Can Salt Water Rinse Heal Gum Infection?

Gum disease is one of the dental problems that have a significant impact on your oral health. It is quite common in adults, irrespective of the major advances we have made in dentistry. Gum infection is a severe problem that can lead to tooth loss and bone loss and cause issues in other parts of the body.

An infection will always be accompanied by fever and even toothaches, rendering the issue a dental emergency. The best treatment for this issue is always visiting our dentist. But did you know that you can use salt water to gain relief while you make your way to receive treatment? Did you also know that saltwater rinse is essential to the gum infection healing process?

You must be curious to find out how to use saline water to help you feel better. Let’s unpack some of the things you need to know.

Can You Put Salt Directly On Your Gums?

Table salt has excellent antibacterial qualities that can help manage the bacteria in the mouth. However, you must know how to use it since too much salt can worsen things. The main issue with plain salt is that it creates a hostile environment in the mouth.

It dries the mucous membranes, which are crucial in lubricating the gingiva, and soft tissues and keeping the teeth healthy. Therefore, you must avoid placing salt directly on your gums since the irritation might be detrimental to your oral health.

Too much salt might lead to the following issues:

• Gum recession can be caused when you expose your teeth to too much salt
• Chronic dryness of the mouth (xerostomia) is usually a condition that can also arise if you use too much salt
• Gum irritation and bleeding can also arise because of dryness that is caused by using too much salt

The upside to this scenario is that it is not permanent. In other words, if you drink lots of water, you will be re-lubricating the area, and the immediate effects of the salt will be dealt with.

While using salt, remember not to ingest it since the body needs a limited amount of sodium.

Does Salt Draw Out Infection from the Tooth?

Salt is a natural disinfectant. The microbes in your mouth dislike salt since it is a potent antibacterial. If you use salt as instructed, it will not damage the gums and teeth. You can use a saline rinse to remove and kill bacteria in the hard-to-reach areas in the mouth.

As mentioned earlier, salt will alter the oral environment since it dries the mucous membranes. If you have a tooth infection, using saline water is good for you because the liquid in the infected area will be taken out of the tissues, thus drawing the pus closer to the surface. You will feel pain relief, making it easier for our dentist to remove the infection.

How Do Saline Rinses Inhibit Bacterial Growth In Your Mouth?

It’s always good for you to use saline rinses every now and then since it is easy to fix and works as well as the products you buy in the local stores.

Saline rinses can aid in inhibiting bacterial growth in your mouth. Salt will alter the acidic environment in the mouth where bacteria thrive in. It usually increases the pH inside your mouth, creating a more alkaline environment and inhibiting bacterial growth.

Therefore, when salt is introduced to the mouth, the inflammation will reduce since the harmful bacteria will not have the chance to grow. In other words, saline rinses will effectively decrease oral microbial count and dental plaque, especially when you use them alongside routine dental practices.

Do Saline Rinses Aid in Healing?

After a dental procedure such as a tooth extraction or even gum disease treatment, your gingival or gum tissue will need to heal. Adding saline rinses to your treatment regimen can work wonders for you.

Salt will increase the number of extracellular matrix components and gingival fibroblast migration, which regulate wound repair.

How to Make Saline Rinses

The beauty of making a saline rinse is that all the ingredients are readily available. So, you need 8 ounces of warm water and one teaspoon of salt, and you can add two teaspoons of baking soda.

Boil the 8 ounces of water and then add the salt and baking soda (the baking soda is optional). The temperature will aid in dissolving the salt. Use the saline rinse as instructed and discard the leftover.

Salt can help maintain your oral health. But you must use it alongside other dental practices, such as regularly visiting our dentist. Therefore, you can contact us at U Smile Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment.