Natural Ways to Improve Teeth Health
Healthy teeth come naturally. In fact, the chemicals used in popular teeth cleaning products are sometimes the root cause of gum disease and tooth decay. Simple changes to your dental health routine and dietary lifestyle can improve the health of your teeth without the hype.
Change Your Dental Health Routine
Regular brushing and flossing is the first and most obvious way to avoid gum disease and tooth decay naturally. If you aren’t already brushing and flossing on a daily basis, you need to start. Some less obvious ways to improve the health of your teeth by changing your routine include:
- Change your toothpaste. The chemicals in popular toothpaste brands contain toxins that reduce healthy bacteria in the mouth. Healthy bacteria help your mouth fight off bad bacteria. Bad bacteria cause gum disease and tooth decay. To protect your mouth against bad bacteria and improve the health of your teeth, switch to a toxin-free toothpaste that uses natural anti-bacterial agents. Learn more in 5 Facts about Traditional Toothpaste and The Benefits of Natural Toothpaste.
- Scrape your tongue. Tongue-scraping removes food debris, dead cells, and accompanying bad bacteria from your mouth. Tongue-scraping is done using a tool that can be found in the dental hygiene aisle of your local department store. Read the instructions on the package to operate the tool properly.
- Practice oil pulling. Oil pulling uses coconut or sesame seed oil to pull bacteria from your mouth, which is then spit out. To practice oil pulling, swish about a teaspoon of oil in your mouth before you brush your teeth, without gargling the oil or swallowing, for 20 minutes. If you cannot go the full 20 minutes, 5 or 10 minutes will do. After you spit, gargle with a mixture of warm water and salt to wash out the bacteria-laden oil.
Change Your Diet
The British Medical Journal published a study on the impact of dietary differences on cavities in children. They found that some foods encourage cavities, while others can bolster the healing of cavity-affected teeth. Here are some recommended changes to make to your diet based on that study:
- Eat mineral-rich foods (foods containing calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous). The cells in your teeth use the minerals you feed your body to regenerate when they have been affected by cavities. Mineral-rich foods include vegetables (especially leafy greens), fruits, proteins (including meat, fish, and eggs), raw dairy products, and fruits. Bone broth is especially rich in the minerals your teeth need to rebuild.
- Avoid foods containing phytic acid. Phytic acid binds with the minerals your teeth need, making the minerals unavailable for use by your teeth. It can also take minerals directly from your teeth. Foods high in phytic acid include grains, beans, and seeds. The phytic acid in grains can be significantly reduced through fermentation, and in beans and seeds through soaking and sprouting.
- Seek out fat-soluble vitamins (A, E, K, and especially D). These can be found in healthy fats like coconut oil, avocados, and olives. Fermented cod liver oil is a popular healthy fat for dental health.
- Run from sugar. Sugar feeds bad bacteria, and the acid in sugar can eat away at your teeth. Natural sugars are better than processed sugars, but they still need to be limited. Limit fruit to one per day.
Healthy teeth can be achieved by adjustments to what you eat and how you routinely clean your mouth. Natural methods of avoiding gum disease and tooth decay can stop and reverse issues before they arise. For more information on natural ways to improve teeth health, talk to a local holistic dentist.