Oral Hygiene at Home

November 06, 2021

Oral Hygiene at Home

“… You hope for the best, then make do with what you get”

-Nick Fury
(Avengers-Age of the Ultron, 2015)

Well, this statement by our favorite one-eyed gentleman is right on the mark. With the pandemic situation and the ever jugaadoo attitude of we Indians, I’m sure this thought came to our minds one way or the other. When getting a medical service itself was so difficult during the pandemic, nobody might have thought of visiting the dentist. As a matter of fact, I doubt how many people in the country have regular dental checkups. After all, according to an old Bengali proverb, “you learn the importance of teeth only when they are gone”.

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In a country where moms and grandmas have gharelu nuskhaas at their fingertips, let’s discuss some scientifically proven, home remedies for the maintenance of oral health and hygiene. Because though you might think that doctors wish that you fall sick so that we can earn, we genuinely care about your well-being.

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Turmeric

One of the most versatile items found in the kitchen, it is no surprise that turmeric/haldi makes a place in this list as well. The antiseptic property of turmeric is nothing new to us. Added in most of our dishes, turmeric not only rids the food of germs but also the mouth. Turmeric is rich in carotenoids and hence an effective antioxidant that is easily absorbed by our oral lining and helps keep the gums healthy. Turmeric is also said to have teeth whitening properties.

Saltwater

Saltwater seems to be the favorite medicine of dentists and there might not be any dental prescription in the world that does not advise “warm saline mouth rinse 3-4 times daily”. A natural disinfectant, salt-water works on the simple working principle which is attributed for long-term food storage- making a hypertonic solution that leaches water out of bacterial cells. Warm saline mouth rinse soothes dental pain, flushes out food debris, and fights bad breath as well.

Clove

Clove and clove oil can be considered as the most common remedies for toothache. Eugenol, an active constituent of clove is known to be an excellent obtundent/pain-reliever by numbing the area it comes in contact with.

Honey

Raw honey is said to have bactericidal properties and thus aids in maintaining gum health. A gentle massage of honey after brushing is very helpful to hold together loose gums and prevent scarring in people suffering from periodontal diseases. However, please remember to wash the mouth afterward since, honey, being a natural sugar also may cause caries if left to lodge on tooth surfaces.

Citrus fruits

Oranges, lemon, sweet lime, kiwi, and other such Mediterranean fruits are great for gum health. Citrus fruits are high in vitamin-C/ascorbic acid which is helpful in collagen formation. Maintenance of collagen turnover helps keep the gums intact.

Coconut oil

There is an age-old practice called oil pulling. Though there is no scientific proof for the efficacy of this method, swishing with oils, preferably coconut oil, for about 10-20 minutes, allegedly “pulls out” germs and prevents tooth decay. The probable reason might have something to do with the formation of micelles of oil in the emulsion with oral fluids and the affinity of bacterial cell walls towards it. Coconut oil has thus been said to have anti-microbial ad tooth whitening properties.

Green leafy vegetables

Vegetables and fruits with high fiber content stimulate saliva production and act as natural cleansers of teeth. Kale and spinach are some of the best foods in this category. Moreover, being rich in vitamins they also help in overall wellbeing.

Neem

Antibacterial properties of neem (Azadirachta indica) are known to everyone. As such, it should be no wonder that neem prevents plaque formation, caries, and periodontitis.

Fruits

Cranberries contain proanthocyanin, which prevents bacterial adherence thus decreasing plaque production which in turn reduces caries and gingivitis. They are also high in vitamin C. Malic acid in apples is a tooth whitening agent and a salivary stimulant. Another such agent bromelain is found in pineapple. Studies also show the use of strawberries with baking soda help helps to give our smile a glistening touch. Even the white of a banana peel which contains potassium, calcium, and many others helps in whitening teeth. Coconut acts as a natural tooth scrubber and also relieves swollen gums.

Baking soda

Baking soda is a mild abrasive and thus is useful to remove surface stains on teeth. A mixture of baking soda with other ingredients like charcoal, menthol, strawberry, etc. forms homemade toothpaste for daily cleansing.

Hydrogen peroxide

This compound not only removes tough, resistant stains from our dirty laundry but also teeth. Hydrogen peroxide is a good bleaching agent and is used for teeth whitening. Just need to be cautious regarding the concentration to avoid gum burns.

Poultry, meat, fish, and dairy

Meats being fibrous are natural mouth cleaners. Moreover, eggs, fish, and meat are rich sources of vitamin D/cholecalciferol which helps in calcium deposition on bones and teeth. Dairy products, along with vitamin D also have calcium. Curd, yogurt, and buttermilk replenish gut flora as well as the good microbes of the oral cavity. Cheese, apart from having these properties, also acts as a salivary stimulant.

Roots and stems

Babool/ Vachellia nilotica / Acacia Arabica has high antimicrobial properties against oral flora like Straphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans, and is hence used as a natural toothbrush. Similar use is found by roots of the banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) and neem sticks. Banyan’s astringent-like properties help in anti-anti caries medication while its anti-inflammatory properties are helpful for gums. bamboo also is a natural tooth cleaner.

Poppy seeds

Ok, our Bengali audience will be very excited now! Poppy seeds or as we call it khus khus/posto, has a cooling effect on the body and thus relieves mouth ulcers and inflamed gums.

Spices and herbs

Licorice/mulethi is another anti-ulcer remedy, along with its wide range of applications. Our very own household and sacred basil/tulsi/Ocimum tenuiflorum fails to miss this list as usual with its antimicrobial characteristics aiding in bad breath, ulcers, and gingivitis. Cardamom/elaichi, cinnamon/darchini, fennel/saunf and clove/laung are among the spices which help in counteracting bad breath and dry mouth. Mint also helps in treating foul breath and stimulating saliva production. Sage, another aromatic herb, is an excellent mouthwash and replacement of the commercial chlorhexidine mouthwash, the long-term use of which stains the teeth. Ginger is also a great anti-plaque agent. Guava leaf is also said to have obtundent and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe Vera is also used regularly to maintain oral moisture and soothe inflamed areas.

Oils

Tea-tree oil has many antiseptic and antibacterial characteristics that help rid plaque and bacteria. Sesame oil has been used for ages in Ayurveda as a teeth whitening agent because of its detoxifying properties. Lemongrass oil is yet another effective mouthwash. Arimedadi oil is a mixture of clove, sesame, and manjistha (Indian madder/ Rubia cordifolia) oils which used in Ayurveda for oil pulling and as a mouth wash.

Organic acids

Oxalic acid from tomatoes helps in sparkling our teeth. Similarly, a mixture of acetic acid and malic acid found in apple cider vinegar not only detoxifies the oral cavity but also whitens teeth.

Whole grains

Whole grains are highly fibrous in their purest forms and hence naturally clean the teeth during chewing, in addition to massaging gums. Approximately 2-3 servings of whole grains must be incorporated into our diet.

Wood charcoal

The adsorbing property of charcoal qualifies it as an excellent teeth whitening agent.

Water

Nothing ever surpasses a glass of water. The ultimate underdog in the team, water has a multifold function- hydrate the oral cavity preventing dry mouth; dissolve unwanted lodged sugar and other chemicals being the universal solvent, thus detoxifying the oral cavity; flush away lodged food debris; soothe inflamed areas; help in oral digestion, and preventing halitosis. As a matter of fact, water acts as the carrier/base/diluent for most of the remedies discussed above.

However, one must be very careful while trying home remedies since they do not come with a “how-to” manual and are in their crudest form. Care must be taken while using aromatic oils, peroxide, and charcoal so that they are used in extremely low concentrations to prevent adverse effects like burns and choking. Most items should be diluted with water before use. Fruits, vegetables, and honey should be used in moderation to prevent erosion and tooth decay due to high sugar and acidic content. The use of baking soda and common salt should be regulated to avoid excessive abrasion of the tooth surface.

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In a world with booming pharmaceuticals that are easily available and highly potent to get the job done, natural remedies are often overlooked. In our fast-paced lives, we often miss using these homemade solutions that are so reliable and handy in our daily battle with oral problems. Even premiere organizations like the UCLA School of Dentistry (University of California, Los Angeles), the ADA (American Dental Association), and the IDA (Indian Dental Association) advocate that most of the natural oral care preparations are safe and effective.
I hope many of these home remedies are already practiced. But I would conclude with the most important statement: “We dentists are indispensable for your oral health”. So as much as you are interested in these natural medicines, please visit us at least once a year, follow our directions, and consult us on emergencies. Brush, floss, and clean the tongue regularly and… remember us.

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