How Long Does Salt Water Take to Help Gums?

Modern medicine has come up with various products to help people maintain their oral health. When taking care of their gums and teeth, there are many products to turn to. But unfortunately, despite all the effort, some people will still develop gum disease.

Although there are medicines to treat gum disease, one of the best forms of treatment is gargling with salt water. This method doesn’t require you to go to the pharmacy to get the ingredients. Instead, salt and water are things found at home.

What Is Gum Disease?

Having red, receding, or tender gum, sensitivity in your teeth, and noticing pockets forming between your gums and teeth are signs of gum disease. However, when you let those bacteria flourish, they can cause gum disease or periodontal disease. Though it may begin as a minor oral discomfort, gum disease can lead to jaw recession and other serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease.

What are the Warning Signs of Gum Disease?

• Heightened tooth sensitivity
• Having persistent bad breath
• Tender, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Receding gums
• Shifting or loose teeth
• Deep pockets between gums and teeth

Is It Safe to Rinse with Salt Water Every day?

Saltwater can be acidic, and gaggling with it every day can soften your teeth’s enamel and gums. Therefore, you’re not supposed to gargle salt water daily. Also, if you have special medical conditions such as high blood pressure, you should take extra precautions or look for other alternatives to use.

How Long Should I Rinse with Salt Water for Swollen Gums?

You should rinse with salt water between 15-30 seconds, and you’re not supposed to swallow it. When you’re done, spit the water out and repeat this process at least three times a day. However, you’re not supposed to rinse more than a few times a day. You should do that until your gums are healed.

How to Make Salt Water for Gums?

To make your saltwater, our dentist in Mesa recommends you follow these three steps:

• Use warm water because warm water will be more relieving to a sore throat than cold water. Warm water also helps the salt to dissolve in the water more effectively
• Use any available type of salt. Also, consider adding some ingredients like hydrogen peroxide or honey for additional soothing and healing properties. Most saltwater recipes contain eight ounces of warm water and one teaspoon of salt. However, you may have a tender mouth making the saltwater rinse sting. Therefore, you should reduce the salt to a half teaspoon for the first one to two days.
• You should ensure the water has boiled, remove it from heat, add salt, and then stir. Let your saltwater cool to a warm temperature before rinsing your mouth. Once you have done rinsing, discard the leftover solution to avoid contamination.

Benefits of Salt Water

Some of these benefits include:

It Stops Growth of Bacteria in Your Mouth

Our dentist in U Smile Family Dentistry in Mesa says that salt water reduces the acidic environment that allows bacteria to thrive.

Saltwater work by increasing the PH balance in your mouth. It creates a more alkaline oral environment in which the bacteria can no longer thrive. Instead, the harmful bacteria grow more in an acidic environment, so once it is neutralized, your mouth can become healthier and less inflamed.

When you use salt water alongside routine plaque control, it helps decrease the dental plaque and oral microbial count.

Salt Water Helps in the Healing Process After Dental Procedures

Saltwater assists in the healing process after dental procedures such as tooth extractions. Saltwater helps promote healing after dental procedures because it promotes gingival fibroblast migration and increases the number of extracellular matrix components that serve to regulate wound repair activity. In addition, saltwater does not irritate the mouth’s soft tissues, and it won’t burn or cause mouth pain.

Using saltwater will prevent painful dry sockets that can occur after extractions.

Respiratory Health Benefits

When you gargle saltwater and nasal irrigation, it may protect against the common cold. It is also effective in reducing upper respiratory infections by two and half days.

We also rinse our mouths with saltwater to provide emergency dental hygiene when you don’t have regular mouthwash or toothpaste. Also, it helps soothe and heal mouth sores.