4 Ways to Keep Your Teeth Healthy and Protect Against Covid-19
Protect from cavities and Covid — at the same time!
New research in the British Dental Journal suggests that keeping gums healthy and teeth plaque-free protects against the worst symptoms of COVID-19. That’s because good oral health reduces the strain on your immune system, allowing it to combat invaders, explains Kourosh Maddahi, DDS, co-author of The Toxic Overload. Read on for four simple ways to improve your teeth.
Rub on raw honey.
Gently massage one tablespoon of unpasteurized honey (buy at Amazon, $12) into your gums, then wait 10 minutes before eating, rinsing or brushing. This will lower your risk of gum disease by 52 percent, plus cut your healing time in half if your gums are red and sore right now, suggests research in the Journal of the International Academy of Periodontology. Study co-author Peter Molan, Ph.D., explains that raw honey is packed with enzymes that kill germs plus speed tissue healing.
Swish with sea salt.
Researchers at the University of Southern California say rinsing for 30 seconds twice daily with sea salt — a mineral-rich antibacterial compound — can eradicate gum disease, plus block plaque formation 33 percent better than even prescription rinses! To make: Combine one tablespoon of sea salt with 1⁄2 cup of water in a glass jar and shake well; store in the fridge.
Sip tea after meals.
Black, green, white or oolong… sipping four ounces of tea after each meal will cut your risk of gum disease and cavities by 45 percent. Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York say tea brims with compounds (polyphenols) that make oral bacteria “slippery,” so they can’t latch on to your gums or tooth enamel.
Try Ubiquinol.
Ubiquinol, an easy-to-absorb form of the nutrient CoQ10, repairs and strengthens gum tissues, plus energizes immune cells that destroy oral bacteria. No wonder Australian researchers say taking 150 mg. to 200 mg. of ubiquinol daily can reduce your risk of gum disease by 83 percent. Try: Dr. Mercola Ubiquinol 150MG supplements (buy at Amazon, $30)
Cheers!
Red wine contains compounds (caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid) that block the growth of the most trouble some bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease, Spanish researchers say. The study-proven dose: one small glass (four ounces) daily.
This story originally appeared in our print magazine.
