Salt water has long been used for its healing properties andtreating infected wounds. Did you know it can also help people with activeperiodontal (gum) disease?
Salt is like nature’s disinfectant. Adding salt to water cannaturally help kill bad bacteria and promote better healing. This is done by aprocess known as reverse osmosis. Rinsing your mouth with salt waterwill help flush bacteria from your tissues and reduce the chances of infection.It will also help promote faster healing! Salt also contains trace mineralssuch as magnesium and potassium that play a role in the healing process and canbenefit our oral health.
For people with gum disease, a daily rinse of salt water canhelp promote gum healing and reduce inflammation. To use it correctly, you onlyneed 1 tsp. of salt in an 8-10 oz. glass of warm water. When mixed well, thesalt will dissolve and the mixture can then be used to swish your mouth with.Swishing for 10-30 seconds will help disperse the salt water well enough acrossyour oral tissues. In many cases, people with gum disease benefit from rinsingwith salt water after their routine dental cleaning or following a deepcleaning procedure, also known as scaling and root planing.
Dentists often recommend salt water rinses after certainoral surgery procedures such as dental extractions, implant surgeries, and othersituations involving soft tissues.
Using salt water rinses is a great way to help easediscomfort and speed up healing time when you have sores or cuts in your mouth.This can include trauma from sharp foods, scratches, orthodontic appliances,and even sores or ulcers.
Talk to your dental provider about how a salt water rinsecan help you recover from your next periodontal procedure or oral surgery.