I decided to share some information about natural dental care. We haven't used regular toothpaste with flouride for years in our family. Many think that they need flouride to prevent cavities, but studies have shown that it is not the case. Flouride is also damaging to your health, for example, it fights for the same receptors as iodine in the body, it can damage the brain in growing children, it can cause bone disease, bone cancer and much more. For studies of the health effects of flouride go to flouridealert.org
Weston A. Price discovered long time ago that people in remote civilizations had perfect teeth, and he found that as soon as they left their native civilizations their teeth health declined. These people didn't use any toothpaste with flouride. Many times salt, rocks and sticks were used in addition to a nourishing diet without chemicals.
Nowadays we can use herbs and essential oils for our teeth. Traditionally herbs like black walnut, sage, and white oak bark have been used in dental care.
Essential oils can provide natural alternative to commercial products. If you look at store bought toothpaste you'll see that many of them already contain essential oils. Essential oils are antiseptic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, anti-fungal, and analgesic.
You can make your own mouth rinse, tooth powder, or apply the essential oils straight. Peppermint, lemon, clove, wintergreen, rosemary, tea tree, thyme, oregano, helichrysum, myrrh, and eucalyptus are some of the most commonly used essential oils for dental health.
Here are some ideas on what you can make using essential oils and a few other simple ingredients.
Quick and Easy Daily Mouth Rinse
3 drops of tea tree essential oils
3 oz of distilled water
Tea tree is antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral.
Tooth Powder
clay 4 teaspoons
salt 1 teaspoon
peppermint 2 drops
lemon 2 drops
You can use green or white clay. Mix the ingredients in a blender and keep it in container. Dip the tooth brush into the powder and wet with a tiny bit of water before brushing as normal.
Mouth Wash
1 cup distilled water or sage herbal tea
1 teaspoon raw honey
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops spearmint essential oil
1 drop anise essential oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
Measure honey into a measuring cup. Add the essential oils, make sure not to exceed 6 drops total. Mix well. Add a small amount of warm distilled water or herbal tea to the honey until completely dissolved. Add the remaining amount of water. Bottle and label. Shake well before use and swish for 30-60 minutes.
Tooth powder based on a very old Swiss method
1 tablespoon ground, dried orange peel
2 teaspoon ground, dried sage
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon salt
5 drops lemon essential oil
1 drop peppermint essential oil
Mix it all together in a blender. If you have gum problem you can add 15 drops of myrrh tincture and 1 drop of myrrh essential oil as well.
Aches and Pains
Clove contains analgesic properties and it was used in early dentistry for its pain-killing abilities. Prior to a visit to the dentist you can rub 1-2 drops of clove on gums and jaws. Clove may interfere with with bonding of crowns so avoid if this procedure is planned.
A strong tea of the herb sage can be made and used as a mouth wash. A pinch of ground clove can be added.
Peppermint, myrrh essential oil have also been suggested.
You can as always modify the recipes and use the ingredients that you have available. One of the greatest things about natural ingredients is that you can use them for so much more. Many of essential oils mentioned above can also be incorporated into healing, skin care, cleaning, immune boosting, respiratory health and more.
Make sure the essential oils you use are of good enough quality.
Thanks for visiting!
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This post is linked to:
Encourage One Another
Your Green Resource
Simple Lives Thursday
This post is linked to:
Encourage One Another
Your Green Resource
Simple Lives Thursday