Science Monday - Oral Exam

In the past 20 some-odd years I've been seeking dental advice from my Dad, who happens to be my dentist. He has shared some nuggets of knowledge about how to make my mouth feel better when in pain.

As I sit here, in pain, due to some unruly wisdom teeth, I am heeding his advice once again. The Holy Grail of dental home fixes is the warm saltwater rinse. Its so simple and works so well.

Here's how it works. Your mouth is inflamed due to something or other (figure A). Fill a glass with 1/2 teaspoon of salt (I like kosher) and 8 oz. of good ol' H20. Swish and spit, swish and spit. The higher concentration of salt outside the gums causes the fluid in the inflammation to move into that area creating an equilibrium (figure B). The result is less inflammation and temporary relief (figure C). Repeat as needed.

Other facts from my Dad:

• Mouthwash doesn't do much. After 10 minutes your mouth is back to where it was
• Toothpastes and manual toothbrushes are all pretty much the same, brand, flavor, features...all bs.
• Since dental is largely done on an elective basis, dental insurance can be a huge waste of money
• Flossing is important and should be done more often than I do it
• Junk food doesn't cause cavities, but helps them along
• Yodels are probably the best junk food
• 2 Packages of yodels is your limit

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