Revealing the Benefits of Salt Water for Oral Health

Medical Video: Salt Water Gargle: Amazing Benefits You Won’t Believe.

Salt water has been used by countless cultures from countless generations to clean wounds and rinse the mouth. Good oral hygiene in everyday life is very important for overall health. Many types of bacteria live in the mouth and cause cavities, gum inflammation, and periodontal disease when there is excessive bacterial growth. Therefore, many people suggest that gargling with salt water can maintain good oral hygiene. However, has that proven the truth?

Is salt water effective for cleaning the mouth?

Historically, rinsing with salt water has been done for hundreds of years, from ancient China to Rome. Many references are made to rinse and clean the mouth using documents from traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurveda. Ayurveda medicine is similar to traditional Chinese herbal medicine, but the use of salt water for brushing and rinsing the mouth is relatively common in the Greek and Roman periods. Hippocrates is said to have recommended a mixture of well water, sea salt, and vinegar to clean the mouth.

Even today, dentists often recommend rinsing with salt water to relieve pain and swelling after tooth extraction. A study conducted in 2010 showed that salt water is an effective way to kill oral bacteria. Saturated salt solutions kill bacteria by changing the oral environment to be not conducive to bacterial growth.

Can salt water be used to gargle regularly?

Many believe that using oral rinse salt water regularly can be a cheaper and more effective way to achieve good oral health. Some dentists believe that salt water is good for reducing inflammation after tooth extraction and mouth sores, but can also damage tooth enamel if used for a long time. Salt water is a natural base that can damage teeth. Conversely, rinsing with salt water can also cover up bad breath which can be caused by a number of other undiagnosed problems.

Can salt water replace mouthwash?

There are no scientific studies that state that salt water is better than mouthwash on the market. In fact, mouthwash has been carefully prepared to have a neutral pH to maintain tooth enamel. However, high levels of alcohol contained in many mouthwashes can cause an increased risk of oral cancer. Mouthwash containing a compound called chlorhexidine is recommended only for 2 weeks use. Mouthwashes containing fluoride are generally recommended for daily use.

Benefits of salt water

Natural salt, namely sodium chloride, can limit the amount of bacterial growth and in many foods while keeping it, because salt absorbs water molecules. Bacteria need moisture to thrive, so that without enough water they cannot grow properly. Salt water is not considered an antibiotic, because it still provides bacteria with water and does not kill bacteria by making direct contact. However, according to a 2003 article, published in the British Dental Journal, salt water rinses are useful, because salt can make bases and increase pH in the mouth that blocks bacterial development, because almost all bacteria prefer the acidic environment for life. Furthermore, salt water is isotonic and does not irritate the mucous membranes, and that is why many dentists use warm salt water after performing dental procedures.

More complete, salt water has the following benefits:

Cheaper than market mouthwash.
More environmentally friendly than the chemicals contained in the market mouthwash.
Easy to use because a lot of salt is available and also mixtures can be made anywhere.
Alcohol free so it will not cause a burning sensation for those who are sensitive to mouthwash.
Will not cause allergies.
Does not irritate sensitive mouth tissue.
It acts as an antibacterial, because it kills bacteria by increasing the oral pH to an environment that is not suitable for bacterial growth.

Gargling salt water can also be useful in the following mouth conditions:

Breath odor (halitosis). While poor oral hygiene is the cause, washing your mouth for several times will not eliminate halitosis. Gargling with salt water can kill bacteria that cause bad breath and infections that often cause bad breath.
Gum disease (gingivitis). This is characterized by inflamed and bleeding gums caused by excessive bacterial growth in the mouth.
Tooth ache. This is usually characterized by cavities caused by bacteria.
Inflammation. Healing oral tissue after a tooth extraction treatment or salt infection successfully reduces inflammation because it can make the swollen tissue shrink. This can also prevent infection from any exposed tissue.
Sore throat. Salt water can kill bacteria and soothe inflamed throat tissue.