When it comes to your dental and oral health, it’s important to understand that your teeth are an integral part of your body’s processes, especially in terms of digestion. Not having your teeth taken care of properly can make your trips to the dentist not just costly, but also inconvenient for you. This article will outline some ways you can keep your teeth healthy, naturally.

Lets look at a few numbers first. On a global level, World Health Organization data indicates that nearly 100% of adults and 60-90% of children in school actually have dental cavities, and 15-20% of adults aged 35 to 44 have severe gum disease. Risk factors involved in acquiring oral diseases include social determinants (such as being in a lower income community), poor hygiene, harmful tobacco and alcohol use, and an unhealthy diet.

Poor dental health is also linked with a higher incidence of heart disease. This happens two ways: bacteria in your mouth can travel through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in the heart, causing a condition called endocarditis. This causes inflammation, which can damage the blood vessels which can cause atherosclerosis, a condition which increases your risk of heart disease and/or stroke.

Keeping Your Teeth Healthy: Natural Ways To Do It

With the above taken into consideration, it’s important to understand that a lot of people worldwide have dental issues that need to be resolved. Speak to your dentist to get personalised information. In the meantime, here are ways to naturally keep your teeth healthy:

• Brush your teeth: While this may sound like common sense, this is actually really important. Your brushing routine holds an essential part of keeping your oral health optimized, as this is the part that really does a lot in terms of removing harmful elements away from your teeth. Keep your brushing routine to two minutes minimum, and do this at least twice a day. Brush the back of your mouth first and then go around the gums in a circular manner. Pay close attention to the back side of your teeth, and make sure your biting surfaces are thoroughly brushed as well. Most electric toothbrushes are set to a two minute timer so this helps you to be consistent.
• Floss regularly: A lot of people tend to overlook flossing, but this actually does a great deal when it comes to making sure your teeth are free of debris and food waste, especially in the small spaces in between the teeth. Get floss between your teeth and just below the gumline so bacteria, food particles, and plaque can be removed after every meal. If you struggle to use standard string floss, there are flossing devices which make it easier to reach your back teeth.
• Drink a lot of water: Drink at least 2 litres of water everyday, as this not only keeps your body hydrated, but also keeps your mouth washed out of bacteria and food. Saliva is also produced from water, and it balances the acidity in your mouth that can weaken your teeth and erode tooth enamel. Make sure you rinse your mouth after every meal, so bits of food are removed as well to keep your mouth healthy.
• Try Xylitol gum: Xylitol gum is a sugar-free, plastic-free, and natural gum that can promote salivation in your mouth without all the sugary hassle. This can help reduce tooth decay and gum disease, courtesy of your saliva’s cooperation, and breaking down biofilm.
• Do an oil pull: Oil pulling is an ancient dental hygiene practice which helps to remove bacteria from your mouth and slowly whiten your teeth in a natural way. Put a tablespoon of coconut or sesame oil in your mouth and swish it around for 20 minutes. Don’t swallow or gargle the oil and instead spit it out, followed by a warm water rinse. You can then brush your teeth normally. Do this in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Use a tongue scraper: Your tongue is a hotbed of bacteria, but a scraper can help you remove the bacteria in no time. Try to get stainless steel scrapers as they’re much easier to clean. The point of tongue scrapers is to reduce overall bacterial growth on your tongue, so be sure to start at the back of your tongue and pull to the front edge. Do this motion twice, but don’t be too rough on your tongue.
• Try herbal tea after meals: Green tea, white tea, red tea, and herbal tea are all good palate cleansers, and they keep plaque from developing so try drinking these after meals. Use spices and herbs in your meals, too, as they’re known to not just freshen the breath but also clean your mouth. Stick to herbs and spices rich in Vitamins K, D, C, A, and Magnesium, though supplements such as cod liver oil and gelatin are also fine.

The Bottomline: Keeping Your Teeth Healthy Naturally Is Possible

When you want to make sure your teeth are healthy, you may not always have to go to a dentist to do it. In fact, with the above tips you may actually be able to take charge of your teeth’s health yourself. Do remember, though, that just because you’ve taken steps to keep your teeth healthy naturally, you can’t just not visit your dentist regularly for checkups. With these natural tips and help from a dentist from time to time, you’ll be able to have good healthy teeth for longer in your life.