Apple Cider Vinegar has been often touted as the new magic cure for all our troubles. Countless magazines and websites alike simply can’t get enough of how nontoxic, bacteria-killing, and versatile it is. Some people have even suggested that gargling with vinegar can take care of all your dental health woes in a cheaper, healthier, and easier way. However, most dental professionals beg to differ.
The general consensus among most dentists is that rinsing your mouth with vinegar only results in an increased risk of cavities due to weakened enamel. Some dentists would rather you not use vinegar outside the kitchen, while others recommend that you dilute and drink it instead. Here are a few facts and tidbits that can help you decide whether or not using vinegar is right for you.
The Risks Of Using Vinegar
As stated earlier, gargling with vinegar is a big NO-NO. The acidity (pH 2.5-3.0) in apple cider vinegar can dissolve tooth enamel and kill healthy bacteria inside your mouth. Some health practitioners also believe that directly ingesting apple cider vinegar can cause painful swelling, sores, and irritation to your mouth.
Whenever you rinse your mouth with vinegar, you end up weakening the protective enamel of your teeth more and more. This can cause harmful bacteria and germs to spread and cause painful cavities. If you’re already suffering from a cavity, you also risk causing infection and pain to your exposed inner tooth when you rinse with highly acidic vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar also suffers from the same problem as an abrasive mouthwash in that it can indiscriminately remove bacteria from your mouth. Take note that not all the bacteria in our bodies are meant to be bad. Some good bacteria, such as Streptococcus salivarius K12, exist to cancel out harmful bacteria and serve as additional protection against dental health problems. When you get rid of the good bacteria alongside the bad ones from your mouth, you only make it easier for harmful bacteria to spread and wreak havoc on your teeth and gums.
Lessening The Harmful Side Effects
Even though vinegar isn’t all that great for your teeth, it can possibly do some good for your body. Before you start drinking vinegar at home, you should take a few steps to lessen its negative effects on your teeth. Here are some ways to make vinegar less harmful for your oral health.
- Use A Straw: Think back to what it was like when your shower water was just too hot to be safe. It felt pretty painful on the skin, right? In the same way that hot water burns the skin, vinegar can erode and damage enamel if it makes direct contact with your teeth. To lessen your chances of getting painful cavities in the future, be sure to drink with a straw instead. That way, your teeth aren’t likely to suffer any long-term damage due to high vinegar exposure.
- Dilute It With Water: It’s never good to drink vinegar right from the bottle. The high acid content won’t do any favors for your teeth, gums, throat, mouth, and stomach. Instead, you should dilute every teaspoon of vinegar with at least 8 ounces of water before drinking it. Adding water to vinegar will increase its pH level to safer levels, thus mitigating any risks to your health.
- Use It For Cooking: Vinegar doesn’t make for a great mouthwash, but it does make for a great seasoning. Instead of ingesting vinegar directly, you can simply add it to your favorite salads, steaks, and other dishes. That way, you don’t risk burning up parts of your body or damaging your teeth.
- Rinse With Water: Water always does a great job of keeping our bodies safe. Rinsing with water after you drink vinegar removes harmful traces of acid from your teeth and lowers your chances of getting cavities.
- Don’t Brush Too Early: Brushing right after drinking vinegar only results in traces of your enamel getting washed out of your mouth. When you’ve just finished drinking vinegar, be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
Alternatives To Apple Cider Vinegar
Using vinegar might seem like an easy and inexpensive life hack, but it also comes with many risks to your health. Here are some safer alternatives that you might want to try instead.
- Visit Your Dentist: Most cosmetic procedures are best done by professionals. If your goal is to make your teeth look whiter and shinier, you might want to consult your dentist instead of relying too much on vinegar. Your dentist will be able to make your teeth look better using safe and painless procedures, all while inspecting your teeth and gums for possible signs of illness or damage.
- Use Safer Products: Vinegar was never really invented to be a home remedy. It simply isn’t formulated to be directly gargled and ingested every day. There are many other products that have been tested and manufactured for safe everyday use, so do consider using them. Teeth whitening strips can give your teeth a whiter color without too many risks, while non-alcoholic mouthwash and gentle toothpaste can prevent any chances of you developing foul breath.
- Practice Proper Oral Hygiene: Most cases of discolored or damaged teeth are often caused by poor oral hygiene. The best way to give your teeth a healthy color and ward off any cavities is to simply brush and floss at least twice a day. Proper brushing and flossing can eliminate harmful germs and bacteria from your teeth and gums without causing erosion or other side effects to your oral and digestive health.
You can also give your teeth the proper treatment they deserve by using a top-quality dental scaler. Dental scalers are specially designed to fit between and behind teeth in order to remove harmful bacteria and germs left behind by your toothbrush. They can also scrape off stubborn plaque and calculus so that you don’t suffer from any painful gum diseases and cavities. Why not order your own special dental scaler from our online shop with just a few clicks?