For those of us taking the holistic approach to self-care, it’s well-known that everything from our diets to oral hygiene is involved. However, understanding how to incorporate the holistic approach into our daily routines isn’t always easy. Let’s start with oral hygiene – here are some great ways to protect your overall health through some simple dental hygiene tips.
The Basics
First thing’s first – you need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss. While most people know to do this, the holistically-minded understand just how many ways gum disease can affect your overall health. Daily brushing and flossing aren’t just about maintaining white teeth and preventing cavities, it’s an important part of protecting all aspects of your health. When brushing, make sure you use a brush with soft bristles. Brushing too hard or using stiff bristles can be harsh on your teeth and even cause gum recession. As far as flossing goes, there are several holistic techniques that can be very beneficial for your dental health. It is also recommended that you use alcohol-free mouthwash during your routine.
Healthy Diet
While the holistically-minded are probably already thinking about their diet, there are ways that can specifically benefit your oral health. Make sure the food you eat is filled with calcium, phosphorous, and magnesium. These elements all improve the strength of your teeth. There should also be the proper amount of Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Avoid foods with phytic acid and a lot of sugar – these can be quite detrimental to your teeth and gums.
Natural Products
When you use mainstream dental products, you really don’t know what you are putting into your body. That long list of chemicals on your toothpaste often includes artificial sweeteners and coloring, fluoride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Triclosan, and Propylene Glycol. Not only can these chemicals be harmful to many aspects of your health, but they sterilize your mouth rather than simply cleaning it. This may sound ideal but maintaining healthy bacteria in your mouth promotes positive dental health. These products kill off this bacteria, which could end up causing more problems. There are also all-natural flosses and mouthwash products you can use.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is a holistic technique that removes bad bacteria from the mouth. Lightly scrape your tongue before(and after) you swish sesame or coconut oil in your mouth for around 20 minutes. Then rinse your mouth with warm salt water to remove any extra bacteria that were pulled loose by the oil.
Holistic Supplements
Those who care about their holistic well-being are surely no strangers to the benefits of plant and vitamin-based supplements. For dental health, Neem is a great plant that can improve the health of your gums while fighting off bad bacteria. Cranberry supplements can prevent bacteria from attaching to the teeth which is great for gum disease prevention. Vitamin C supplements also improve gum health.
Oral Hygiene Experts
Looking to learn more about holistic dentistry? Holistic Dental Center is inviting everyone to reap the benefits of biological dentistry and is always offering specials for new patients. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers if they have been to a biological dentist; if not tell them about the many benefits and the lifestyle.
Come meet Dr. Vladimir Gashinsky! Whether you are actively looking for a new dentist or it’s been a while since you’ve been in the dentist’s chair. He has been in private practice at his Millburn, NJ office for over a decade, providing exceptional holistic and biological dentistry and surgical expertise in a friendly, home-like environment. Our goal is to give you an experience that you’ve never had before. If you’re looking for the best that dentistry has to offer, contact us and we’ll schedule a biological dental cleaning for you and your family.
