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.
Rinsing regularly with warm salt water balances the pH—the acidity level—of your mouth. Bad bacteria, unsurprisingly, don't like a healthy pH balance so rinsing with warm salt water can, um, flush them out. A balanced pH level isn't just useful in keeping bad bacteria to a minimum.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you want to gargle your mouth with salt water, you can do so before or after brushing your teeth.
Baking soda mouthwashes
Also known as sodium bicarbonate, research shows that rinsing with high concentration baking soda mixes is an effective way to kill bacteria in the mouth, and is safe for daily use. Baking soda has also been shown to have positive impacts on mouth sores, tooth sensitivity, and throat pain.
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.
You can rinse your mouth 10 minutes after gargle to remove bad taste. Gargle for two three times every 6-8 hours.
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.
Salt water rinses have a long history of benefiting oral health. Salt promotes healing and reduces pain, which is why dentists often recommend salt water rinses for patients suffering from sore gums, oral surgery, or other oral health problems.
Mix a tablespoon of salt in 6 ounces of warm water and swish vigorously around in your mouth. Continue this at least for a minute before you rinse, spit and repeat. This will draw out all that hidden bacteria effectively. Gradually, your gums will begin to strengthen and so will the loose tooth.
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. When you're done, spit the water out and repeat this process at least three times a day.
Gargling with salt water on a regular basis helps to remove bacteria from the gums, which can help reduce tartar and plaque buildup. Tartar and plaque buildup cause tooth decay and gum disease.
At the scientific level, a warm saltwater rinse helps relieve toothache pain by increasing the pH- balance inside the mouth, creating a more alkaline environment in your mouth, making the bacteria causing the toothache no longer able to thrive.
If you are looking for a natural way to promote your oral hygiene, look to the sea. Sea salt has proven to promote oral health, and a sea salt mouthwash can help you fight bad breath germs while leaving a fresh, clean feeling.
Himalayan pink salt is preferred because it derives its color from trace minerals that are very beneficial to our enamel and gum tissue. It enhances the enamel remineralization and promotes healing processes. The alternative salt to use would be sea salt.
The damaging bacteria causing Periodontitis are called anaerobes; they have a distinct odor known in the dental industry as “perio breath.” Quite frankly, it smells like death because it sets up a chronic disease in which vital bone starts to die off.
Salt Water Rinse
One of the most straightforward and accessible hacks on our list, salt water not only targets the origin of pain but also acts as an antibiotic for gum infection. As a result, it helps reduce the pain and spread of disease.
An abscess in the gum is called a periodontal abscess. Dental abscesses are often painful, but aren't always. In either case, they should be looked at by a dentist. It's important to get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don't go away on their own.