It has taken quite some time, but oil pulling has finally gained some popularity in the U.S. It — including coconut oil pulling — is one of the best ways to remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums.

In fact, it’s been shown to be even more effective than flossing. Learn about how it came about, its benefits as well as how to do it.

What Is Oil Pulling?

Used primarily in Ayurvedic medicine, oil pulling — known as gandusha in Ayurveda — is a fantastic oral detoxification procedure that’s simply done by swishing a tablespoon of oil (typically coconut oil, olive or sesame oil) in your mouth for 10–20 minutes.

Oil pulling works by cleaning (detoxifying) the oral cavity in a similar way that soap cleans dirty dishes. It literally sucks the dirt (toxins) out of your mouth and creates a clean, antiseptic oral environment that contributes to the proper flow of dental liquid that’s needed to prevent cavities and disease.

History

Most of us cannot even imagine what life would be like without brushing and flossing our teeth every day. However, in the scheme of things, brushing teeth is relatively, new since the nylon bristle toothbrush didn’t become part of our normal American experience until the late 1930s, and many people don’t floss on a regular basis as is.

It’s important to remember that, in spite of the fact that most people in American today were all raised with toothbrushes in our mouths, our ancestors didn’t brush their teeth with toothpaste for thousands of years. And, as far as archeological evidence suggests, most people throughout history lived until a ripe old age with most of their teeth intact and in a strong, healthy state.

Why didn’t their teeth rot?

Well, first of all, they ate real food and didn’t consume processed sugars and grains filled with phytic acid, which destroy tooth enamel. Secondly, they took care of their teeth through natural means like chew sticks that they rubbed against the teeth, as has been found in Egyptian tombs dating to back to 3000 B.C. Third, depending on the culture and region of the world, many people also practiced oil pulling.

Benefits

To date, there are only around 30–40 oil pulling research studies reporting on the health benefits of oil pulling. Although it is unfortunate that science has taken so long to take this ancient art seriously, it is encouraging to see the literature database grow. I’m excited to read more as researchers catch on to how oil pulling can help transform someone’s life.

The Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, for example, highlighted a study that reviewed holistic approaches to oral health and discovered that oil pulling is one of the most effective natural health solutions known to scientists that prevent tooth decay and loss. Praised for curing more than 30 systemic diseases, the authors of this study have some profound things to say about this ancient natural healing practice:

Oil pulling is a powerful detoxifying Ayurvedic technique that has recently become very popular as a CAM remedy for many different health ailments. Using this method, surgery or medication could be prevented for a number of chronic illnesses. The oil therapy is preventative as well as curative. The exciting aspect of this healing method is its simplicity.

Ayurveda advises oil gargling to purify the entire system; as it holds that each section of the tongue is connected to different organ such as to the kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, small intestines, stomach, colon, and spine, similarly to reflexology and TCM.

I really like this passage because it highlights how the detoxification effect that oil pulling has on the entire body reaches far beyond oral health. This is especially important for people who have conditions that contraindicate brushing, such as mouth ulcer, fever, indigestion, those who have tendency to vomit, asthma, cough or thirst.

In addition, I found these five studies showing how sesame seed or coconut oil pulling can help a wide range of oral health issues:

• According to researchers from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in Tamil Nadu, India, oil pulling reduces Streptococcus mutans bacteria — a significant contributor to tooth decay — in the plaque and saliva of children. In the authors’ words, “Oil pulling can be used as an effective preventive adjunct in maintaining and improving oral health.”
• As uncovered by researchers from the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in Chennai India, oil pulling significantly lessens aerobic microorganisms in plaque among children with plaque-induced gingivitis.
• From the same researchers in Chennai, oil pulling has been shown to be as effective as mouthwash at improving bad breath and reducing the microorganisms that may cause it.
• Further research published in the Nigerian Medical Journal found that coconut oil pulling can decrease plaque in those with gingivitis thanks in part to its lauric acid content.
• As far as bad breath — aka halitosis or oral malodor — researchers found that “oil pulling with sesame oil is equally efficacious as chlorhexidine in reducing oral malodor and microbes causing it. It should be promoted as a preventive home care therapy.” Chlorexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic used in oral health.

Why Coconut Oil

Being a staple in India, it’s no wonder why many Ayurvedic medicinal practitioners would naturally gravitate toward sesame while practicing gandusha. However, I would like to suggest using beneficial coconut oil instead.

Why? Because coconut oil has been shown to:

• Balance hormones
• Battle candida
• Improve digestion
• Moisturize skin
• Reduce cellulite
• Decrease wrinkles and age spots
• Balance blood sugar and improve energy
• Increase HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol

Because it’s highly absorbable, you can experience many of these benefits simply by oil pulling. Make sure to use unrefined coconut oil to ensure there are no additives to it. Unrefined coconut oil is pure, natural coconut oil that won’t contain any harmful unnatural substances.

Another option is to use sunflower seed oil, but again, I recommend coconut oil pulling for all the reasons mentioned above. Plus, as researchers have dug deeper into coconut oil pulling in particular, they’ve found that it can fight Streptococcus mutans, gingivitis and more.

How to Do Oil Pulling

This is how I like to do coconut oil pulling:

1. Make sure to oil pull first thing in the morning right after you get out of bed — before you brush your teeth or drink anything. Often it’s a great thing to do in the shower.
2. Gently swish one tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth and between your teeth for 10–15 minutes, making sure that you don’t swallow any of the oil. (Do this gently so you don’t wear out your jaw and cheeks!)
3. Spit out the oil in the trash (not the sink so it doesn’t clog up the plumbing… ask me how I know), and immediately rinse your mouth out with warm water (use salt water for added antimicrobial properties).
4. Finally, brush your teeth as normal.
5. Voila, easy as that!

I recommend oil pulling three to four times per week with coconut oil and also adding essential oils to your mixture.

As you can see, oil pulling with coconut oil is a simple procedure with very effective results. If 10–20 minutes sounds like a long time, simply do oil pulling while in the shower or while driving to work in the morning. You can even do it while you do work around the house to help pass the time.

Next I want to share with you how you can use essential oils to take your oil pulling benefits to a whole new level.

Oil Pulling with Essential Oils

Essential oils carry some of the most potent antibacterial and antifungal properties on the planet, and they can easily and safely enhance the oil pulling experience. Additionally, as essential oils absorb into your oral mucosa, your body will enjoy the antioxidant and medicinal powers inherent in these potent compounds.

Here are two of my favorite ways to use essential oils during my morning oil pulling routine:

• For everyday use: Add 3 drops of wild orange, lemon or peppermint with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
• When battling an infection or sickness: Change it up a bit and mix clove oil, cinnamon oil or tea tree oil as a homeopathic remedy.

Is Oil Pulling Dangerous?

Here’s some common questions asked about oil pulling:

1. What age is good for oil pulling?

Since the oil swished around in the mouth and spit out, then there should be no harm in oil pulling even at a young age. Try a smaller amount of oil though, say about a half to one teaspoon. You want to make sure it’s comfortable, and it should be an enjoyable experience, not a dreaded one. If people don’t like it and they need healing for their teeth, then I would focus on adjusting their diet to heal cavities naturally.

2. Can I pull oil if I have fillings?

According to the Coconut Research Center:

Oil pulling will not and cannot loosen properly placed crowns or fillings. The only time oil pulling will affect crowns or fillings is if the teeth underneath have decayed and are full of infection. In this case, the foundation on which the crowns or fillings are secured to is badly decayed and unable to hold the dental material. Oil pulling removes bacteria, pus, and mucus. It cannot pull out porcelain, amalgam, or composite dental materials from the teeth.

The only reason that a filling will become loose is if you have a rot or infection in the tooth. Then you will want to address this issue to keep the infection from spreading to your body.

3. Why do I have to oil pull in the morning?

You don’t. The best time to oil pull is in the morning on an empty stomach, but you can certainly try other times during the day or before eating.

4. Why do I have to oil pull for so long?

When you oil pull, you are actually using up the oil in the process of swishing the oil. It will become watery and sometimes milky after about 15 minutes. If you pull with less oil you may notice it change texture sooner, but you want to make sure you have enough oil to really clean your mouth and teeth.

5. How long does it take to see a difference with my teeth and mouth?

Within one week, most people notice a cleaner mouth and change in their breath. Within a month, some people have experienced dental repair or healthier gums.

6. Are there any oil pulling side effects or symptoms?

Every person is different. Some people may have a release of mucous in their throats or noses, as the swishing can release sinuses and cause drainage. This is harmless, but if it is uncomfortable to you, then you may want to blow your nose before oil pulling.

Also some people experience jaw soreness. If this happens, try swishing more gently and don’t pull between your teeth as hard, or maybe cut back a few minutes down to 8–10 minutes and then build back up once you get adjusted to this exercise.

Occasionally, oil pulling can trigger the gag reflex in some people. If this happens, then try leaning your head forward just slightly and using a little bit less oil. Also warming the oil a little can make it thinner and less likely to cause any gagging.

7. Can I oil pull while pregnant?

Because you spit out the toxins that are “pulled” out when swishing, there should not be any harm in oil pulling while pregnant. In fact, it can be a soothing way to clean your teeth if you experience any gum sensitivity.

Final Thoughts

• Coconut oil pulling is a common Ayurvedic practice that can help you battle tooth decay, kill bad breath, heal bleeding gums, reduce inflammation, soothe throat dryness, prevent cavities and heal cracked lips.
• Coconut oil is the best oil to use because it contains lauric acid, which has proven anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Sesame oil and sunflower are also options, but I recommend coconut oil pulling the most.
• You can also incorporate essential oils into the process to enhance oil pulling benefits.

Coconut Oil Pulling Recipe

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• Author: Dr. Josh Axe
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 1

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Description

Oil pulling with coconut oil is one of the best ways to remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums. It’s also easy to do.

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Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (choose organic, extra virgin and unrefined if possible)
• [optional] For everyday use: Add 3 drops of wild orange, lemon or peppermint oil with the coconut oil
• [optional] When battling an infection or sickness, mix in 3 drops of clove oil, cinnamon oil or tea tree oil

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Instructions

1. Make sure to oil pull first thing in the morning right after you get out of bed — before you brush your teeth or drink anything.
2. Gently swish 1 tablespoons of coconut oil in your mouth and between your teeth for 10 to 15 minutes, making sure that you don’t swallow any of the oil. (Do this gently so you don’t wear out your jaw and cheeks!)
3. Spit out the oil in the trash (not the sink so it doesn’t clog up the plumbing … ask me how I know), and immediately rinse your mouth out with warm water (use salt water for added antimicrobial properties).
4. Finally, brush your teeth as normal.

Notes

• I recommend oil pulling three to four times per week with coconut oil and also adding essential oils to your mixture.

• Prep Time: 10 min

Keywords: oil pulling, coconut oil pulling

The post Try Coconut Oil Pulling for Healthier Teeth and Gums appeared first on Dr. Axe.

If you care about your health and that of your family, then you are really careful about what you put on the table and what they put in their mouths. That includes toothpaste.

Commercial toothpastes are loaded with ingredients you wouldn’t feed to your worst enemy, and they don’t belong in toothpaste either. Luckily, it’s cheap and easy to make a good, basic homemade baking soda toothpaste.

The recipe below will work at least as well as a standard commercial toothpaste. You may already have all the ingredients in your pantry. Plus whipping up a batch will cost you a lot less than buying a tube of natural toothpaste at your local health food store.

Commercial Toothpaste Ingredients to Avoid

First, let’s look at some of the questionable ingredients that are often found in commercial toothpastes (some are probably dangerous; others are just unnecessary), which you can avoid by making your own homemade baking soda toothpaste:

• Artificial colorings. Food dyes have been linked to cancer, skin rashes and behavioral problems. Who cares what color your toothpaste is, anyway?
• Artificial flavorings. We’d rather stick with natural flavor, thank you.
• Fluoride. The ADA swears this stuff prevents cavities. But recent studies suggest the opposite may be true. Plus it has a lot of nasty side effects.
• Glycerin. This is a natural food byproduct used to give a smooth mouthfeel. It is probably reasonably safe to consume, but it may interfere with tooth mineralization. So it may be a good idea to leave out of toothpaste.
• Hydrogen Peroxide. This has a reputation for whitening teeth. But it takes a long time to have that effect (much longer than a typical brushing session). Plus it can be harsh on the soft tissue of your mouth.
• Propylene glycol. Used to give a smooth mouthfeel, this fossil fuel processing byproduct is also used to make antifreeze. It doesn’t belong in your mouth.
• Saccharin and other artificial sweeteners.
• Sodium lauryl sulfate. A foaming agent, which has been linked to an increased risk of developing canker sores. It’s not what we want in our mouths.
• Titanium dioxide. This white powder is used to make toothpaste bright white. Recent studies have linked it to poor gut health. Off-white toothpaste is just fine with us, thanks.
• Triclosan. An antimicrobial chemical linked to numerous health and environmental problems. Don’t even think about using a toothpaste (or anything else) with triclosan in it.

Why We Brush Our Teeth

Let’s start by talking a little about why we brush our teeth and what a good toothpaste homemade baking soda toothpaste should offer. We brush our teeth to remove any acidic or sugary/starchy food particles and every smidgen of plaque — that slimy biofilm that can coat our teeth and lead to tooth decay.

Brushing — the mechanical process — is the No. 1 way to protect your teeth from decay. It’s far more important than toothpaste, mouthwash or any other product! You may be surprised to learn that you can brush your teeth without any toothpaste at all. Just give all the surfaces of your teeth (plus your tongue and all the other surfaces inside your mouth) a good rubbing with a soft-bristled toothbrush. This “dry brushing” is a great way to brush when you’re away from home or between meals.

But adding the right toothpaste can make brushing extra-effective.

What Makes a Good Toothpaste?

Adding just a little bit of something gritty (a very mild abrasive) makes brushing away that plaque a bit easier. But keep in mind that too much or too strong an abrasive is not a good thing, as you may start removing more than just plaque and food particles!

Baking soda is a cheap, readily-available and very effective mild abrasive. Dipping your moistened brush in plain, dry baking soda is quick, easy and effective for basic tooth cleaning. But no one is going to rave about the flavor (salty) or mouthfeel (mildly gritty) of brushing with plain baking soda. Also, it’s hard to get it to stay on your brush.

How to Make Baking Soda Toothpaste

This is where making a homemade baking soda toothpaste comes in: creating a product that not only helps gently remove plaque, but also stays on your brush and feels/tastes good in the mouth. You can just mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste. But a few other additions make a much nicer paste with a smoother mouthfeel and flavoring to mask some of the salty aftertaste. In fact, you don’t have to use baking soda at all.

You can find a good basic homemade baking soda toothpaste recipe at the end of this article. But feel free to experiment with different combinations and proportions until you get a toothpaste that works for you and your family.

Here is a list of good ingredients for making homemade baking soda toothpaste, including readily-available ingredients, mild abrasives and liquids to blend them with. Plus I’ve included tooth-friendly flavorings and sweeteners to make the paste more appealing.

Potential ingredients:

• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Baking soda has many uses. In toothpaste, it acts as an ideal mild abrasive, which dissolves, leaving no grit behind. It is alkaline, so it has the added benefit of helping to neutralize excess acid in the mouth.
• Bentonite clay. This finely powdered product is a mild abrasive, alkaline so it helps neutralize excess acid in the mouth, full of trace minerals, and helps draw toxins out of the body. If you have silver fillings, you may want avoid clay as the drawing property could draw out mercury.
• Cacao nibs (or powder). Not to be confused with cocoa (a chemically-treated product), cacao is raw chocolate and it is loaded with nutrients and trace minerals. In toothpaste, it also acts as a very mild abrasive. And it tastes yummy.
• Coconut oil. This amazing substance may be the most versatile food and health aid on the planet. In toothpaste, it gives a smooth mouthfeel, holds other stuff together, and helps kill nasty microorganisms — including candida and tooth decay bacteria — while supporting beneficial ones. Organic, cold-pressed and unrefined is the best kind to use, if possible. Coconut oil has one odd characteristic: it melts at about 76 degrees Fahrenheit, which means your toothpaste will be very stiff in cool conditions and runny and prone to separating if it gets warmer than 75 F. This changeability doesn’t affect how well your toothpaste works. But it does mean that it’s better to keep homemade toothpastes containing coconut oil in a jar than a tube. This way you can scoop it out when very firm or dip your brush in it if it liquefies (and re-mix it if it separates). Take advantage of coconut oil’s low melting temperature when mixing up a batch by warming the jar in a container of hot water for 10 or 15 minutes before measuring out the now-liquified oil and mixing it with other ingredients.
• Diatomaceous earth (DE). These sharp bits of silicon are the remains of the shells of tiny aquatic animals called diatoms. It is a mild abrasive and contains trace minerals.
• Essential oils. Essential oils are a good way to mask flavors while adding nicer ones. Plus some offer additional benefits. Clove oil is antibacterial; peppermint boosts energy and is a familiar flavor for toothpaste; and cinnamon oil fights inflammation and viruses.
• Guar gum. When mixed with liquid, this natural product creates a gluey substance that helps thicken toothpaste and keep it from separating. Blend the dry powder with the other dry ingredients before adding any water. Otherwise, by itself, guar gum powder is hard to mix with water without making lumps.
• Sea salt. Sea salt is a mild abrasive and rich in trace minerals.
• Spices. Powdered spices, such as cloves, cinnamon, ginger and mint, are a good way to add flavor and some gentle abrasive to homemade toothpaste. Be sure they are finely ground to avoid a gritty paste.
• Stevia. If you want tooth-friendly sweetness, stevia is a good choice. Choose powdered extract, powdered stevia leaf, or a plain or flavored liquid stevia extract.
• Water. If coconut oil doesn’t appeal to you (or you are out of it), water is a good basic moistening agent for dry powders. It also has the advantage of remaining liquid down to 32 F. So once you mix up a paste, it is going to stay the same firmness regardless of changes in room temperature.
• Xylitol. We aren’t fond of using this as a sweetener in food because of the possible health issues and side effects associated with consuming larger quantities. But, being a sugar alcohol, it has a unique quality that may make it a good sweetener for toothpaste. Sugar alcohols are attractive to bacteria. But they can’t metabolize them, so they die after consuming them. Sugar alcohols may also support re-mineralization.

Tips:

• Adding more baking soda helps keep your paste firmer in warm weather. Adding less baking soda makes it less firm, which makes dispensing it easier in the winter if your house is cool.
• Baking soda toothpaste tastes really salty.
• Adding the full measure of xylitol makes it a salty-sweet, which kids may find more acceptable.
• Adding strong-flavored essential oil(s) doesn’t change the flavor much while you are brushing, but it does make for a pleasant aftertaste (instead of just saltiness).

How to use:

Scoop/apply about a ½ teaspoon of toothpaste onto your brush and give your teeth, and all the other surfaces in your mouth, a good brushing. The paste will liquefy almost immediately when put into your mouth, so there is no need to add water. Swish the liquid around when you are done to get it into all the nooks and crannies your brush can’t reach. Then spit out the remainder and rinse with water.

Baking Soda Toothpaste Recipe

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• Author: Dr. Josh Axe
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 30 uses

Print Recipe

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Description

There are a lot of questionable ingredients found in commercial toothpastes. Instead, make your own homemade baking soda toothpaste!

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Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2–4 tablespoons baking soda or a combination of baking soda and sea salt
• up to 1 tablespoon xylitol powder (optional)
• 20 drops cinnamon or clove essential oil (optional)
• 20 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
• small glass jar

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Instructions

1. Place coconut oil container in a bowl of hot water to liquefy it (depending on your room temperature, this may take up to 15 minutes).
2. Measure all ingredients into bowl and stir until completely blended.
3. Store the finished product in a lidded glass jar.

Notes

Adding more baking soda helps keep your paste firmer in warm weather. Adding less baking soda makes it less firm, which makes dispensing it easier in the winter if your house is cool.

• Prep Time: 5 min

Keywords: baking soda toothpaste, homemade toothpaste

The post Homemade Baking Soda Toothpaste appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Until very recently, toothpastes designed to remineralize (repair) enamel were prescription-only and all contained high levels of sodium fluoride (NaF), a substance that has been shown to be dangerous to your health (and many still contain this chemical).

Thankfully, dental researchers are starting to look for more ways to turn minor tooth decay around. Even better: you can now buy safe remineralizing toothpaste without a prescription or you make it yourself at home!

My Homemade Baking Soda Toothpaste has mild remineralizing qualities and so does my Homemade Probiotic Toothpaste, but for powerful remineralization action, you’ll need to up the ante a bit.

This homemade remineralizing toothpaste takes advantage of the remineralizing powers of natural ingredients like bentonite clay (rich in calcium), magnesium chloride, calcium phosphate, and clove oil.

Can these natural ingredients really help? Yes! Calcium phosphate, for example, has been shown in scientific studies to even be more effective at remineralizing teeth than fluoride.

Why Should You Use a Remineralizing Toothpaste?

We may think of our teeth as permanent structures, but the mineral building blocks (mostly calcium phosphate) in our teeth are in a constant state of flux, with some building blocks leaving and other new building blocks coming in to replace them.

If more building blocks are leaving than returning, you end up with porous tooth enamel (the outer layer that is supposed to be super-hard), which is more susceptible to tooth decay bacteria. This net loss of minerals is called tooth demineralization.

Can you turn tooth demineralization around? Yes! Encouraging more mineral building blocks to repair porous enamel and mildly decayed spots on your teeth is called remineralization. And it is a proven technology. This is great news because intact original teeth are better looking, stronger, and longer-lasting than teeth with even the best fillings in them (plus you are saved the discomfort of drilling and filling cavities).

If your teeth are prone to decay, you can really benefit from a remineralizing toothpaste for cavities. A high quality remineralizing toothpaste is a powerful way to deliver remineralizing compounds to your teeth and fend off decay.

Ingredients

There are many remineralizing toothpaste recipes out there, but this just may be the best remineralizing toothpaste without fluoride because it combines such beneficial natural ingredients, including:

• Bentonite clay: If you’re making a remineralizing toothpaste, bentonite clay is a top choice of ingredients to include in your recipe. Can bentonite clay remineralize teeth? Bentonite clay, also called Montmorillonite clay, is rich in minerals, including calcium, magnesium, silica, sodium, copper, iron and potassium. It’s also known to possess antibacterial and detoxifying abilities.
• Cacao powder: Cacao (raw chocolate — not to be confused with cocoa, which is a highly-processed product) is the best-kept secret in tooth health! It has been shown to fight tooth decay by suppressing the bacteria that cause it and making it harder for them to coat teeth and gums. In toothpaste, cacao powder also acts as a mild abrasive. And perhaps even better, it tastes really good, making tooth brushing a pleasure (and helping to cover less pleasant flavors).
• Xylitol: Not only does xylitol provide enjoyable sweet flavor to this homemade toothpaste, some scientific research to date reveals that xylitol may be able to discourage the formation of cavities. This is why you’ll commonly see it as an ingredient these days in natural toothpastes and gums.
• Calcium powder: Ideally, look for calcium phosphate. You may have heard of nano-hydroxyapatite remineralizing toothpaste. Hydroxyapatite is actually the naturally occurring form of calcium apatite, also known as calcium phosphate. Most of your teeth’s enamel and dentin is composed of hydroxyapatite. Toothpaste containing calcium phosphate (a bioavailable form of calcium found in dairy products, also called amorphous calcium phosphate and casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate/CPP-ACP), has been shown to be an effective way to remineralize teeth, with results appearing in as little as two weeks. Such toothpaste has also been found to be more effective than fluoride treatments and fluoride toothpaste for remineralizing porous enamel.
• Magnesium oil: Magnesium deficiency is prevalent in the Western world and has been linked to a wide range of conditions and diseases, including tooth decay. Teeth with higher magnesium content have been shown to be less prone to decay. Tooth gel containing calcium glycerophosphate, magnesium chloride and xylitol has been shown to reverse early tooth decay spots. Two 15-minute applications significantly reduced tooth sensitivity in most subjects. Even many mainstream dental researchers agree that calcium phosphate and magnesium remineralize teeth (unfortunately, your dentist may not have embraced them yet).
• Clove essential oil: Research shows that clove oil can actually inhibit decalcification of teeth. It’s also naturally antibacterial and rich in beneficial antioxidants. It’s a spicy and refreshing flavor addition to this toothpaste too.

How to Make DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste

To make this homemade remineralizing toothpaste, simply combine all of the dry ingredients and then add the coconut oil. If you need to liquefy the coconut oil, you can put it in a bowl of hot water until it melts before combining it with the dry ingredients.

Next, add the other liquid ingredients and stir until everything is well-combined. If you can still see the crystals of xylitol crystals, that’s ok.

If you want your final product to be an organic remineralizing toothpaste, simply opt for organic versions of ingredients where you can (you can easily find 100 percent pure bentonite clay, but there’s no such thing as a certified organic version of this natural substance).

It’s ideal to keep your homemade toothpaste in a small glass jar with an airtight lid. To maximize shelf life, use a clean spoon to put the toothpaste onto your toothbrush (rather than dipping the brush into the paste). You can also store your homemade toothpaste in the refrigerator so that it lasts longer. Typically, a remineralizing toothpaste is used once per day.

A lot of people find that in addition to experiencing less cavities, after using a remineralizing toothpaste for a while, they also aren’t as sensitive to cold food and drinks.

Precautions

Although remineralizing toothpaste can be quite effective at preventing, stopping and even reversing mild tooth decay and gum issues, it isn’t a substitute for seeing your dentist for regular exams and professional care of advanced tooth decay or gum disease.

Other Ways to Remineralize Your Teeth

Remineralization doesn’t happen overnight and there’s ideally more you should do in addition to using this remineralizing toothpaste recipe.

A high-stress lifestyle and eating a Western diet are both associated with tooth demineralization and tooth decay. So managing your stress and following a low sugar, low phytic-acid diet that is rich in minerals and fat-soluble vitamins are also key to remineralization.

Dry mouth has also been associated with tooth demineralization, so making sure you have a healthy amount of saliva is also important. Drinking plenty of water supports good saliva production.

If your mouth remains dry even after upping your water intake, try oil pulling, which is another incredible natural way to boost oral health.

Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste

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• Author: Jean Nick, MS
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 40 uses

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Description

Until very recently, toothpastes designed to remineralize (repair) enamel were prescription-only and all contained high levels of dangerous sodium fluoride (NaF). Thankfully, dental researchers are starting to look for more ways to turn minor tooth decay around. Even better: You can now buy safe remineralizing toothpaste without a prescription or you make it yourself at home!

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Ingredients

• 2–3 tablespoons of organic cacao powder OR bentonite clay OR a combination
• 3 tablespoons organic coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon granulated xylitol
• 10 drops magnesium oil OR trace minerals OR 5 drops of each
• ½ teaspoon calcium powder (calcium phosphate if possible); use a full teaspoon if you don’t use any bentonite clay
• 3 drops clove essential oil
• 3 drops vanilla oil

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Instructions

1. Measure dry ingredients into a small glass or stainless steel bowl.
2. Add the coconut oil (if it is solid, liquefy it first by setting the container in a bowl of hot water for 10–15 minutes, coconut oil melts at 76 F) and stir until completely combined.
3. Add the liquid ingredients and stir until completely combined. The xylitol crystals may still be visible; that’s fine.
4. Store in a small glass jar with a lid.

Notes

To maximize shelf life, use a clean spoon to put the toothpaste onto your toothbrush (rather than dipping the brush into the paste). You can also store your homemade toothpaste in the refrigerator so that it lasts longer. Typically, a remineralizing toothpaste is used once per day.

• Prep Time: 10 min

Keywords: DIY remineralizing toothpaste recipe

The post Homemade Remineralizing Toothpaste appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Mouthwash is a rinse that is used to kill bacteria and germs in the mouth. It is not intended to be swallowed. According to the American Dental Association, there are two main types of mouthwash: cosmetic and therapeutic.

The therapeutic version can be purchased both over-the-counter and by prescription and many may help control plaque, gingivitis, bad breath, and tooth decay. Cosmetic mouthwash, or mouth rinse, can help temporarily by staving off bad breath, but usually there is no other benefit ‚ so it’s almost like a minty chewing gum, only as a rinse. (1)

Is mouthwash safe to use? While you don’t swallow it, anything that touches the skin or body can get absorbed. Some over-the-counter mouthwash options contain ingredients that can cause organ system toxicity, for example.

The active ingredient, methyl salicylate, in many commercial mouthwashes may cause developmental/reproductive toxicity. It is important to note that doctors advise that children under the age of 6 years should not use mouthwash unless under proper supervision since they may swallow the mouthwash. (2)

Now that you have a little mouthwash background, perhaps making your own mouthwash is the way to go. It is so easy and you will avoid unnecessary chemicals getting into the body.

Also, if gingivitis is a problem for you, try my homemade mouthwash for gingivitis, bad breath and even use as a mouthwash for whitening your teeth. A natural mouthwash has many advantages, and by using some essentials oils, you can naturally cleanse your teeth and gums in no time. Let’s delve into how to make a DIY mouthwash.

How to Make Homemade Mouthwash

Using a mason jar or BPA-free plastic bottle, add the spring water, calcium carbonate powder and the trace minerals. Mix with a spoon.

Using spring water helps eliminate any bacteria that could come from regular tap water and since we are not using preservatives, that is important. Keeping those pearly whites healthy, in addition to keeping your gums healthy, is critical. (3)  Trace minerals offer excellent antioxidants, which helps repair cell damage. (4)

Next add the essential oils. Peppermint essential oil obviously provides fresh breath, but why not get the benefits of antimicrobial properties while you’re at it. And spearmint essential oil, being a relative of peppermint, does the same thing while adding a nice taste to your mouthwash. Spearmint also helps fight gingivitis.

Tea tree essential oil is a great alternative for good oral health since it helps fight bacteria and gingivitis. It also eases any inflammation that may be present in the mouth ultimately helping speed along the healing process.

Lemon essential oil helps add a little whitening sparkle to your teeth. While you don’t want to overdo it, this is a great way to keep those teeth on the whiter side without having to go for the chemical versions. If you need a little sweetness, you can add pure liquid stevia. Put the lid on and give it a good shake or two.

To use take a small sip, then swish your homemade mouthwash around in your mouth, gargling periodically for 20–30 seconds. Then spit out. Do not swallow. You can store it in a dark place or the fridge.

Homemade Mouthwash with Essential Oils

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• Author: Dr. Josh Axe
• Total Time: 5 min
• Yield: 40 uses

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Description

Most store-bought mouthwash has many ingredients that aren’t good for you. Instead, make your own mouthwash! It’s easy and can offer additional benefits with these essential oils.

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Ingredients

• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops tea tree essential oil
• 3 drops spearmint essential oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil
• 3 cups spring water
• 1 tablespoon calcium carbonate powder
• 8 drops concentrated trace minerals liquid
• 6 drops liquid pure stevia optional

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a mason jar.
2. Put the lid on the jar and tighten.
3. Shake well.

Notes

To use take a small sip, then swish your homemade mouthwash around in your mouth, gargling periodically for 20–30 seconds. Then spit out. Do not swallow. You can store it in a dark place or the fridge.

The post Homemade Mouthwash with Essential Oils appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Chronic bad breath — also known as halitosis — is something that absolutely nobody wants to deal with, and often is a sensitive topic. If you want to know how to get rid of bad breath, first it’s important to understand the actual underlying causes of this condition.

Typically, bad breath is caused from bacteria buildup within your mouth. While certain foods like garlic or onions may sometimes give you temporary bad breath, these are not usually the cause of chronic bad breath. Having bad breath on a regular basis is actually due to factors like yeast and candida overgrowth in your body.

Once you rule out any underlying problems that may possibly be causing your bad breath, you have a few options to consider for ridding yourself (and your loved ones) of this all too common problem. Read on to learn more about how to get rid of bad breath.

What Is Bad Breath?

Bad breath is a way of describing unpleasant-smelling odors coming from the mouth, also known as halitosis if it’s a chronic condition.

At one time or another, just about everyone suffers from at least a few cases of bad breath. Sometimes the cause is something you’ve eaten; other times it comes from the bacteria found in your mouth. Volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) are the major contributing factor to oral malodor (another term for bad breath), which can arise from the breakdown of food, dental plaque, oral disease and other factors.

Common Causes of Bad Breath

A common misconception about bad breath is that it originates in the gut or stomach. This is a myth. Generally speaking, bad breath comes from the back of the tongue, throat, tonsils, teeth and gums. This is where naturally occurring bacteria are found that can give off sulfur-containing compounds, resulting in bad breath. (2)

In the case of gum disease (also known as periodontal disease, which is an infection of the gums and teeth), bad breath is common because bacteria proliferate below the surface of the gums where they cause inflammation and release sulfur compounds. (4)

Food particles stuck in the mouth can also cause foul-smelling odors. (5) Temporary bad breath is usually caused by bacteria and smelly compounds found in certain food that resolves within 24 hours after the food is fully digested.

You might also wake up with bad “morning breath” because bacteria have become dry overnight, and this makes them respond with increased activity. Wondering how to get rid of bad breath in the morning? Simple: brush your teeth!

If eating certain foods is the main culprit of your bad breath, this is an easy fix, too.

Foods to avoid that can trigger bad breath include:

• Onions and garlic — These are the most problematic foods for bad breath; while both are very healthy, if you’re heading to an event and want to avoid the bad breath, avoid or use them in moderation.
• Fried foods or other high-trans-fat foods — These foods take a long time to move through the digestive system, therefore producing halitosis.
• Sugar — Sugar leads to tooth decay and gum disease, contributing to halitosis.
• Sticky foods — Avoid caramels or other types of “sticky” food that can stick to teeth and cause decay.
• Sweetened beverages — Sugary drinks coat your teeth with sugar, and many of us don’t think to brush after we consume them.

Chronic bad breath, however, is more of a symptom of an underlying problem. Causes of chronic bad breath can include: (6)

• Accumulation of bacteria in the mouth, such as due to poor oral hygiene
• Poor diet
• Gum disease/periodontal disease
• Tooth decay
• Chronic dry mouth (stagnation of saliva)
• Trapped food particles in the mouth
• Older age
• Smoking and tobacco use
• Poorly fitting dental appliances
• Yeast infections of the mouth
• Untreated dental caries (cavities)
• Sometimes more serious medical conditions, such as liver disease or diabetes

Will Mouthwash Get Rid of Bad Breath?

No matter what is causing your bad breath (ruling out any serious health issue), I recommend you work on solving the root problem, rather than masking the issue with products like chewing gum or mouthwash. First and foremost, make sure to brush your teeth with a natural toothpaste twice daily, and to floss ideally every morning and night. Tongue scraping can also be helpful for removing bacteria from your mouth.

One of the most common ways people try to tackle bad breath is by using mouthwash or chewing gum. However, most mouthwashes and gums contain alcohol, artificial sweeteners, dyes and many other ingredients that the consumers should approach with caution.

In some mouthwashes, there’s as much as 27 percent alcohol — more than an entire six pack of beer! This can cause burning sensations in the mouth and feel uncomfortable, especially if you have any open cuts in your gums, cold sores, etc. Another problem with mouthwash is that alcohol-based products only dry out your mouth and create an anaerobic, bacteria-friendly environment which further promotes bad breath.

According to the American Dental Association,” Cosmetic mouthwashes can temporarily mask bad breath and provide a pleasing flavor, but do not have an effect on bacteria or volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs).” (7)

The ethanoyl (alcohol) contained in mouthwash has also been reported to be associated with an increased oral cancer risk in some cases. University of California Berkley Wellness newsletter states that “Some researchers are concerned that long-­term use of products with alcohol may increase the risk of oral cancer, but the ADA says alcohol rinses are safe … Still, you have a history of oral cancer or risk factors for it, such as smoking, the ADA says it may be prudent to avoid such rinses.” (8)

Additionally, acetaldehyde — a by-product of mouthwash — is considered a “probable human carcinogen (Group B2)” based on human cancer studies and has been shown to irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.” (9)

If you’re able to find a mouthwash without these ingredients, they’ll often contain artificial colors and flavors you simply don’t want in your body. These types of bad-breath treatments simply mask your problem, as is so common with many Western “treatments.” The real goal should be to address the root cause and get rid of bad breath permanently.

6 Natural Remedies for How to Get Rid of Bad Breath, Fast 

If you are plagued by a persistent case of bad breath, then try any one or more of these solutions to discover a mouth of freshness.

1. Skip Sugars and Grains 

One of the first things to address is yeast and candida overgrowth, which can contribute to not only bad breath, but many others symptoms, too. You do that by following a diet that’s lower in sugar and higher in probiotic-rich foods. So if you’re consuming too many processed sugars, grains, white bread, white rice and even whole wheat products, this may be a major contributor to the problem.

Sugars and grains promote the action and growth of many bacteria. Eliminating or reducing your intake of sugar, sugar-laden products and grains will help to eliminate bad breath. Of course, this move can also help you to maintain or lose weight and improve your overall health, too.

I recommend that you temporarily try going completely grain-free and eliminating all sugar from your diet. Replace sugar and processed grains with foods including:

• High-protein foods
• High-fiber foods
• Healthy fats (see below)
• Probiotic-rich foods — some of the best probiotic-rich foods you can add in are things like 24 to 29-hour fermented homemade probiotic yogurt, buying goat milk kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha and coconut kefir. Really load up on the probiotic-rich foods to help restore healthy bacteria in your mouth.
• Fermented vegetables — treating candida with fermented vegetables, which are full of probiotics, allows that good bacteria to help overcome the yeast and candida in your body.
• Alkalizing foods — herbs, citrus fruits and vegetables. These provide vitamins A and C, antioxidants that are necessary for healthy teeth and gums.
• Parsley and mint — these decorative green leafy herbs are natural breath fresheners.
• Water — drink at least 8 glasses of water to flush toxins.
• Green tea — may also help to reduce bad breath thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. (10)

2. Consume More Healthy Fats

Make sure you’re consuming enough healthy fats — such as from oils like organic, virgin coconut oil or olive oil. Nuts, seeds, avocado, eggs, aged cheeses, fish and meat can also provide healthy fats, helping you to “crowd out” sugar and refined grains. And yes, the truth about saturated fat is that it can be beneficial, so eat a variety of fat-containing foods for optimal gut and digestive health.

Coconut oil contains specific types of fatty acids called medium-chain fatty acids, including lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid. These are antimicrobial in nature and supportive of both dental and gut health. (11) However, if you have a liver or gall bladder condition, check with your doctor first before consuming more saturated fats such as coconut oil, since high-fat meals may too hard for you to digest properly.

3. Add Supplements and Essential Oils 

The next thing to do is to add certain foods and supplements to your routine to help get rid of bad breath. The first is a probiotic supplement. The second thing you can do is use peppermint essential oil. Studies have found that peppermint oil used as an oral rinse can help reduce halitosis. (12) Peppermint oil mouth rinse is considered a safe formulation without any side effect that is useful in combatting bacteria that cause bad breath.

It’s best to brush your teeth and floss twice daily to keep your mouth clean and prevent food particles from lingering in your teeth and gyms. I make my own Homemade Probiotic Toothpaste with a mixture of baking soda, coconut oil and peppermint oil. Just a single drop of peppermint oil on your tongue or in your water can help freshen up your breath.

4. Eat Parsley

An aromatic herb that can really, really help in improving your breath is parsley. Parsley isn’t just a pretty garnish, it can be used to effectively treat bad breath.

Part of the reason parsley benefits your breath is because it’s so alkaline in nature. If you are making vegetable juice at home, try using ingredients like parsley, mint and green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and Swiss chard. Also drinking cucumber and celery juice may help to improve your breath. One study found that the alkalizing combination of raw apple, parsley, spinach and mint worked well as a natural treatment for bad breath because it has potential to increase enzyme activity and naturally oxidize and deodorize bad bacteria. (13)

Parsley and many other green plant foods are rich in chlorophyll that helps to neutralize bad breath and acts as a deodorizer. Of course, fresh mint is another herb that helps freshen your breath.

If chewing on a sprig of parsley doesn’t do the trick, then consider dipping it in vinegar first. However, if you like the way mouthwash works but don’t want the associated health risks, try this all-natural remedy for bad breath: Simply boil parsley sprigs, mint and cloves, cool and strain, then use this all-natural mouthwash daily. Drinking green tea with fresh herbs is another great solution for helping to combat bad breath.

5. Suck on a Lemon

Lemon and water can also play important roles in getting rid of bad breath. Lemon juice has been shown to have phytochemical, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities that can help kill bacteria and fungus, plus reduce inflammation in the mouth. (14)

You can suck on a lemon slice or squeeze a fresh lemon into a glass of water, and get all the benefits of lemon water. This technique is particularly effective when it comes to combating bad breath from onions, garlic and the like. Suck on a lemon slice or squeeze a fresh lemon into a glass of water. Then simply drink the water or gargle with it.

If you’re unable to do either of these, simply place a drop of lemon juice on the tip of the tongue. Lemon will stimulate saliva production which will help to combat bad breath. Having a dry mouth is commonly associated with bad breath, which brings us to the next solution …

6. Drink Lots of Water

A dry mouth can cause bad breath because it’s a breeding ground for bacteria which produce smelly compounds and by-products.

Drinking at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water per day is one of the best ways to keep these bacteria’s actions to a minimum. Often people who have jobs that require a lot of talking (like sales people, teachers, lawyers, etc.) find that they have bad breath as a result of dry mouth. Luckily there’s a simple fix: drink up to combat bad breath.

How to Address Underlying Health Conditions That Cause Bad Breath

• How to stop bad breath from the mouth — Follow the tips above, which help to balance bacteria in the mouth.  Also quit smoking, avoid using tobacco products, and get regular dental cleanings.  Make sure to treat cavities, cracks in your teeth and poor dental work from your past — such as poorly fit dental fillings or dental crowns that can harbor smelly bacteria.

• How to get rid of bad breath from the throat — Treat acid reflux/heartburn/GERD by adjusting your diet and lifestyle. Also consider if a cold or sore throat may be giving you bad breath temporarily. If dietary changes don’t seem to help, always discuss other options with your dentist.

• How to cure bad breath coming from the stomach — If you burp often, feel gassy or feel like you can “taste” bad breath coming from your digestive system. Then this may mean you need to tackle a problem occurring in your stomach. (15) Treat digestive issues including acid reflux/heartburn/GERD, food allergies and conditions like candida or SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). You may need to try an elimination diet, low carb/sugar diet or a low FODMAP diet. A sign that these GI issues may be causing bad breath is if you’re also experiencing foul odors due to gas and bloating.

• How to get rid of bad breath from gingivitis — Brush and floss regularly, make the dietary changes described above, and regularly visit your dentist for professional cleanings and examinations. It’s also very important to not smoke or use tobacco products, which will make the disease worse.

• How to get rid of bad breath from periodontal disease —  Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once per day. Also try cleaning your tongue. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and professional cleanings. Often times practicing good oral hygiene alone cannot get rid of this problem, but there are a variety of treatment options which can help, some of which are invasive and some which aren’t. Your dentist can recommend treatments to help get rid of bad breath, such as tongue scraping (called debridement) or deep gum cleaning techniques called “scaling and root planing that remove stubborn plaque and tartar.

Final Thoughts 

• Bad breath, also called halitosis, is a common condition caused by underlying problem, such as: poor oral hygiene, poor diet, gum disease, tooth decay, or other more serious medical conditions such as liver disease or diabetes.
• Bad breath usually starts in the back of the tongue, throat and tonsils. This is where naturally occurring bacteria are found that put off sulfur compounds resulting in bad breath.
• Foods that can help get rid of bad breath include: high-fiber foods, water, parsley, citrus fruits, fresh vegetables and foods high in probiotics.
• Six steps to get rid of bad breath include: skipping sugars and grains, eating more healthy fats, trying supplements and essential oils, eating parsley, sucking on lemon, and drinking lots of water.

Read Next: What Causes Receding Gums? + 10 Home Remedies

The post How to Get Rid of Bad Breath with 6 Natural Remedies appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Some people — no matter how many times they brush their teeth — have teeth stains from habits like drinking coffee or tea and/or smoking. Oftentimes yellow- or brown-tinted teeth can also point to a larger problem: unhealthy gums, thinning enamel and overall poor dental hygiene. Whitening the teeth alone won’t help protect the teeth or gums from cavities or diseases, such as gingivitis — so while white teeth are certainly a nice thing to have, it helps to keep things in perspective.

As one dentist reporting for the Dentistry IQ website puts it, “It is a misnomer that whiter teeth are the same as healthy teeth, since tooth color has very little to do with the health of the tooth. The consumer perception, though, is that white teeth equal a healthy mouth, and perception is reality.” (1) Here’s the good news: Below I explain several home remedies that help naturally whiten your teeth, while also improving overall oral hygiene. The kind of toothpaste you use plus regular brushing and flossing, using baking soda , coconut oil pulling, and tooth-healthy diet can all whiten your teeth naturally — in addition to offering benefits like antibacterial and antiseptic protection.

You may also want to check out the Environmental Working Group’s recommendations for the best kinds of toothpaste for teeth whitening. 

Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow?

Teeth become discolored, turning yellow or even a beige or brown color, due to stains that develop on both the hard, white surface of teeth (the enamel) as well as deeper within the teeth’s structure.

Underneath the enamel is a pale brown substance called dentin, which can become more visible when enamel gets thinner — a very common occurrence for many adults. (2) Dental erosion (erosive tooth wear) results from chronic loss of dental hard tissue that is chemically etched away from the tooth surface by acid and/or chelation (without bacterial involvement). (3) What are some of the reasons enamel thins? Risk factors include aging, genetics and intake of foods that promote erosion and/or staining. Many of these same unhealthy habits also increase your risk for gum disease.

While it’s unrealistic to expect that your teeth will remain shiny and very white into older age, many factors that accelerate the rate of teeth discoloration can be avoided.

Some of the reasons teeth turn yellow, beige or brown include:

• Drinking coffee or tea
• Smoking cigarettes
• Thinning tooth enamel due to aging
• Eating a poor diet. This includes consuming lots of processed foods high in acid, including soft drinks/soda, candies or sometimes even certain fruits. Even some supplements can worsen enamel thinning due to their acid content.
• Suffering from dry mouth (since lack of saliva means less protection for enamel)
• Breathing through your mouth and having blocked nasal passages. These conditions lower the amount of saliva and prevent the teeth/mouth from remoisturizing
• Antibiotic use
• Excessive fluoride intake, especially if this habit starts when you’re a child
• Genetic factors

How to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

1. Brush After Drinking or Eating

The best way to whiten your teeth naturally — though maybe not always the easiest — is to simply brush your teeth with an appropriate toothpaste after eating or drinking something. This takes a lot of persistence and can even be kind of difficult depending on where you are at the time of eating (such as work or school).

Avoiding smoking cigarettes, drinking too much coffee and/or soda, improving your oral hygiene overall, and eating a healthy diet can all also help prevent yellow teeth. If you do regularly drink staining beverages, do so through a straw and try to cut back. Try to drink more plain water after eating or drinking something staining or acidic to help reduce the negative effects.

Most food does not stain teeth, but if you are a coffee drinker or if you smoke, you can pretty much count on having discolored teeth over time due to thinning enamel and/or staining. If this is the case, then having your teeth cleaned every three months may be in order, besides trying some of the natural remedies listed here.

2. Coconut Oil Pulling

Can it be true? Coconut oil to clean your teeth? Just when you thought you heard it all when it comes to coconut oil, along comes the news that coconut oil pulling can serve as a natural teeth whitener. Some people attest to their teeth becoming whiter and overall healthier by applying coconut oil to their teeth after they brush, and most people praise the results of oil pulling.

To oil pull, simply put a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it between your teeth for five to 20 minutes, or add a few drops to your toothbrush and brush it on. Another oral care option is to apply coconut oil to a corner of a clean washcloth and rub it on the teeth. A bonus regarding coconut pulling? Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, so it’s great for protecting and cleaning your gums as well.

A study featured in the Journal of Contemporary Dental Hygiene found, “Edible oil-pulling therapy is natural, safe and has no side effects. Hence, it can be considered as a preventive therapy at home to maintain oral hygiene.” (6)

3. Use Apple Cider Vinegar

It makes sense that apple cider vinegar (ACV), which effectively works as a natural antibiotic and teeth/gum cleanser, would also be able to remove stubborn stains on the teeth. ACV is especially helpful for removing stains due to common culprits like coffee and nicotine (smoking). Some report that after using ACV it looks like you just got your teeth professionally cleaned!

What’s the secret of ACV? It contains compounds, including acetic acid, potassium, magnesium, probiotics and enzymes, which kill germs (dangerous “bad” bacteria) and at the same time foster the growth of beneficial “good” probiotic bacteria. Since it’s naturally acidic, it helps break down plaque or other substances stuck to the teeth. The pH of apple cider vinegar can remove stains from your teeth, which helps naturally whiten your teeth.

The key to using ACV for teeth whitening is to be consistent, using it for at least a month continuously in order to see the best results. However, be careful, as with all acids it can remove the enamel on your teeth if you brush too hard or use too much. After brushing with ACV, you need to brush again with regular toothpaste, preferably a non-fluoride paste, or rinse your mouth out well. 

Take your finger and rub apple cider vinegar on your teeth for about one minute. Then rinse your mouth out with water or a hydrogen peroxide rinse.  

4. Lemon or Orange Peels

Similarly to apple cider vinegar, some swear that using citrus fruits — including lemon and/or orange peels, or lemon essential oil, which contain beneficial acids — also does the trick for whitening teeth. These foods overall are very healthy, such as benefiting digestion due to regulating levels of stomach acid, but the high acid content can also eventually wear away the enamel on the teeth if used too aggressively. Like with ACV, if you use lemon or orange peel on your teeth, always rinse your mouth afterward to be on the safe side. Use the hydrogen peroxide oral rinse formula described above for best results.

5. Strawberries and Other Healthy Foods

Rumor has it that some celebrities whiten their teeth with healthy foods like strawberries. Who would have thought? Model Tyra Banks even tried this tooth-whitening trick on her show. She simply mashed up about four or five strawberries and rubbed this yummy mixture all over her teeth, then rinsed well afterward.

Still, researchers aren’t all keen on this tooth whitening method. A 2015 study published in Operative Dentistry found that while an organic strawberry-baking soda mixture did remove superficial debris on the teeth, it didn’t actually whiten them or break down stain molecules.

Furthermore, the mixture reduced the surface hardness of teeth, known as microhardness, by up to 10 percent, due to the erosive effect of citric acid in the fruit.

Now, berries do contain many beneficial antioxidants and other compounds that can benefit the health of your teeth, but their role in dental health is likely tied to the benefits of an overall healthy diet for your teeth. Foods that can help keep your gums and teeth strong, plus free from diseases or signs of aging, include teeth-strengthening foods like: (7)

• sources of calcium like yogurt or raw milk
• foods high in magnesium and potassium like leafy green veggies, apples or pears
• cage-free eggs
• mushrooms
• sweet potatoes, carrots or squash
• celery
• nuts like walnuts or almonds

6. Activated Charcoal 

Activated charcoal, an absorbing product used to trap toxins inside the body, may help whiten your teeth by absorbing plaque and microscopic tidbits that cause staining. To whiten your teeth naturally with charcoal, wet a toothbrush and dip into powdered activated charcoal. Brush teeth as normal, paying special attention to areas showing the most staining. Sip a bit of water, swish through mouth thoroughly and spit. Rinse well, until spit is clear. For best results, brush your teeth with activated charcoal two to three times per week, but avoid using it if you have crowns, caps or porcelain veneers.

Dangers of Conventional Products to Whiten Your Teeth

Research has shown that teeth-whitening products can damage the teeth by removing too much enamel. Conventional whitening strips, and other whitening products, contain a gel with the active ingredient carbamide peroxide, which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and a waste product called urea. Constant application of whitening strips has been shown to cause erosion of enamel over time and also promote tooth sensitivity, especially when eating hot and cold liquids or acidic foods.

Dentists from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry have stated, “All of the products used in the dentist office are safe and most of the [over-the-counter] products are safe as well, but there are a few that are acidic, and acidic products increase the likelihood of decay if you overuse them.” (8)

While many people are interested in having whiter teeth, some make this an obsession and turn whitening into a borderline addiction. Here’s what one dentist, New York City dentist Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, had to say about teeth whitening strips:

There are people who can never get enough. I’ve had situations where people have needed root canals because they’ve overbleached, where tissues were damaged. You can wear away some of the enamel and your teeth will become translucent and unnatural. They’ll become blue or blue gray.

The bottom line? Whitening strips should be used in moderation, ideally after you’ve tried natural approaches to taking better care of your teeth.

Teeth bleaching products should only be used under the guidance of your dentist. Remember that whitening treatments may work temporarily but likely not for long. The best way to whiten your teeth is by feeding your body lots of healthy foods (these are also important for strong bones), brushing and rinsing your teeth and gums every day, plus working on omitting coffee, tea and sugary foods in your diet. The very first step you should take: If you smoke, stop smoking! And of course, no matter what your age, show your teeth some love by brushing with a natural, non-irritating toothpaste every day.

Precautions: Can Even Natural Teeth Whitening Harm Your Teeth?

One thing to be aware of when it comes to whitening teeth is that certain natural whiteners can eradicate enamel. Some teeth whiteners are just not a good idea to use, especially lemon juice. While the lemon peel is actually a good, healthy way to whiten teeth, the juice itself is simply too strong. The acid in the actual lemon juice does great for bleaching clothes, hair and getting stains out of furniture, but you wouldn’t want to put lemon juice on your teeth as a mouth gum cleaner every single day. Eventually, the acid creates tiny holes in your teeth, and then every kind of staining type food will seep into these tiny holes and remain there. The acid from the lemons is so strong it just eventually wears away the teeth, causing cavities.

To avoid overdoing teeth whitening, start gradually, only use a small amount of any product, follow directions and pay attention to signs of worsening sensitivity.

Key Points on How to Whiten Teeth Naturally

• Teeth become less white (yellow or brown colored) due to factors like aging, thinning enamel/erosion of the surface of teeth, a poor diet, drinking coffee/tea, smoking and suffering from dry mouth.
• Teeth-whitening products can damage the teeth by removing too much enamel. Constant application of whitening strips has been shown to cause erosion and negative effects on dental health, so don’t whiten your teeth this way.
• Ways you can naturally whiten your teeth, while also protecting enamel, include using coconut oil pulling; eating a healthy diet; brushing and flossing; staying hydrated; and trying activated charcoal.

Read Next: How to Reverse Cavities Naturally & Heal Tooth Decay

The post 6 Ways to Naturally Whiten Your Teeth appeared first on Dr. Axe.

Most of us were raised to believe that tooth decay and cavities were pretty much our fault because we had eaten too much candy and hadn’t brushed our teeth well enough. Plus, they were irreversible.

Wrong (mostly)! More and more evidence suggests that only the eating candy part is actually true.

Observations of many native populations who ate traditional diets prior to the introduction of refined sugars and refined flour showed they suffered virtually no tooth decay — even when their teeth were ground down from eating gritty foods, despite never brushing their teeth or seeing a dentist (No, we are not suggesting you emulate this; brushing your teeth is one of the most effective mainstream ways to help protect your teeth from the physical effects of eating a less-than-optimal diet).

Diet, Bacteria & Dental Health

A recent scientific study shed some light on why native populations didn’t suffer from tooth decay: People in the study who switched to a diet low in sugar, refined carbohydrates and phytic acid, and high in minerals (calcium, magnesium and phosphorus) and fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) both reduced their risk of developing tooth decay and actually reversed decay that had been present(1). Yes, teeth CAN heal.

Let’s talk a little more about what’s going on in your mouth — especially that slick, slimy coating that grows all over your teeth, tongue and gums. This coating is a “biofilm,” or a tough layer of living bacteria, in which the individual bacterium cling tightly to each other and to surfaces, making them very, very hard to dislodge. Biofilm is also called plaque. But “biofilm” may be a better term, as it reminds us it is a living film of bacteria: bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, and that are ready to take advantage of teeth and gums made vulnerable by less-than-optimal nutrition, inflammation and stress.

Brushing with a store-bought toothpaste (please avoid any brands that contain triclosan), or our favorite Homemade Baking Soda Toothpaste, will help keep that nasty biofilm at bay for a few hours. But it may not be able to banish the sticky film completely (if you have yucky, slimy, morning breath after brushing last thing before bed, you’ve got a biofilm problem). A biofilm is a signal that the ecosystem in your mouth is out of whack — in other words,  you have lots of disease- and decay-causing bacteria and not enough beneficial bacteria.

Trying to kill off every living bacterium in your mouth is not the answer. After generations of millions of people dutifully swished antibacterial mouthwashes around twice a day — and still suffered from tooth decay and gum disease — we are pretty sure that attempting to kill off all the bacteria, bad and good, in your mouth doesn’t work. And, even if you could do it, a mouth with no bacteria would be the perfect place for any new bacteria that arrived, good or bad, to reproduce wildly —  which is definitely not a good situation.

What IS the answer, then?

The Benefits of Probiotic Toothpaste

You are probably wondering what else you can do, especially if you already have tooth decay or gum disease. Changing your diet is critical to dental health, but you may not be ready to completely give up on refined foods (or you ate them in the past, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay) and brushing hasn’t helped enough.

So how about trying something completely different?

How about brushing with a totally different kind of toothpaste: probiotic toothpaste. Brushing with probiotic toothpaste can help make your mouth a healthier place by not only temporarily dislodging bad bacteria, but also actually adding GOOD bacteria (probiotics) to displace the decay- and disease-causing ones!

Studies increasingly support probiotic toothpaste as an effective way to deliver those good bacteria to where they will do the most good, better than a probiotic rinse (2). Other studies show that routine brushing with a probiotic toothpaste for even a few weeks can help decrease the levels of disease- and bad-breath-causing bacteria in your mouth, reduce plaque/biofilm buildup, and ease gum inflammation (3, 4).

So what are you waiting for? Make up a batch of homemade probiotic toothpaste and turn your toothbrush into a magic wand!

Homemade Probiotic Toothpaste

A blend of coconut oil, bentonite clay powder, probiotics and prebiotics forms the foundation of this homemade probiotic toothpaste recipe. Bentonite clay powder looks off-white or pale gray in the jar but turns a more intense brownish-gray when mixed with coconut oil. This is normal. Your probiotic toothpaste isn’t going to win any beauty contests, but your mouth will love it!

Be sure to stir until completely blended. It will be a bit runny at first, but it will set up as it cools. I recommend making smaller batches more frequently to ensure freshness.

Scoop the completed paste into a small glass jar with a lid (use a jar rather than a tube because coconut oil liquifies at 76°F and the paste will get soft, or even runny, at warm room temperatures and very firm at cool room temperatures (even low 60s), making it hard to squeeze out of a tube).

Store at room temperature.

Tips:

• Adding more clay helps keep your paste firmer in warm weather; adding less clay makes it less firm, which makes dispensing it easier in the winter if your house is cool.
• Probiotics are living beneficial bacteria; for this recipe, pick one that can be stored at room temperature.
• Prebiotics are natural fiber compounds that boost the activity of probiotic bacteria.
• Bentonite clay tastes, well, mild and clay-like. It isn’t unpleasant, but adding xylitol makes the paste sweeter, which kids may find more acceptable.
• Pleasantly-flavored essential oils help make the paste more palatable and leave a nice aftertaste.

How to Use Your Probiotic Homemade Toothpaste:

Using a small spoon or knife, scoop about a ½ teaspoon of probiotic toothpaste onto your brush (pressing your brush into the paste works, too, but make sure each person in the family has his or her own jar if you do this). Give your teeth — and all the other surfaces in your mouth — a good brushing. The paste will liquefy almost immediately when put into your mouth, so there is no need to add water. When you are done brushing, swish the liquid around, forcing it through the gaps between your teeth.  This helps to get the probiotics into all the nooks and crannies your brush can’t reach. Then spit out the remainder and rinse with water. Ahhhhh….

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