ORAL CARE

ORAL CARE

In summer when socialization increases, our oral care becomes even more important. Bad breath can prevent us from communicating with other people, toothache can negatively affect our quality of life. Glad they have a solution.

1. Bad Breath

We all can have bad breath from time to time. This may be caused by the protagonists of onions and garlic, as well as some other underlying health conditions such as tooth decay.

Onions and garlic have similar compositions and contain similar sulfur compounds. Sulfur compounds give foods their unique flavor. However, when cut, crushed, or chewed, they emit distinct gases and mix with gas-producing bacteria, causing bad breath. Most of these bacteria that cause bad breath live below the gum line and in plaque that forms on the teeth.

Garlic and onions can continue to cause bad breath for hours after eating. But considering their health benefit, it's worth it.

To prevent bad breath:

• You can chew clove seeds or fresh mint leaves or chew menthol gum.
• Bacteria can also grow on the back of the tongue where the toothbrush cannot reach. A white tongue can indicate dead cells, microscopic food particles, and bacteria. Tongue cleaners such as tongue brushes and tongue cleaning tools can help you reach the very back of your tongue. They can also be effective at removing odor-causing residue.
• Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day can be a great strategy to keep bad breath at bay. Dry mouth can increase sulfur production, which can lead to bad breath. Drinking water or other liquids can help rinse your mouth out to remove any remaining food particles or bacteria that may be contributing to the odour.
• You can drink green tea.

• You may use essential oils. Essential oils with proven benefits for relieving bad breath:
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary
  • Eucalyptus
  • Clove
  • Lemon peel
  • Oregano
  • Citronella

You can use one or more of these oils as a mixture in the form of mouthwash to prevent bad breath. Add a total of 5 drops of the essential oil (oils) of your choice to a tea glass (100 ml) of drinking water for mouthwash and mix well. Rinse the mouth for at least 30 seconds without swallowing and spit it. You can apply it in the morning and evening after brushing your teeth..

 

2. Toothache:

While there is no substitute for a professional dentist, herbal oils can support you in relieving the pain when you have a toothache.

Clove Essential Oil: It shows antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Clove oil helps reduce tooth and gum pain when applied topically, thanks to its analgesic property. At the same time, with its antibacterial feature, it helps to reduce bacteria that can cause cavities. A study [1] found that clove oil may have remineralizing effects. Remineralization strengthens tooth enamel. This protects the teeth and tooth roots from painful sensations triggered by hot, cold or sweet stimuli. Mix 5 drops of clove essential oil with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Dip a cotton ball in the oil mixture and apply it to the aching area for 10 minutes. You can repeat several times a day.

Lavender Essential Oil:  There are some academic studies showing that lavender oil can reduce toothache when smelled [2] [3]. Lavender essential oil contains the active ingredient linalool, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Linalool helps to reduce dental plaque and fight cavities. When you have a toothache, you can spread the scent of lavender oil to your environment with a diffuser or censer, or you can try drinking lavender tea to benefit from the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of lavender for your teeth.

Peppermint Oil:  Its main active ingredient is Menthol. Menthol is an analgesic that helps mask the sensation of pain. Peppermint essential oil is also beneficial for reducing biofilm on teeth. Mix 5 drops of medicinal peppermint essential oil with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Dip a cotton ball in the oil mixture and apply it to the aching area for 10 minutes. You can repeat several times a day.

Essential oils can sometimes cause allergic reactions. To make sure it won't cause a reaction, do a patch test by applying the diluted essential oil to an area on your leg or arm before applying it to your teeth.

If you have symptoms such as gum swelling, inflammation, fever, leaking pus along with your toothache, consult your doctor.

Other natural support methods to reduce toothache:

• Rinse with warm or cold salt water to disinfect the area and remove food and debris.
• Putting a cold compress on the outside of your chin or cheek to relieve swelling.
• Crush a clove of garlic to make a paste and apply it to the sore tooth to kill bacteria and relieve pain.

To quickly relieve toothache, first rinse your mouth with salt water. Then apply the clove oil. Then apply a cold compress outside to the area where your tooth is.

Academic Studies:

[1] Charu M. Marya, Gunjan Satija, Avinash J., Ruchi Nagpal, Rohtash Kapoor, Aijaz Ahmad. In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of Clove Essential Oil and Its Two Active Principles on Tooth Decalcification by Apple Juice. Int J Dent. 2012; 2012: 759618.

[2] Sioh Kim, Hyun-Jae Kim, Jin-Seok Yeo, Sung-Jung Hong, Ji-Min Lee, Younghoon Jeon. The effect of lavender oil on stress, bispectral index values, and needle insertion pain in volunteers. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Sep;17(9):823-6.

[3] Shaheen E. Lakhan, Heather Sheafer, Deborah Tepper. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Reducing Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pain Res Treat. 2016; 2016: 8158693.