Herb Dental Rinses to help you avoid celebrating National Toothache Day

Sometimes I just decide to post something because the “National Day” is today.  Did you know that February 9 is National Toothache Day?  Don't just whiten those teeth, keep them healthy! Educate yourself about natural dental care and the use of herbs to maintain a healthy mouth, gums, teeth.

I was rereading an article in Mother Earth news which discussed natural ways to brush teeth and prevent tooth ailments, discovering a couple of great recipes which I tried. As my husband and I are acutely aware, dental disease has a reciprocal effect with overall body health. If you're over stressed and generally unhealthy, your immune system will be suppressed and dental caries, caused by bacteria, will flourish. If your mouth is unhealthy, especially with gum disease, it overloads your health every moment of the day, lowering your resistance to all disease. This suppression of immunity resulted in my husband being unable to suppress an infection he picked up in Guatemala which landed him in the hospital multiple times.  Since changing how he takes care of his teeth my husband has seen a drastic improvement in his health including the management of his diabetes.

Although I found serval interesting tidbits especially about Ayurveda medicinal practices, I think you should read them for yourself to determine what you need to enact in your life.  However, I did find in the article reference to herbal rinses you could add to your daily routine which can improve oral health, so I thought I would share them with you here. 

Check out the end of this post for sources and other information.

According to Learning Herbs there are three steps to improving mouth health:

1. Manually Removing Food Debris and Plaque and Tartar. Promote dental health by brushing and flossing daily and use a mouth wash. By ridding the mouth of food debris, it also helps to decrease the number of bacteria in the mouth. Brushing, flossing and using a mouth wash decreases the buildup of plaque, which then decreases the amount of tartar. Regular visits to the dental hygienist will remove any built-up tartar. 

2. Promoting Healthy Mouth Bacteria.  Most of us have heard of the concept of promoting healthy gut bacteria and the same principles apply to the mouth. There are beneficial and harmful bacteria in the mouth and by supporting beneficial bacteria through healthy lifestyle practices, like diet, it can decrease the harmful bacteria. 

3. Remineralization of Teeth. Our skin is constantly regenerating itself, sloughing off dead skin cells and regenerating new ones. Teeth are similar in that they can remineralize. Saliva is designed to remineralize our teeth and, in doing so, can continually build our tooth enamel. The catch is that the saliva has to contain a plentiful amount of minerals in order to remineralize our teeth effectively. In order for our saliva to have minerals we have to be ingesting minerals in our diet and avoid activities that decrease minerals in our body (such as sugar consumption and chronic stress).

Herbalists and natural healers recommend using warming, astringent, connective-tissue-healing herbs to enhance and maintain oral health. These herbs can be used as a rinse or applied as packs (a pinch of powder, wetted to a mush with a liquid such as water or vitamin E, and tucked next to the teeth). Rinses are made by preparing an herb as tea in the usual way, or by simply stirring herb powder into water. Hold the rinse in the mouth for a few seconds or up to several minutes, gargle, and spit out.

Herbs to Use in Dental Rinses

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has soothing, anti-inflammatory properties that help heal irritated, tender gums. It also has a mild antiseptic action.
• Chamomile – (Matricaria chamomilla) soothing and relaxing it is also good for the inflammation of gingivitis.
• Echinacea (Echinacea spp.), an immune-stimulating herb, helps combat infection; it is anti-inflammatory and antiviral.
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibiotic properties; it’s good for healing and preventing gum problems.
• Horsetail is rich in silica, vitamin E, selenium and other minerals. When used as a mouth rinse, it can help in coagulation, decrease bleeding and heal oral infections.
• Peppermint (Mentha piperita) provides a pleasant, freshening flavor and sensation.
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) has strong astringent properties, making it a favorite herb for tightening the gums and soothing a sore mouth.
• Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata) Plantain is scorned as a weed by many but is a beloved herb to those who truly know it. The list of plantain’s medicinal abilities could go on and on so for this we’ll simply say it is a wonderful herb to help heal wounds and fight infection.
• Thyme (Thymus ssp) Thyme has a chemical in it called thymol which is often times an ingredient in commercial mouthwashes and rinses.  So adding thyme to an infusion for an herbal rinse can give you the anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties thyme is known for.  It will assist with fighting infection.
• White oak bark (Quercus alba), a strong astringent, is helpful for healing swollen, tender and bleeding gums and mucous membranes, and has a clotting and antiseptic effect.

Herbal rinses to try

Simple Chamomile Mouthwash

Make a stronger than normal tea by steeping 2 tsp of chamomile flowers in 6 to 8 ounces of water and allow to steep 10 to 12 minutes.  Chill and use as a rinse after brushing teeth

Sophisticated multi-herb Dental rinse

The herbs in this rinse all have properties that will help with healing of the gums as well as killing the bacteria.

1 tsp thyme

2 tsp calendula petals
1 tsp sage
1 tsp peppermint
2 tsp plantain

Combine herbs and store in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Use 1 to 2 tsp of blend in 6 to 8 ounces of water.  Boil water and add herbs.  Steep 7 to 10 minutes.  Chill tea. 

To Use: Hold the rinse in the mouth for a few seconds or up to several minutes, gargle, and spit out.

Refreshing Herbal Mouth Rinse

1 cup brandy or vodka

1 Tbls. sage, dried
1 Tbls thyme, dried
1 Tbls. eucalyptus, dried
1 Tbls. rosemary, dried
1 Tbls. dried lemon zest.
1 cup distilled water
½ tsp vanilla

Into a jar (with a lid) place brandy or vodka, dried sage, thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary, and dried lemon zest. Cover and set aside for two weeks, shaking occasionally. Strain, add distilled water and vanilla.

To Use: pour a few tablespoons into a glass, swish in the mouth, and spit.

Additional sources on Herbal Dental health:

Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums (North Atlantic books, 2013) by Nadine Artemis

Complete Handbook of Nature Cure: Comprehensive Family Guide to Health the Nature Way (Jaico Pub House, 2003) by H.K. Bakhru

Ayurvedic Beauty Care (Lotus, 1994), by Melanie Sachs

The Herbs of Life (Crossing Press, 1992) by Lesley Tierra, L.Ac.

Traditional Healers Handbook (Healing Arts, 1988), by Hakim Chrishti, N.D.

Planetary Herbology (Lotus, 1988),  by Michael Tierra, O.M.C., L.Ac.

The New Holistic Herbal (Element, 1983), by David Hoffmann

www.learningherbs.com