"Sea salt might have trace minerals, but for gum sensitivity, regular table salt works just fine (and saves you money)."
Interesting point about the sea salt—I always assumed it would be better because of those extra minerals, but I guess that's more marketing than anything else. I've been dealing with sensitive gums for a while now, and saltwater rinses have definitely helped me too. But I'm still a bit hesitant about relying only on them long-term. Has anyone here had experience combining saltwater rinses with an OTC gel or toothpaste specifically designed for gum sensitivity? I'm wondering if using both together would speed up healing or if it's just overkill. Also curious if certain gels might interfere negatively with the saltwater rinse... wouldn't want to accidentally make things worse.
But I'm still a bit hesitant about relying only on them long-term. Has anyone here had experience combining saltwater rinses with an OTC gel or toothpaste specifically designed for gum sensitivity?
I've been using saltwater rinses for a bit now, and recently added a sensitive toothpaste into the mix—haven't noticed any negative interactions yet. But now you've got me wondering...are there specific gels that might clash with saltwater?
I've wondered about this too actually... From what I've seen, most OTC gels for gum sensitivity are pretty gentle and don't have ingredients that should react badly with saltwater. But I did read somewhere that gels containing chlorhexidine might lose some effectiveness if used right after a salt rinse. Maybe check the label or ask a pharmacist to be sure? I'm always a bit paranoid about mixing stuff like this myself, haha.
Interesting point about chlorhexidine gels—I hadn't thought about that angle. Does anyone know if the timing matters though? Like, would waiting 20-30 mins after the salt rinse make a difference, or is it longer than that? I've been using saltwater rinses after adjustments (braces life, yay...) and was thinking of adding a gel at night to help with sensitivity. Guess I'll be reading labels tonight.
"Like, would waiting 20-30 mins after the salt rinse make a difference, or is it longer than that?"
Good question—timing can actually matter quite a bit. Usually, giving your mouth around 30 minutes after rinsing before applying something like chlorhexidine gel helps ensure you're not diluting or washing away the active ingredients. But honestly, labels vary, so checking them tonight is a smart move. Also, have you tried fluoride gels for sensitivity? I've had patients mention they found those pretty helpful during braces adjustments...might be worth looking into as well.
