Natural Health: Sore gums after a visit to the dental hygienist

Salt has long been used as a natural agent to treat infection, and has been shown in studies to help as part of a protocol to treat gum disease or gingivitis — it is super easy to make your own salt water rinse solution at home

Swishing and gargling with salt water not only helps to relieve oral pain, it also helps to soothe inflammation in the mouth and throat, reduces bad breath issues, can treat and prevent bacterial infection in the mouth, and dislodges food particles from between the teeth.

I recently picked up a bug, which has left me feeling exhausted and with an unsightly cold sore on my lip. What would you suggest?

Feeling rundown, stressed, or recovering from an illness is one of the most common triggers for a cold sore to appear. Zinc is actually one of the nutrients thought to be important in inhibiting the herpes simplex virus, and is also a key mineral in supporting immune function.

Vitamin D is another nutrient that you might like to consider, since levels are often lower in people who experience recurrent cold sores. Vitamin D, much like zinc, plays a crucial role in immune support, mood balance, and sleep.

Supplementing with both of these nutrients will not only help your body to fully recover from the bug, it will also help to speed up healing of the cold sore and restore your energy levels.

One of my favourite herbal remedies to support recovery and boost energy levels after illness is liquorice root. Although the taste of liquorice does tend to polarise people — there are those who enjoy anything with an anise type flavour, and those who can’t stand it!

If you do like liquorice, then it is worth trying a tea from the dried root. Use a generous teaspoon per cup of boiling water and steep for as long as you like. Liquorice root actually develops quite a sweet flavour as it brews and can be reinfused 2-3 times as well.

The reason why I recommend liquorice root tea is because it helps with fatigue, supports adrenal recovery, and is naturally antibacterial. Other immune-supportive herbs include black elderberry, elderflowers, blackcurrants, ginger root, and medicinal mushrooms.

Medicinal mushrooms are a simple way to get in front of illness and support your immune system all year round. Reishi, shiitake, cordyceps, lion’s mane, chaga, and maitake are all wonderful medicinal mushrooms to support recovery and wellbeing.

My son had his teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist last week, and his gums have been sore since then. He is taking paracetamol for the pain. Is there a natural alternative?

This can happen after a thorough clean by a hygienist, particularly if there is any gum disease or gum pocket issues present. One of the most simple ways your son can help his mouth to heal faster so that his gums are no longer giving him trouble is to use a salt water rinse.

It is super easy to make your own salt water rinse solution at home, and have your son swish his mouth with it as and when he needs, but particularly after each brushing and flossing session.

Have your son simply stir half a teaspoon of salt into a glass, around 200ml, of warm water. Once the salt is dissolved, he can use it as with any mouthwash to swish thoroughly, gargle if necessary, and spit out the excess.

Salt has long been used as a natural agent to treat infection, and has been shown in studies to help as part of a protocol to treat gum disease or gingivitis. Swishing and gargling with salt water not only helps to relieve oral pain, it also helps to soothe inflammation in the mouth and throat, reduces bad breath issues, can treat and prevent bacterial infection in the mouth, and dislodges food particles from between the teeth

Aloe vera juice might also be worth consideration, as it helps to reduce inflammation of the gums and delicate mucous membranes of the mouth. As an additional bonus, aloe also plays a role in reducing the formation of plaque.

Make sure that any aloe vera that you purchase is pure aloe vera juice, rather than the sugary cordials marketed as aloe drinks. The suggested dose of pure aloe juice is around 15-20ml daily, and this is to be swallowed rather than swished since it is beneficial for gut health and inflammation throughout the body.

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• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.