Will a Salt-Water Rinse Fix Your Gum Problems?

If you're having problems with your gums, then you may have heard that rinsing your mouth out with salt water a few times a day will help. How does salty water affect problem gums? Will it sort out your mouth?

How Does Salt-Water Affect Oral Health?

Salt has natural antiseptic healing properties. If you use salt water as a rinse, then it helps disinfect and heal sore areas. A salt rinse also creates an alkaline environment in your mouth. Oral bacteria can't flourish in this kind of environment; they prefer acidic conditions. So, a rinse will help keep bacteria at bay or, at the very least, under control.

In some cases, dentists prescribe a salt-water rinse as part of a dental treatment plan. So, for example, they may tell patients to use this kind of rinse after a tooth extraction. The salt-water helps the wound site heal and keeps it free from bacteria especially in the early days after the tooth comes out.

Does Salt-Water Cure Gum Problems?

In some cases, rinsing with a salt-water solution fixes some gum problems. For example, if you have slightly swollen gums or a minor injury, then a rinse helps your gums heal. It also brings down swelling.

However, this fix is best used for minor problems that sort themselves out quickly. You don't necessarily want to make a salty rinse a permanent part of your oral hygiene routine. Salt-water can have an adverse effect on the teeth — it might cause erosion problems in the long-term, for example.

A salt rinse also isn't enough on its own to cure some gum problems. If you have gum disease, then a rinse might alleviate some of your symptoms. It may even fix some issues like swelling for a while.

However, if you have gum disease, even in its early stages, salt isn't likely to be the best permanent solution. You might well find that your gums improve after a few days of rinsing with a salty solution; however, your problems are probably more deep-seated.

If you have gum disease, then salt isn't strong enough on its own to clean out problem areas and fix your gums. Your problems are likely to recur pretty quickly.

If you've noticed that your gums are swollen, sore or bleeding, then it's better to contact your dentist to have them checked out. If you do have gum disease, then your dentist can treat it more effectively,