Teeth and gums care: Natural home remedies for a healthy smile

Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes (not for 20 seconds, as most people). Dentists recommend brushing the teeth with small circular motions, gently brushing the gums as well. Don’t brush too vigorously. It often causes gum problems. Electric toothbrushes can tackle this by preventing hard pressing. If you are using a manual toothbrush, remember that bristles should bend only slightly against the tooth surface. Change you toothbrush as soon as the bristles begin to fray.

Floss every night. Brushing does not remove the plaque between teeth and by the gum line. If you don’t floss, you leave about 35% of the surface of your teeth uncleaned!

Visit your dentist every three to six months for or a professional cleaning, check up and necessary treatment.

Chew sugarfree gum – it increases saliva flow which helps neutralize plaque acidity and helps teeth stay healthy.

Eating raw foods (e.g., carrots, celery) also increases salvation and is good for tooth health. Acidic foods (e.g., citrus fruits, wine, sugary products) should be accompanied by water to wash away excess acids that could attack your teeth. Finishing off a meal with a piece of cheese can also protect dental enamel by lowering levels of mouth acidity.

Don’t rush to brush after eating. It’s better to wait for about half an hour to allow the mouth to build up its normal levels of saliva and bacteria again that will act as a protective barrier over the tooth and gum surface.

Make sure you get enough fluoride, which is essential for healthy teeth. Tap water is usually fortified, but some bottled waters contain low levels.

The following simple homemade mouthwash will help you to promote teeth and gums health:
1 glass of water
1 tsp of baking soda or sea salt
2-3 drops of essential oil (tea tree oil, chamomile oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil, lemon oil, or sage oil).