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The condition of teeth is a major indicator of one's health. Current dietary habits contributes to life threatening oral diseases that is convinced from a medical standpoint, can only be managed by invasive dentistry practices.
The Western technique of plastic brushing with artifically-dyed toothpaste has been broadly accepted by the mass, but not anymore...Holistic households are mentally breaking away from common practices and increasingly interested in natural alternatives to modern toothpaste.
Free from carcinogenic dyes, pork, harsh alcohols, corn, soy, vegetable glycerin, and other toxic ingredients that does the opposite in tooth healing, maintaining a holistic dental hygiene has been scientifically and clinically proven to be just as effective as standard tooth cleaning practices.
The ancestral tooth cleaning practices I regularly do originates from Indigenous peoples of Africa, India, and Old America. These natural alternatives are plant base, environmental-friendly, offer a wide range of medicinal properties, and can be cost effective for families and individuals on a holistic journey!
Four oral health remedies
Oil Pulling
Cold-press organic virgin olive, and sesame oils are most effective in oil pulling practices. Oil pulling benefits by strengthening the jaw, improves gum health, prevent tooth decay, breaks down plaque, draws out toxins and harmful bacteria from the mouth. Each oil property varies; however all of them carry variations of antioxidants, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal activity.
Ideally, oil pulling is best effective before a meal for 20 minutes. By swishing in the mouth for at least 5-10 minutes, the emulsification process occurs thus destroying harmful bacteria. The end result is a thinned, milky white substance after the process is complete.
Frankies 457 Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the current one I used as its a huge can and tastes so divine for oil pulling. I only wish it was in glass but the can aspect is to protect the phytochemicals
Herbal Rinses
Think of alcohol-based mouth wash as the antibiotics for oral care. Mouth wash brands like Crest and Listerine are known for killing 99.9% bacteria and increase the risk of dry mouth. This is not good thing as it is not designed to distinguish between good and bad bacteria thus disrupting the mouth microbiome. Containing artificial dyes with unclean ingredients is another reason to avoid these products as it affects the integrity of the gut microbiome as well.
Tea mouth washes, or herbal rinses are healthier alternatives to Crest and Listerine. Herbal rinses are usually made from plants containing teeth-cleansing polyphenols which are known for their ability to freshen breath, balance the mouth microbiome by killing harmful bacteria, and combat mouth infections. Plant base mouth washes are enriched in calcium, manganese, and other essential minerals that can remineralize the teeth!
The best teas for herbal mouth washing are:
- Silver Needle White tea
- Rooibos leaf
- Red Raspberry leaf
- Ginger root
- Chamomile flower
- Jasmine flower
- Clove
While tea infused rinses are beneficial to one's oral health routine. It is important to be mindful of the choice of tea. Most teas contain a plant compound called tannins. Tannins is a naturally occurring brown pigment that is known for causing teeth stains.
Sea Salt rinses
Gargling room temperature sea saltwater takes 2 ingredients and is an affordable method that offers numerous of benefits to the mouth. Sea salt remineralize the teeth while offering anti-septic, anti-bacterial, and other healing benefits.
Himalayan and Celtic sea salts has the lowest sodium levels while respectively possessing high mineral levels. It takes around 15 to 30 seconds to swish the liquid in the mouth before spitting it out.
Most salt has high levels of plastic. The best little to no plastic free Celtic salt that I use is Redmond real sea salt
Teeth Cleansing Foods
Detergent foods are a short list of raw fruits that promote healthy oral health. Usually foods that are high in fiber with a firm-crisp texture are indications of fruit that promotes oral hydration.
Tip: Eat the detergent food after a meal to balance the oral pH
- Apples
- pears
- seseme seeds
- cucumbers
- seseme seeds
African Licorice Chew Sticks-Glycyrrhiza glabra
African chew sticks are edible tree branches used by indigenous peoples of Africa to naturally clean and whiten teeth. The tooth stick carries anti-viral, anti-carcinogenic, anti-bacterial properties used to treat gum disease and other mouth diseases like dental caries, gingivitis, candidiasis and reducing Streptococcus bacteria.
Chewing on the stick for 5 to 10 minutes after a meal stimulates saliva production that prevents tartar build up and reduces an acidic environment while trapping bacteria in the bristles of the stick
Since reaping the benefits since childhood, chew sticks are my family go-to when we're on the go or simply want to chew something. For a teething toddler, little coconut has been benefiting from gum healing and teeth cleaning while chewing her heart out.
HalalEveryday sells the licorice sticks from West Africa that we use habitually. I like 1 ingredient aspect and how much come in one bag.
Tooth powder
Tooth powders can be premade, or handmade at home as a cheaper alternative. In fact a lot of the ingredients are EBT friendly as a cheaper solution with roughly 15 ingredients that can be used to make herbal powders in the comfort of your own home.
I did use coconut oil in my experiment but I do not anymore because coconut oil is highly anti-bacterial and that’s what we don’t want.
Aromatic herbs can be added such as ceylon cinnamon, clove, or anise star to offer some flavor and additional mouth cleansing properties. A paste can be made using a mouth cleansing oil like cold-press olive oil, plain water, or herbal tea water.
Once the powder is mixed with a liquid, brushing the teeth for 2 to 5 minutes can show immediate positresults. Homemade powders are stored in the fridge or cabinet in its powder form for at least 2 weeks to preserve the nutrients in the crushed herbs.
My homemade remineralizing tooth powder recipe are my favorite DIYs to make as it has really improved the texture, appearance, and taste of my mouth tremendously. Tooth powders are highly prized as teeth polishers as the clays buffers and keeps the smile bright almost immediately and is great to beat pregnancy and post partum tooth sensitivity.
Herbal powders made of raw ingredients needs special attention to prevent abrasive brushing due to some of the ingredients. So if your teeth is sensitive or enamel is worn off, it’s best to either not use it at all or test it out with the help of a holistic based dentist.
What do you use to clean your teeth?
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