleviate the swelling with its anti-inflammatory properties.
Salt has healing properties that can treat and heal inflamed or swollen gums caused by gum disease. Even though salt water is extremely effective in helping to treat gum disease, salt water cannot cure gum disease.
Rinsing with salt water 2-3 times a day can be effective in battling a gum infection. Be careful to not rinse with salt water too often, as this can cause the salt to affect your tooth enamel. Other homemade mouthwash combinations can also be effective, such as lemongrass and oil, aloe vera, and tea tree oil.
Doing too many salt rinses can cause gum irritation, bleeding, and enamel erosion. If you've recently had a tooth pulled, wait 24 hours before using a salt water rinse. Once the 24 hours are up, gently swish the saltwater mixture around your mouth to ensure you don't dislodge any blood clots and cause dry socket.
After brushing and flossing, you can use a salt rinse three to four times a week. But don't use a salt rinse more often than this - too much sodium could have negative effects on your tooth enamel, like eventual erosion⁴.
Saltwater rinses are an excellent at-home treatment for inflamed or receding gums.
Reduces Inflammation – The warm salt water rinse is an effective way to reduce the inflammation and swelling associated with gum disease. Saltwater rinses can help with the treatment for gum disease, but it cannot fix the problems on its own.
The research study showed that sea salt eradicated bacteria that causes periodontal gum disease. In my practice, I advise my patients to rinse with sea salt every time they experience acute flare-ups of gum disease, which show up as bleeding gums.
Unless you've had oral surgery, it's generally recommended to use a salt water rinse after brushing and flossing your teeth. This is because brushing your teeth helps remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and along the gums, while the salt water rinse helps reduce inflammation in your gums and other soft tissues.
Rinsing the mouth with a NaCl solution is an old remedy believed to promote healthy gums and encourage recovery from mouth ulcers. According to an article published by the PLOS ONE Journal, dentists may recommend adding a salt-based mouthrinse to your dental regimen to maintain good oral health.
Salt Reduces Dental Bacteria
Salt inhibits dental bacteria by increasing the pH balance of your mouth. It creates an alkaline environment that the bacteria can barely survive in. Bacteria prefer an acidic environment, which lets them grow and attack the enamel on teeth.
A salt water (saline) rinse can benefit your oral health by cleansing your mouth, warding off infection, and even relieving toothache pain. You can make a salt water rinse at home by mixing a teaspoon of table salt with 8 ounces of lukewarm water.
Tempting though it may be to have a hot drink before bed to help you sleep, these can make sore throat pain worse. A better bet is to gargle with salty water, though it's not so pleasant-tasting. On your quest for the all-important good night's sleep, a little nightcap may sound like a good idea.
3. Tilt your head back and gargle with the salt water for 10-15 seconds, before spitting it out into a sink. 4. Repeat the gargle process once more to ensure you have washed away as much mucus as possible.
In addition to brushing and flossing, a mouthwash can help to eliminate remaining harmful bacteria. Peroxide can act to oxidize the oral environment which can lead to inactivating bacteria and viral particles, while alcohol can inactivate the proteins that some bacteria and viruses need to survive.
One of the primary symptoms is that gums will be red and swollen. They will also be tender to the touch. While gingivitis may result in some minor swelling or darkening of the color of the gums, an infection will result in even more swelling and deeper redness. Bleeding gums is another sign of infection.
Swishing the solution of equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide with water around your mouth and spitting can reduce plaque and bleeding of gums. An affordable yet effective way of treating gum infection is swishing a solution of baking soda in water with a pinch of salt.