What Is Oral Care?

Our mouth is the primary source through which our body receives its energy to function normally. Food gets ingested into our digestive tract via our oral cavity, and numerous digestive enzymes are released in our mouths that aid the entire digestive process. The busy humdrum of life may make it difficult for you to take care of your oral health, leading to other health issues. As they say, the mouth is the door to your health!

Importance Of Oral Care

Right from sweets drinks to sodas to oily stuff, your mouth is constantly dealing with different types of sugars and food that are a breeding ground for a host of bacteria. Also, the acidic nature of food can erode tooth enamel that protects the softer, vulnerable parts of the tooth from infections.

The requirements of a good oral hygiene routine are not just to keep the mouth clean but to support the health of the gums and teeth. Daily dental care is the most natural way to ward off oral issues like cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Healthy teeth and gums will also help control halitosis or bad breath and other dental disorders, including oral cancer. Apart from choosing the right toothpaste, toothbrush, and flossing threads, you should avoid foods that harm oral health and consume more foods (rich in calcium and other nutrients).

Importance And Sources Of Vitamin C In Oral Care

Gum health requires an uninterrupted supply of Vitamin C as it prevents bleeding. Periodontal disease vulnerability is observed much more in people who consume lesser quantities of Vitamin C in their daily diets. To pucker up your Vitamin C intake, you need to include more citrus fruits in your diet like oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, mango, strawberry, and cantaloupe and vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Oral Care In Ayurveda

Most people in rural India still practice the ancient oral ritual recommended by Ayurveda of chewing on herbal sticks of medicinal plants. Neem, licorice, arjuna are some trees whose healthy twigs provide great oral care for your teeth. For all us urban settlers Ayurveda recommends:

– Cleaning the tongue gently with a metal tongue cleaner or scraper, to remove the coating of ama (toxins) and food debris that get deposited in the folds and grooves of the tongue.

– Use herbal tooth powder for brushing. Miswak is one of the most potent herbs for oral hygiene along with neem, charcoal.

– Oil pulling is a method of swishing a small amount of virgin oil in the mouth for 2-5 mins. The harmful bacteria and microorganisms attached to teeth and gums stick to the oil molecules. This prevents plaque formation and removes odour-causing bacteria.

Popular Home Remedies For Oral Care

The best thing is to practice some simple home remedies to maintain dental health and hygiene. Here are a few things you could do:

1. Sesame Oil

The method of oil pulling is quite famous in the field of Ayurveda. It whitens your teeth and aids in detoxifying and cleansing your body. Rinsing your mouth with oil instead of water is what this simple and inexpensive procedure is all about! Take about one tablespoon of sesame oil in your mouth and gargle/swish it around for nearly 15-20 minutes. Make sure the oil reaches every corner of your mouth. Try this every day early in the morning on an empty stomach for best results. After gargling, spit out the oil and thoroughly cleanse/rinse your mouth with water. Regular practice will ensure sparkling teeth in no time.

2. Bay Leaf

Yellowed-down teeth are a sight that none of us would wish to witness or experience. Bay leaves come to our rescue when we need to fight this horrendous sight. To clean the yellow or black layer that sometimes sets on your teeth, you can grind 2-3 bay leaves or tej patta to make a fine powder and use it as a tooth powder once every three days. If grinding these leaves is a hassle, taking one bay leaf and rubbing it against your teeth will also help achieve similar results. This remedy not only whitens the teeth but also helps to make them more luminous.

3. Salt

Brushing your teeth with salt has numerous benefits as it is natural and relatively safe. Sea salt is a better option than common table salt because it is unprocessed and loaded with minerals and other nutrients. Salt helps remove teeth stains and whitens teeth as well. It has anti-bacterial properties and is gently abrasive, making it an excellent disinfectant. Brushing your teeth with salt helps break down the plaque build-up and destroys the disease-causing bacteria. However, results can be observed only with frequent and regular practise of this method. You can take a little salt on your palm and rub your toothbrush’s bristles over it and brush your teeth, or you can mix the salt in your everyday toothpaste and brush with it. Make sure you rinse your mouth with water after doing this; otherwise, your body’s sodium intake might shoot.

4. Alum

How to use alum for teeth? Apart from using it as a powder, you can also use fitkari for teeth as a gargle. Take one cup of water and dip a small piece of Alum in it. Leave it there for around half a minute, and then use this alum gargle for teeth. You can use alum for teeth whitening. Fitkari for teeth has several benefits as it helps keep bad breath away and effectively relieves toothache, thus making it an excellent solution for oral hygiene maintenance.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric combined with alum work well due to its antiseptic properties. Take 10 gms of turmeric powder or haldi and 5 gms roasted alum and grind them into a fine powder and use this to rub your teeth twice a day. Ideally, use this powder once in the morning when you wake up and once before falling asleep at night. This powder will help you eliminate the bad discolouration on the enamel of your teeth, eventually leading to whiter teeth.

6. Bananas

Banana has numerous health benefits of which many of us are already aware. However, it might come as a shock to many that the part of the banana that we throw away effectively maintains white teeth. Rub the white insides of the banana peel against your teeth and leave it on for a couple of minutes and then rinse your mouth. Banana peels contain minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc. Being an excellent antioxidant, it is also rich in fibres and carbohydrates.

7. Neem

Ayurveda prescribes the benefits of Neem at every stage. Neem is that one valuable tree- from the roots to the fruits, all of Neem has some or the other benefit. The tree possesses anti-bacterial properties and is often used as an active ingredient in many kinds of toothpaste manufactured by major brands. Mouthwashes made using Neem as a vital element fight plaque build-up and inhibit gingivitis when used twice a day. Take a few Neem leaves and rub them against your teeth daily. This practice stops harmful bacteria from seeking residence in your oral cavity and protects you from periodontal disease.

Conclusion

Opting for these easy-to-do methods can save a lot of cash and visits to the dentist, as these procedures will help maintain your teeth and gum health. Dental health and hygiene is just as important as any other physical fitness or health routine and must be incorporated as much as possible into our daily life.

FAQs

Q1. Can we improve oral health naturally?

Yes, most definitely. You should diligently follow a good oral routine (ideally from childhood) like brushing twice a day, flossing, scraping your tongue, oil pulling, avoiding sugary drinks and foods, not smoking, eating natural foods/herbs, and regularly visiting a dentist. This routine will help prevent common problems like cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, and other oral health issues.

Q2. Can we treat oral hygiene at home?

Yes. Most dental issues can be avoided by following a healthy oral routine. Brushing (with a herbal powder/paste), cleaning your tongue with a scraper, replacing your toothbrush every 2-3 months, oil pulling using herbal oils, flossing, massaging your gums, avoiding sugary food/drinks, and periodically consulting with your dentist.

Q3. Are there popular home remedies for gum and teeth infections?

Yes. Virgin cold-pressed sesame or coconut oil can be used for oil pulling daily. Brush your teeth with salt or herbal tooth powders like neem, bay leaf, etc. Gargle with alum water and use neem water as a mouthwash. Rub banana peel on your teeth for whiter, stronger teeth.

Q4. Is salt good for the gums?

Yes. Salt, especially powdered sea salt, helps remove teeth stains and whitens teeth. It has anti-bacterial properties and is gently abrasive, making it an excellent disinfectant. Brushing your teeth with salt helps break down the plaque build-up and destroys the disease-causing bacteria. It also heals swollen or inflamed gums.

Q5. Can saltwater be used as a mouthwash every day?

Yes, but ensure that you do not use this to replace your daily oral care routine. Saltwater balances the pH balance in the mouth and kills bacteria that thrive in an acidic environment. Saltwater rinses are equally effective after dental procedures like tooth extractions and for canker sores, gum infections, and toothaches.

Q6. Can gum infection be treated at home?

Yes. Prepare a natural mouthwash by mixing sea salt and water, or lemongrass oil with water, or neem paste in water. Perform oil pulling with sesame oil or coconut oil. Make a baking soda paste in water and massage your gums with it. Do not wait for the gum disease to become severe, and consult your dentist.