Researching natural dental care always seems to bring us around to Dr. Weston A. Price, a famous dentist who studied indigenous people all over the world and discovered that those who were still eating traditional diets had virtually no dental problems but when those same tribes were introduced to the Western diet, disease, including oral disease followed.
Because we are here to share information on herbal tooth care, we will not go into diet as there are many articles and books on the subject for readers to consider. Having said that, diet is paramount in both overall body health as well as tooth, gum and mouth health and as always, we suggest eating healthy mostly plant based foods and eliminating or severely cutting out sugar to keep our teeth strong and healthy.
Now on to the medicinal plants.
The enamel of our teeth is made up of things like copper, cobalt, aluminum, lead, iodine, selenium, manganese, and nickel. These make up the hard shell and are very similar to the makeup of bones in the body.
Years ago, while studying with herbalist Susun Weed, she made the comment that 1 cup of strong high-quality herbal infusion (tea) has about 300 mg of all the calcium, magnesium and other bone building minerals and because these herbs are “foods” those minerals were easy for the body to assimilate.
Traditional dosage of herbal teas for health and prevention is 1 cup of tea 3 to 4 times a day, roughly one quart. So, if we drink a quart of tea each day, you would get approximately 1200 mg of easy to assimilate high quality minerals for tooth and bone health.
So, let’s look at a few herbs that you can use alone or mix together to get you all those amazing minerals.
One of our very favorites is Nettle leaf which is used both as a food and medicine by folks all over the world. Nettle boasts about 428 mg of calcium per cup which is four times the amount of calcium as kale according to KP Khalsa. Nettle is rich in Iron and Vitamin C so very useful for anemia and fatigue.
Oatstraw. A cup of oatstraw infusion contains more than 300 milligrams of calcium plus generous amounts of many other minerals. In addition, it is nourishing to the nervous system and helps calm emotions. Oatstraw is exceptionally good at nourishing heart health and moderating cholesterol.
Other amazing mineral rich herbs include lemon balm, red clover, alfalfa, horsetail and the list go on.
To make a mineral rich infusion, put 1 oz of your chosen herb or herb blend in a quart mason jar and fill with boiling water. Stir herbs in so all plant material is covered and wet. Put lid on mason jar and leave overnight to steep. In the morning strain and drink throughout the day.
Tooth powders
Commercial toothpaste can be toxic. Fluoride is not the only ingredient to avoid. Many commercial toothpastes include saccharine or aspartame, artificial dyes, sodium lauryl sufate, and/or triclosan.
The great news is you can make your own tooth powder inexpensively and easily right in your own kitchen. Most tooth powders are made with baking soda and high quality mineral rich sea salt as their base. You can add goldenseal powder and or myrrh gum powder (this herb is also slightly astringent to tighten gums) or echinacea powder for their antimicrobial properties and then perhaps a few drops of essential oil for taste. Some favorite essential oils are peppermint, eucalyptus, cinnamon, clove, lemon, orange or rosemary. Experiment with these alone or combine them to find the flavor you really like.
And mouthwash? Who doesn’t love the minty, tingly feeling your mouth has after using a mouthwash. But these, too, can have ingredients we don’t necessarily desire for good health. We like to make our own using simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen …or your garden. Try this:
Gather one large sprig of rosemary and put it in a pot of boiling water (a cup or two). Place a lid on top, reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, always with the lid so we don’t lose those volatile oils from the rosemary. When cooled, remove the rosemary sprig and pour into a glass jar, almost full. Add an essential oil of your choice: peppermint, tea tree, lemon, cinnamon, thyme, clove or eucalyptus and about ½ teaspoon of vitamin C powder (be sure to use a good natural vitamin c). Put lid on and shake vigorously. Now you are ready to use this as you would a commercial mouthwash.
Why do we use rosemary as our base for this mouthwash? It has been used for centuries thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, not to mention its pain-relieving abilities. Along with one or two of the above mentioned essential oils, you can see how this mouthwash could be a big factor in keeping your mouth healthy … and kissable.
Being mindful of what we put on our body and in our mouth is one of the reasons we turn to herbs. Affordable, available, delicious and powerful … herbs are our #1 choice for our oral health.