How to Take your Oral Beauty Routine to the Next Level
Nicole Scherzinger recently admitted that she brushes her teeth with coal to keep them pearly white. But is there any need for you to go to these extremes to get a celebrity smile?
Top dentists and professionals say that brushing and flossing won’t cure all your mouth-related ills. There’s more to great teeth than just brushing for two minutes every morning and night and hoping for the best.
The following plan will take your oral beauty routine to the next level.
Treat Any Underlying Issues First
Before you start splashing out on expensive whitening procedures or veneers, it’s best to deal with any underlying problems with your teeth first. Yes, this means a trip to the dentist, but with advances in dental implants and other procedures in recent years, the experience is quicker and more pain-free than ever. Once you’ve resolved any underlying issues with your teeth and gums, including impacted wisdom teeth, periodontitis or even wonky teeth that affect your bite, you’re ready to advance to the next stage.
Start Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is the western name given to an ancient ayurvedic practice of swishing out one’s mouth with oil. The purpose of the treatment is to remove bugs and gunk from between the teeth themselves – something which regular fluoride toothpaste brushing doesn’t do very well. The only downside of oil pulling is how long it takes – usually 15 to 20 minutes. If you’ve got the time to swish, it’s worth doing, as the oil will help to dislodge bacteria making a home for themselves between your teeth. Just remember not to swallow or gargle. The last thing you want to do is drink vegetable oil!
Use A Sea-Salt Mouthwash
Most mouthwashes are alcohol-based. Alcohol kills bacteria, and so companies put it in their products. But allowing alcohol to remain in contact with the delicate lining of your mouth for an extended period of time is a bad idea. Once inside the mouth, alcohol immediately starts breaking down into cancer-causing chemicals which could harm you in the long-term.
For this reason, and the fact that it is incredibly cheap, many dentists recommend a sea-salt mouthwash instead. Just like alcohol, highly saline liquids also help kill bacteria, but in a safe, non-toxic way. Salt water mouthwashes are especially effective for people who suffer from bleeding gums, as well as those with any pus exudate coming out of their gums or anywhere else in the mouth.
Tongue Scraping
Tongue scraping sounds a little gross, and that’s because it is. Around 90 percent of all the bacteria in your mouth reside on your tongue, some in a half-decomposed state. Your body naturally rids itself of bacteria on the tongue over time. But if you want to have perfect oral hygiene, then tongue scraping is a must.
Science shows that tongue scraping really works. Because bacteria on the tongue have the potential to migrate over to the teeth, they are a leading cause of tooth decay. Getting rid of them stops this process from ever occurring, helping you to keep your natural teeth for longer and avoid fillings.
