Jeff Coleman

SALT TO THE RESCUE

Natures remedy for pain relief and prevention

Dr. Ken Yabuki

Salt, simple salt. It makes our food taste better, melts snow on our roads and preserves our food.  What is even more astonishing, is that now we find that it also has hidden healing and pain relief powers, especially when it comes to dental health.

The use of salt for health care purposes has a long and productive history. The Science Tribune makes references to the Ancient Egyptians. providing recipes for a range of medicinal treatments using salt, particularity with infections. The ancient Greeks used salt for similar purposes, and already discovered, more than 2,000 years ago. that salt had anti-inflammatory effects.

Fast forward to modern day with an international study performed in 2016.  In this study, researchers wanted to confirm what the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and traditional medicine all had in common: Salt promotes healing of oral wounds through anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. Other studies from Manchester University in 2012 also found similar results.

HOW DOES SALT WORK?

Reading our previous blog on “What Causes a Cavity“, we know that cavities, the source of most oral pain, are caused by bacteria that breaks down the minerals in your tooth creating a hole.  Salt reduces this bacteria by temporarily increasing the PH balance in your mouth, creating an alkaline environment in which bacteria struggle to survive.

With the reduction in bacteria, also causes a reduction in inflammation, the true source of your pain!

RELIEF, NOT A CURE

Of course salt can not cure the cause of your oral pain, a hole in your tooth, but it can help temporarily relieve the pain prior to get a professional dentist to solve the problem.

THE SALT SOLUTION RECIPE

1. Add add one teaspoon of salt to one cup of warm water and stir.
2. Sip the mixture and gargling through-out the mouth for 30 seconds
3. Spit it out.  Do not swallow!
4. Repeat until the glass is empty.

For help in healing after oral surgery, repeat this procedure every two to three hours, the first few days after surgery and then use it three to four times a day thereafter.

REGULAR USE

Salt solutions can also be used as an addition to daily brushing and flossing.  However, using the solution too often on a long term basis can adversely impact your oral health by drying your gums causing them to receded.   2-3 times a week is recommended.

Here’s to your health!

– Dr. Yabuki

Surf City Dentist Practice Owner

Surf City Dentist would like to be your personal and private dentist.  Call us for an appointment.  Your health is important.

Make Appointment

This blog is for advisory purposes only.  Actual medical/dental diagnosis can not be done online. This blog does not replace the opinion or procedures recommended by others licensed professionals in the field.
Please visit a licensed dentist or doctor. 

Schedule Online NOW.

AVAILABLE HOURS

Monday        7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday        7 AM – 6 PM
Wednesday  7 AM – 6 PM
Thursday      7 AM – 5 PM
Friday           8 AM – 5 PM
Saturday      9 AM – 1 PM
(once a month)

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Do You Have A Dentist
You TRUST?

Learn More About Surf City Dentist

WHAT CAUSES A CAVITY?

The what and whys of dental problems

Dr. Ken Yabuki

Cavities are one of the most common forms of oral health problems. How it actually forms is a combination of genetics and how your body reacts to particular bacteria that is resident in everyone’s mouth.  Those bacteria’s are called Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli.  Like any  bacteria, it’s growth is promoted or rejected based on the acidity of the body in combination with a food source to grow on.

You have heard that sugar is bad for your teeth and for decades dentists have been pushing the idea that consuming sugary drinks and foods is a bad idea for dental health. A suggestion the sweet tooth generation usually ignores.  But why is sugar, in particular, bad?

In simple terms: Sugar feeds bacteria.   In the right oral environment, bacteria forms an acid that removes your teeth’s valuable minerals, weakening the strong structure of each tooth. Eventually causing a hole in the tooth. That hole is a cavity.

This process is worse in individuals that have a highly acidic body chemistry, as acidity is the perfect growing environment for the bacteria.  This is where genetics kicks in.  Some persons are naturally geared toward an acidic chemistry, while others, through nature or nutritional efforts, create a Alkali environment through-out the body. This explains why some person seem to get cavities easily, while others go years without a single problem.  They will still get them..it is just slower, if oral health habit are not applied.

So What Can You Do?

The fundamental line of defense, is to change the oral environment, inhibiting the growth of the bacteria.  This is achieved by:

1. Removing excess food after eating  through brushing and flossing
2. Removing the sugars from the mouth through brushing
3. Avoiding sugary and acidic foods and drinks
4. Getting your teeth cleaned by a professional hygienist

Why Dental Cleanings?
The last recommended item, may not make sense to you..why professional cleaning?  Does not steps 1-3, outlined above,  do the job?  Why are you up-selling me? 

True, 1-3 will definitely help, however, stage 2 of oral bacteria is to build it’s own environmental “Wall”.  Bacteria is a illegal immigrant that really does not want to leave. It own existence depends on building roots. You are demanding it’s death for your own protection.  Despite all your best efforts, not all bacterial generated plague, will be removed.  It can hide below the gum line, in back of the mouth, places that are difficult to self-access, especially in the world of ever pressed schedules. 

Brushing and flossing is something everyone does fast and quick. Who has time for twice daily, 32 minute brushing procedures, giving at least 1 minute to each tooth in your mouth! Our society is so pressed for time, all anyone thinks of is a quick brush and leave.  Who has time to think about teeth!  But fast and quick is not through enough to remove all the resident plague….and if you leave plague there long enough, it forms a hard wall called : Tarter.  Tarter is full of all the same bacterias: Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli

The only way to safely remove tarter is through a professional cleaning.  Doing it yourself with a tooth pick or other tool, may actually cause you to damage your own teeth, leaving an easy pathway for future bacteria to attack.

The good news is cavities are solvable!  With the right dentist, cavities may be inevitable, but fixable if discovered early.

Here’s to your health!

 

– Dr. Yabuki

Surf City Dentist Practice Owner

Surf City Dentist would like to be your personal and private dentist.  Call us for an appointment.  Your health is important.

Make Appointment

This blog is for advisory purposes only.  Actual medical/dental diagnosis can not be done online. This blog does not replace the opinion or procedures recommended by others licensed professionals in the field.
Please see a licensed dentist or doctor. 

Schedule Online NOW.

AVAILABLE HOURS

Monday        7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Tuesday        7 AM – 6 PM
Wednesday  7 AM – 6 PM
Thursday      7 AM – 5 PM
Friday           8 AM – 5 PM
Saturday      9 AM – 1 PM 
(once a month)

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

Do You Have A Dentist
You TRUST?

Learn More About Surf City Dentist