Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can offer many impressive benefits. But is there a best type of salt to use for a mouth rinse? According to popularity, Himalayan pink salt is the top choice.
The pink rocks are mined from the Punjab region of Pakistan and are estimated to contain as many as 84 trace minerals. Although little in-depth scientific research has been done to prove its health benefits, there is extensive anecdotal evidence demonstrating a wide range of advantages. For instance, Himalayan pink salt may regulate blood sugar, balance hormones, improve digestion, purify the air, rejuvenate the skin, and boost oral health.
As a leading dental office in Flagstaff, we highly recommend the use of a Himalayan salt mouth rinse.
How Does a Salt Water Gargle Work?
It’s long been known that gargling with warm salt water can aid in the healing of sore throats and other mouth pain. When you add salt to a glass of warm water and gargle, it creates an osmosis effect that helps relieve inflammation by drawing fluids from your mouth. Salt water also neutralizes acids caused by harmful bacteria, which helps keep a balanced pH level in your mouth.
How Can Himalayan Salt Mouth Rinse Improve Oral Health?
Regularly gargling with pink Himalayan salt water can assist in removing bacteria from the teeth and gums, which helps in preventing the buildup of plaque and tartar. When you’re sick, a salt water gargle can help break up thick mucus and remove irritants like allergens and fungi from the throat. The minerals found in Himalayan salt also aid in remineralizing tooth enamel.
Rinsing three to four times a week with a Himalayan salt water mixture can help improve the following conditions:
- Halitosis
- Gum Disease
- Tooth Decay
- Sore Throats
- Canker Sores
- Respiratory Infections & Colds
Avoid rinsing with salt water too often. Using a salt water rinse daily or multiple times a day can irritate the gums and erode enamel.
Himalayan Salt Mouth Rinse Recipe
The ADA suggests mixing a 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 oz. of warm water and stirring until the salt is fully dissolved. Swish the mixture around your mouth or gargle for 30 seconds and then spit it out in the sink.
Be sure not to swallow the water as it contains some of the bacteria it pulled from your gums. Plus, drinking salt water can cause dehydration.
Compassionate Dentist in Flagstaff
Warm Himalayan salt water rinses can also help temporarily soothe a toothache. But if you are experiencing oral pain, be sure to make an appointment to see us for a dental exam as soon as possible. At Country Club Dental, our goal is to see your teeth and gums stay strong and bright as part of living an overall healthy and vibrant life.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Photo by manu schwendener on Unsplash (6/25/2020)
