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Cheap & Easy Do-It-Yourself Dental Care
| March 10, 2010 | |
| Jo Wehage : Head Operations Ego |
Recently we talked about 4 Cheap and Easy Skin Treatments You Can Eat, citing the importance of not putting toxic chemicals on your skin that were readily absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. That got me to thinking about the caustic ingredients we put in our mouth to “clean” our teeth and gums.
It strikes me as slightly ironic that many of us are moving away from the more harsh household cleaners, while less of us give much thought to the cleaners in our own mouths.
Is it possible we’re cleaning our teeth with toxic chemicals? Yes!
Better yet, is there a cheap and easy way to do a better job than most commercial toothpaste and mouthwash options? Yes!
You already know how important brushing and flossing is for your oral hygiene and overall health, so here are some super easy and super cheap toothpaste and mouthwash options you can make right at home.
Do-It-Yourself Toothpaste
Quick & Easy
Ingredients: a dab of baking soda & water
Put a small amount of baking soda in the palm of your hand. Wet the head of your toothbrush and brush.
Simple, easy and your teeth will have that just-from-the-dentist feel.
Some also add sea salt to help combat plaque.
Coconut & Mint
4 Tbs Coconut Oil
6 Tbs Baking Soda
25 drops of Peppermint Oil (also try wintergreen, spearmint, etc)
1-2 packets of Stevia (in my case I used a liquid stevia extract)
You’ll also need a small container with an air-tight lid.
Soften the coconut oil on the stove using the warm setting. Mix in the baking soda, stevia and essential oil of your choice. Once mixed, pour into a container let it sit until it turns into a paste. You can accelerate this by putting it in the refrigerator.
I use a tiny spoon to add the paste to my toothbrush. Some just dunk their toothbrush in the container. Others have said they used a pump bottle, but I think my mixture would have been too thick for that.
Also note: various essential oils have various strengths, so you may want to start with less drops of peppermint, just in case.
Also, if you don’t like mint, try a little cinnamon in the mixture.
Vegetable Glycerine and Mint
4 Tbs Baking Soda
½ tsp Table Salt or finely ground Sea Salt
2-3 Tbs Vegetable Glycerine (adds sweetness)
30 drops Peppermint Oil
Mix and store in an airtight container.
Look for vegetable glycerin at your local health food store or Whole Foods.
Do-It-Yourself Mouthwash
With Hydrogen Peroxide
1 Tbs of Hydrogen Peroxide
5 Tbs of Water
Add peppermint oil for flavor
I multiplied this recipe by 3 and store it in a glass bottle with a lid. Store in your medicine cabinet away from light.
With Baking Soda
8 oz Water
1 Tbs of Baking Soda
4 drops Peppermint Oil
4 drops Tea Tree Oil
Store in an airtight container.
Do-It-Yourself Breath Freshner
Grow some fresh parsley and have it on hand. Also high in vitamin A and C.
Chew on fennel or anise seeds. Chew thoroughly.
Drink unsweetened peppermint tea.
Next:
The reason for the main ingredients
What are some of the chemicals I’m avoiding and why?
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[5 Comments] [5 Comments]
Love these!
One thing to bear in mind is that different people have different levels of bacteria in our mouths. If we have a high level then decay can be rampant. So it is important we get our teeth checked regulary by our dentist coach so that bacteria levels can be tested and treated. It is also important to keep our gums healthy too.
another helpful tool is the tongue cleaner, it really helps keep the mouth fresh and cravings down.
As a retired Registered Dental Hygienist who worked in the dental field for 28 years, I love this article! Until recently I would have argued that fluoride was absolutely essential for protecting against dental caries, as I was taught that in dental school. I learned some facts about dental health from this
I would hate to work in the dental field these days, as I would have to argue with my boss concerning the facts you presented. Dentists are taught that flouride is mandatory for dental health. The oral health companies whose products contain fluoride have convinced the profession that this is so. I fear that it would be extremely difficult to persuade many dentists that this is a harmful myth. Some of these same dentists are still using amalgam restorative materials composed of mercury and other metals, and they would argue that they have been in use for ages and that they do not cause physiological harm. Thanks again for this information.
I would just like to add, that hydrogen peroxide has a very slight whitening effect when used regularly. Also, it kills the anaerobic bacteria that cause periodontal disease. It can have a side effect of causing a dark staining of the tongue nicknamed “black hairy tongue”, but it occurs rarely and usually only if a person over-uses the peroxide for quite a long period of time.