A mouth detox - a set of techniques that may reduce harmful mouth bacteria.
Oil pulling, neem oil, tongue scraping, and adding probiotics to your life are great steps to support gut health and help prevent disease-causing bacteria from multiplying in your mouth. Techniques to follow!
While the above mentioned are great "additions" they should never replace:
- flossing
- brushing
- and regular dental check ups
Here are 4 mouth detox methods to add to your lifestyle right now:
1. Tongue scraping
Your tongue deserves as much attention as your teeth (if not more) when it comes to a healthy mouth. After flossing, those food particles are probably laying on your tongue which is also causing halitosis.
Scraping all the gunk off your tongue with a gunkii tongue scraper can greatly benefit your oral health. Some areas in which tongue scraping helps your oral health:
- developing fewer cavities
- reducing your chance of gum disease
- reducing halitosis (bad breath)
If you don't think tongue scraping is for you try it. Try tongue scraping twice a day every day for a week and then stop. Our bet is that your mouth is going to feel as though you have not brushed your teeth in a long time. The fuzz|gunk build up comes back.
2. Oil pulling
Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice that’s been around for thousands of years. Essentially, you use coconut oil as a mouthwash and swish it around your mouth for about 15 minutes. The key is to “pull” the oil through all the areas of your mouth and your teeth to get at all the gunk that could be left hiding there.
The idea here is that coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that reduce plaque and gingivitis.
3. Neem oil
Neem oil is not for everyone. This should never be used on anyone except adults.
Neem oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that can prevent gum inflammation and cavities. You can add a drop (small drop) to your regular toothpaste and brush with it, or add a drop to your oil when you oil pull and see the magic.
Neem oil might be as effective as prescription mouthwash in controlling plaque, gingivitis, and gum bleeding.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics are great for overall body health and sometimes we are so focused on balancing the good bacteria in our gut with fermented foods and Kombucha, that we forget all about the mouth!
The mouth needs good bacteria too. Taking oral probiotics can be extremely beneficial, especially if cavities are a frequent occurrence. The more good bacteria you have, the more defence you have against the bad bacteria, reducing the incidence of inflammation and infection.
There you have it! Four simple steps to detoxify your body and get moving to overall health care.
** None of this information should take the place of the advice from your dentists and or doctor.