Teeth have always been a sensitive subject for me (pun intended!). I have a confession to make… I have Dentophobia- the fear of dentists. This stems from childhood and while I don’t have terrible teeth I'am always looking for the best way to take care of them.
One day, when I was having some tooth pain, a friend told me about Dr. Christopher’s Herbal Tooth & Gum Powder, and I got really excited. This launched my search for beneficial herbs for teeth. Since then, I've found an Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste from Auromere, and a Holistic Dental Therapeutic Rinse from Dr.H & Co called Heal.
Most of us know about cloves for toothaches, charcoal for whitening, and coconut oil pulling for overall health. But there's a myriad of other herbs that are good for teeth, who knew!
Here's a list of some herbs that are all helpful for teeth in some way. I encourage you to do your own research on the benefits of each herb, as well as how best to use them.
Acacia Acacia Arabica/Babool Aloe Vera Bayberry Bark Bloodroot Calendula Cloves Comfrey Echinacea Eucalyptus Ginger Goldenseal Root Horsetail/Shavegrass |
Indian Licorice Root Indian Medlar/Bakula Tree Jujube Myrrh Resin Neem Bark Oregano Peelu Peppermint Plantain Porcupine Flower/Vajradanti Prickly Ash Rosemary Sage |
Sappanwood Slippery Elm Spearmint Tea Tree Toothache Plant Thyme White Oak Bark Yarrow Yerba Mansa |
Bonus (because they're not herbs): Bentonite Clay and Hydrogen Peroxide
How to make Herbal Mouth Rinse or Paste
Ingredients:
- Aloe Vera Juice for rinse
- Bentonite Clay for paste
- Distilled Water
Herbs: Include any or all of the following. You can use crushed, powdered, or whole herbs, however, powdered works best.
- 3 parts White Oak bark
- 3 parts Comfrey root
- 3 parts Peppermint leaves
- 3 parts Horsetail
- 1 part Prickly Ash Bark
- 1 Part Slippery Elm Bark
- 1 Part Cloves
- 1 part Bayberry
- 1 part Calendula
- 1 part Sage
- 1 part Thyme
- 1 part Plantain Leaf
- 1 part Rosemary
- 1 part Stevia Leaves
- 3 drops myrrh essential oil (per 8 oz)
- 2 drops tea tree oil (per 8 oz)
- 2 drops peppermint oil (per 8 oz)
- 2 teaspoons sea salt (per 8 oz)
Directions:
- Place herbs and barks (not essential oils) into a pan on the stove.
- Pour in enough water to completely cover the herbs.
- Brings to a brisk boil, then reduce, let simmer for at least 30 minutes.
- Strain liquid through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Add essential oils & salt.
- For rinse: combine the liquid with equal parts of aloe vera juice. Use 1-2 tablespoons for each rinse, spit out, do not swallow, and shake before use!
- For paste: combine the liquid with bentonite clay until it makes the desired consistency, then brush teeth as normal.
Store in a jar with a lid. Use within 7-10 days, longer in the refrigerator.
Would you like to read more interesting things like this?
This and great recipes can be found in our Herbal Almanacs. This piece comes from the 2021 Emerge Almanac.