Let’s discuss the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s statistics.
- In adults, 92% of people have dental decay.
- 42% of kids suffer from dental decay.
- Over 90% of adults suffer from gum disease.
- YIKES! Active gum disease affects 65% of 15-year-olds!
What can we do, in light of these figures, to help our kids develop better oral health throughout their lives?
The advantages of saliva for dental health
1. Teeth remineralize through saliva!
The remineralization of teeth is a hot topic in today’s real food movement. What’s crucial to remember is that saliva is washing the teeth, which remineralizes them! In order to support remineralization, we need to eat enough nutrients for our saliva to contain the required minerals. Saliva, however, is essential for remineralizing teeth.
It is commonly known that increased saliva production helps prevent tooth decay. Regardless of your preference for the general dental theory, which holds that decay is caused by acids from oral bacteria that break down sugars, or the theory most recently proposed by Rami Nagel in his book Cure Tooth Decay, tooth decay happens when there is an imbalance between the demineralization of the enamel surface and the remineralization that results from the return of mineral ions into enamel. Regular salivary stimulation, particularly after consuming sugars, will help to buffer and dilute plaque acid, add more mineral ions to the plaque fluid, and encourage remineralization.
2. Saliva lessens the bad guys that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Age-related increases in the risk of gum disease are clearly linked to the fact that saliva production decreases with age, according to research. Numerous “first responders” for our immune system are found in saliva.
For instance, one substance that is naturally present in saliva is lactoferrin. One of the main defenses that keeps us healthy is lactoferrin, which is a component of our innate immune system. Because lactoferrin binds iron in the mouth, it prevents the “thug bugs” that cause gum disease from getting the iron they need to thrive.
Additionally, enzymes are essential for improving oral health. One of the earliest salivary enzymes identified for its role in preserving oral ecology was lysozyme, which seems to function by disrupting the cell wall of bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay.
3. Saliva aids in restoring the mouth’s pH to a healthy level.
The secret to improved oral health is to preserve an ideal oral ecology. Saliva plays a crucial role in the actual mechanism of determining what the pH of our mouth is going to be at any given time, even though immune-supporting practices like a nutrient-dense diet, restful sleep, and healthy coping mechanisms for stress are the best ways to optimize the pH of the mouth.
How can one produce more saliva?
When it comes to saliva production, the adage “Use it or lose it” is applicable. In order to avoid dry mouth and the issues that accompany reduced saliva production, we must make an effort to increase our salivary flow.
Saliva’s primary function during eating is to start the digestion process, so even though we can eat to produce more saliva, the additional health benefits of the increased saliva are outweighed. Therefore, let’s talk about a method for producing more saliva without eating.
Mouth Probiotics (also known as Spitting Exercise)
Step 1: Collect all of your mouth’s saliva onto your tongue in a pool. Draw the saliva back and forth from the back of the tongue to just behind the front teeth and back again multiple times using the throat’s musculature (we recommend 30-50 repetitions). This action will increase the amount of saliva in the mouth with practice.
Step 2: Use your increased saliva to bathe your teeth and gums after you’ve got a pool of it on your tongue! Swishing with saliva is referred to as “swashing” because it resembles washing and swishing simultaneously. After a minute or two of washing with the increased saliva, swallow it and allow the saliva to aid in better stomach digestion.
Even young children can use this technique because it is so easy.
Oral Wellness, “Is the secret to better oral health already in your mouth?”