Don’t we all want healthy teeth and gums?
Yet sometimes, even with brushing, flossing, and eating healthy foods — it still isn’t enough. Or maybe you just want a whiter, brighter smile without the toxic ingredients in conventional products.
It’s herbs to the rescue!
10 Herbs For Healthy Teeth & Gums
These 10 healing herbs prevent decay, and even restore. Add them to toothpaste, make them into tea, or make them into tinctures to combine into an herbal mouthwash (see recipe below!).
If you aren’t growing your own herbs, any of these may be found at either Mountain Rose Herbs or Bulk Herb Store.
Finally, to make any of these herbs into a tincture, check out How To Make An Herbal Tincture (aka Herbal Extract) or if you’d rather not use alcohol, How To Make A Non-Alcoholic Herbal Extract {Herbal Glycerite}.
Herb #1 — Myrrh
This is my go-to for teeth and gums. When toothache strikes, a little myrrh tincture placed on the tooth relieves pain in less than a minute.
It also heals and tightens gums, cures bleeding gums, and fights bacteria that would otherwise cause gum disease and tooth decay. I use it daily as a preventative.
Herb #2 — Neem
Traditionally, sticks of neem were used as a natural toothbrush due to its strong antibacterial properties. Even today, it’s regaining popularity.
Modern research attests its ability to reduce plaque, prevent cavities and gum disease, and freshen breath. You can easily add powdered neem to your usual toothpaste.
And remember, the bark is more potent than the leaf.
Herb #3 — Echinacea
No, echinacea isn’t just a cold-fighting herb! It also reduces inflammation, boosts the immune system, and helps fight infection in the mouth.
Herb #4 — Goldenseal
This herb is especially helpful for healing gums. It’s antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory.
Herb #5 — Oregon Grape Root
Antimicrobial and an astringent, Oregon grape root also soothe and tightens swollen gums.
Herb #6 — Propolis
Although you don’t want to use this if you have a bee allergy, propolis is an excellent antimicrobial herb for mouth infections and keeping disease at bay.
Herb #7 — Plantain
You probably already have this herb growing in your yard! It heals wounds and draws out infections (for more information, check out this post).
Just pop some leaves in a jar, cover them with vodka, and let them sit for 6 weeks to create your own plantain tincture.
Herb #8 — Sage
This is another commonly found herb that’s also a natural astringent. It tightens gums and calms a sore mouth.
Herb #9 — White Oak Bark
This herb soothes and reduces swelling.
Herb #10 — Peppermint
Of course, any list of herbs for dental health wouldn’t be complete without peppermint! It freshens breath and may help to whiten teeth, too!
Make Your Own Natural Mouthwash!
You can combine any of your favorite herbal tinctures into a natural, healing mouthwash! If you don’t want to make your own tinctures (see instructions here and here), you can easily buy some ready-made, too.
This is my favorite blend of healing herbal tinctures:
If using more than 1 tincture, combine a small amount of each into a bottle with a dropper. When you’re ready to use, fill a glass with about a mouthful of water. Add 20 to 30 drops of your natural mouthwash to the water. (If you are dealing with an infection or gum disease, you may wish to make your mouthwash stronger.) Swish around your mouth and then spit it out.
I should note that these herbs were not chosen based on taste! This makes a strong, herby-tasting mouthwash. If you like a minty-fresh mouth, definitely experiment with adding peppermint to your mix.
Important Notice: This article was originally published at traditionalcookingschool.com where all credits are due.
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