Keep a Healthy Mouth, Naturally

An once of prevention is worth its weight in no gold fillings.  If your mouth is unhealthy, your other organs, like your liver and heart and brain, can all be adversely effected. 

• Here are some tips to help your mouth remain kissable all your life.  
• Brush.  You can use more natural toothpaste if you feel uncomfortable using a lot of chemicals.  Tom’s of Maine is just one brand.  You can also brush your teeth with baking soda, which is fabulous for whitening teeth.  Just pour a tablespoon in a little cup or even in the palm of your hand.  Dampen your brush, tip into the baking soda, and brush.  I love the way the abrasive baking soda feels against my teeth.  And I love that I, a heavy coffee and black tea drinker, can have white teeth.
• Floss.  You have to know how to floss properly for this to be effective.  One of my hygienists told me to insert the piece of floss in between two teeth and wrap it around the tooth completely.  Then work the floss side-to-side and back and forth.  But then you need to wrap it around the other tooth and repeat.  Each side of each tooth must be attended to.  Maybe it’s obvious to my readers, but when I was in my late teens, it was a light bulb moment for me.
• Avoid lots of sugar.  I have found that when I eat a lot of sugar, the plaque visibly forms on my teeth, and the only way to get rid of it is to floss immediately.
• Get regular cleanings.  Even if you don’t have dental insurance, the price is worth having a dentist at least look in your mouth yearly.  Maybe if my coworker had been seeing a dentist regularly, he would have known the wisdom tooth was going to be an issue.  If having the money for cleanings is problematic, investigate dental schools and low-cost programs.  Or work out a payment system with your dentist.
• Eat your lemons.  I have found that eating a wedge of lemon once in a while eradicates plaque and helps tartar from forming.  Eating lemons too often can erode tooth enamel, but adding a squeeze into water will help you keep a healthy mouth.
• Rinse with mouthwash.  The alcohol or tea tree oil in mouthwash helps kill bacteria that form diseases like gingivitis.  You don’t want to be killing all the good bacteria in your mouth either.  Talk with your dentist about usage and which product is right for you. 
• Drink green tea.  Green tea has antioxidants and antiseptic properties and is good for overall good health. Plus, it’s extremely tasty.
• Eat green vegetables.  Having the proper nutrients in your diet can only help your bones and teeth. 
• Take calcium.  Lots of green vegetables like kale have calcium in them.  As you age, you need to replenish calcium.  Talk to your doctor about the proper supplement for you.
• Swish with hydrogen peroxide.  If you have tender gums, washing them with hydrogen peroxide will aid soreness and help with gum bleeding.

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