Oral Health 101

I have come to learn that in the study of nutrition we don’t value the oral cavity as much as we should in the picture of overall health. I know that you can radically change the health of your teeth and gums by maintaining a healthy diet, and taking healthy supplements. Teeth are living bones and not just dead calcium which a lot of us assume - they respond to what you put in your mouth! When we make radical changes to how we clean our teeth and supply them with nutrition, a lot of common oral health problems can be taken care of in your own home. Let’s take a look at some basic oral health principles from a dietary and daily routine standpoint.

Daily Oral Care

Brushing Your Teeth

  • Did you know that over brushing your teeth can wear away your enamel and irritates your gums? Now, I know that the need to brush a lot is natural because we’re in a world where everything is so clean and porcelain white, but is that what we should be doing? To be frank, the answer is no. We should be brushing less, flossing more, and tongue scraping and oil pulling more.
  • When you do brush your teeth, I recommend a good ergonomic brush that is either manual or electric, whatever you prefer. I also recommend using soft bristles and a fluoride free toothpaste. There are many options in your local health store. I personally use Toms no fluoride whitening toothpaste. Brushing twice a day is sufficient - no more brushing after every meal, or 3 to 5 times a day!

Flossing Your Teeth

  • Flossing should be done more regularly as the food and bacteria that gets stuck in between the teeth are harder to get to. I like using a floss from a company called Dr. Tongues. It is a rope base floss (not made of rope) that expands and contracts based on how tight or loose you pull on it. I would floss at least 3 or 4 times a day, making sure you are being sensitive to the gum line as to not make them sore or bleed.

Tongue Scraping

  • Tongue scraping can be a very effective tool at maintaining great oral health. I recommend purchasing a steel-based tongue scraper, not a plastic one, and Dr. Tongues makes a great one. Daily use of a tongue scraper gets the bacteria and food particles stuck on the tongue to come off, and makes your breath and oral cavity clean and healthy.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient practice to feed the teeth fat-soluble nutrients and detoxify the oral cavity. This technic is done by taking a tablespoon of coconut oil, putting it in your mouth, and swishing it around for 15 to 20 minutes.

  • This will help detoxify the oral cavity and give it nutrients.
  • I have also seen dramatic whitening results.
  • To add a greater cleansing effect, add in a fourth of a teaspoon of baking soda for a refreshing effect.

Conclusion

I hope I have inspired you to start incorporating these dental practices into your daily regimen. On my next blog, we’ll get into more advance techniques and procedures to improve your oral health.