Home Remedies to Keep Your Mouth Healthy and Happy

September is national Oral Health Month and i-MED Africa, offer health education within our communities. The scope of health education includes educational interventions for children, parents, teachers and caregivers to fight children’s diseases in our communities. Knowledge gained serve as a tool to empower communities with accurate information about health and health care, enabling them to take action to protect their health.

Treatments for oral diseases are expensive and not always accessible, many individuals lack access to care, as well as insurance or finances to pay for care. Therefore, we look at prevention and home remedies that’s less costly, like rinsing with salt water or trying some herbal products. 

Try a Home remedy to treat gum disease:

Saltwater rinse:

Salt water has disinfectant qualities and can help the body to heal. Research has shown that rinsing the mouth with a saltwater solution can relieve inflamed gums caused by gingivitis.

To use a saltwater rinse: Pour boiling water into a glass and let it cool to lukewarm, mix 3/4 tsp of salt into the water, swirl the saltwater rinse around the mouth, spit the solution out, repeat up to three times daily.

Salt water may also:

•    soothe inflamed gums

•    help ease pain

•    reduce bacteria

•    remove particles of food

•    relieve bad breath

Using a saltwater rinse too often or for too long could have negative effects on tooth enamel. Long-term use may cause your teeth to erode because of the mixture’s acidic properties.

If the saltwater rinse isn’t relieving your symptoms, it may be time to try a more advanced mouthwash. Although there are over the counter and prescription mouth washes for gingivitis, you might want to try a homemade mouthwash first.

Homemade sage mouthwash

Sage has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may also help heal swollen gums and treat the infection. Bacteria cause plaque and can significantly be reduced by sage mouthwash.

To make sage mouthwash, add 2 tablespoons of fresh sage or 1 tablespoon of dried sage to boiling water. Simmer for 10 minutes, and then strain the mixture and leave to cool. Use the solution to rinse two to three times per day.

Grow your own sage

Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, greyish green leaves that like as good in a perennial border as they do in a vegetable garden. It grows spikes of spring flowers in assorted colours, including purple, blue, white, and pink.

•    Plant sage in full sun.

•    Sage should be planted in well-draining soil; it won’t tolerate sitting in wet soil.

•    The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant. 

•    In the garden, plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots, but keep sage away from cucumbers.

•    Be sure to water the young plants regularly until they are fully grown so that they don’t dry out. They’ll need a consistent moisture supply until they start growing quickly.

•    Prune the heavier, woody stems every spring.

•    It’s best to replace the plants every few years so they remain productive.

If home treatments do not work, it is important to see a doctor or dentist for advice. Additionally, if someone experiences severe swelling or bleeding in their gums, they should go straight to see a medical professional.