Hello Again Fellow Health Seekers! I trust everyone is feeling a bit of "spring in their step" by now? Hope so. We had blissful, summer-like temps here in Maine last week, but alas, they were short-lived. Unfortunately, Mother Nature has not completely relinquished her icy grip just yet . . . as we have returned to winter-like weather this week! The forsythia buds are about to burst forth and the pansies have begun to bloom . . . harbingers of spring's soon-to-come warmth.
Today, I will continue the discussion of Herbal Oral Hygiene by sharing a natural tooth-brightening recipe plus herbal tips for freshening your breath while improving digestion.
Strawberry Tooth Brightener
Strawberries produce a slight bleaching action upon the teeth due to their naturally-occurring, mild fruit acid and, if used daily, help to rid the teeth of tea, coffee, and cigarette stains. This treatment leaves your mouth feeling clean and tasting wonderful. A strawberry is much safer to use than lemon juice, which is much, much more acidic and can damage tooth enamel when used over time. When the fruit is in season, eating a bowl of strawberries daily is also another good way to brighten teeth and improve health.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium-sized ripe strawberry
Recommended For: everyone, especially those with stained teeth
Use: daily or as desired
Follow With: water rinse or herbal mouthwash
Prep Time: approximately 2 minutes
Blending Tools: small bowl and fork or mortar and pestle; toothbrush
Store In: do not store; mix as needed
Yield: 1 treatment
Method:
Remove the green top and stem first. Using a small bowl and fork or a small mortar and pestle, mash the strawberry into a pulp.
Application Tips:
Dip your toothbrish into the pulp and brush normally. Rinse thoroughly. Now, doesn't your mouth feel clean? Your teeth should show signs of brightening with consistent use.
Herbal Breath Freshening Tips
- Gargle twice daily with strong peppermint tea. Make peppermint tea as you normally would, but leave either the tea bag or loose leaves in to steep for at least 30 minutes. Tea may be stored in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 3 days.
- Drink 1 cup of peppermint tea immediately following meals. Peppermint helps eliminate mouth odors and acts as a natural digestive, helping to prevent indigestion, gas, and burping.
- If you have access to fresh peppermint leaves, chew on 1 for a few minutes, then spit out or swallow. Your mouth will feel cool, clean, and minty fresh!
- Place 1 drop of peppermint essential oil (no more than this) on your tongue followed by a sip of water. Swish the icy cool liquid around for about 30 seconds, then swallow. Peppermint essential oil produces an amazing fresh chill on your tongue and helps improve digestion when swallowed.
- Keep a little container of fennel seeds, anise seeds, or cardamom seeds in your purse, desk drawer, brief case, gym bag, or back pack. Chew on a few of these flavorful seeds whenever your breath needs freshening. You can swallow them if you wish. All of these seeds also double as carminatives or digestives, encouraging saliva flow and calming the formation of intestinal gas.
- Let's not forget our green friend . . . parsley. This poor lowly plate decoration need not be tossed in the garbage heap along with leftover food. It is loaded with odor-neutralizing chlorophyll plus energizing nutrients such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and anti-oxidants. Next time you're at a restaurant, make sure to munch on that sprig of parsley when you finish your dinner. Your breath and digestion will thank you!
NOTE: This article was written by Stephanie Tourles and some of the information was adapted from her book, Organic Body Care Recipes, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Showing posts with label herbal breath fresheners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label herbal breath fresheners. Show all posts
Monday, April 2, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Herbal Oral Hygiene - Part 1
Greetings My Health-Seeking Friends! Hope everyone is feeling great . . . spring is coming and the weather is warming up here in northern Maine. Yippee! The spring birds are arriving in droves - earlier than usual this year due to the unusually warm weather nationwide. Their "cheeps and chirps and melodious songs" are indeed a blessing to the ears!
Today's topic may seem a bit unusual, but I frequently get e-mails from the readers of my blogs and books (see www.amazon.com and www.stephanietourles.com for more info.) asking about how they can naturally take care of their teeth, gums, and breath without depending on potentially toxic, commerically-prepared toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other types of breath fresheners. Beginning today, I'll present a series of blogs highlighting easy-to-make, herbal oral hygiene recipes that offer effective, tasty care for your pearly whites that also leave your breath fresh, and gums in tip-top shape. Enjoy!
The Negative Side of Commercial Oral Hygiene Products
Most commercial toothpastes contain artificial sweeteners or actual sugar, foaming agents, detergents, fluoride (a potentially toxic ingredient which an increasing number of people like to avoid), and synthetic whitening agents or bleaches, many of which, over the years, can wear down tooth enamel, erode gum tissue, and be absorbed into your body through the lining of your mouth. Most mouthwashes are colored with artificial dyes, infused with bad-breath-masking, synthetic flavors, and contain irritating chemicals and preservatives.
Why do most commercial oral hygiene products come with a warning on the label stating, "Do Not Swallow"?? Could it be that the ingredients might make you ill? I've never understood why a product that was designed to promote a clean, fresh, healthy mouth should come with a warning. I find that most perplexing!
The Benefits of Natural, Homemade Oral Hygiene Products
It's easy to make effective, inexpensive, tasty, nontoxic alternatives to standard oral care products. Though they won't taste as sweet as their commercial cousins, the flavors will grow on you, and you may notice that your mouth feels cleaner and fresher longer without the use of chemicals. Try a gentle, natural approach to maintain strong teeth and healthy gums with these recipes that I'll be sharing with you.
NOTE: If you have chronic bad breath or dental problems, see a dental professional.
Soda & Salt Toothpaste
This is a simple, inexpensive, odor-eliminating, tooth-whitening, and highly effective formula. It leaves your mouth feeling super-clean. Note: Cinnamon and clove essential oils may irritate sensitive gums and tongue.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
- 1 drop of any of the following essential oils: peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark. Or, you may use 1 drop of tea tree essential oil if you have a gum infection that needs help in healing.
- A few drops of water
- Optional: 1-2 drops of thick vegetable glycerin for added sweet taste and smooth texture
Recommended For: everyone
Use: twice daily
Follow With: water rinse or mouthwash
Prep Time: approximately 2 minutes
Blending Tools: small bowl, toothbrush, or small spoon
Store In: do not store; mix as needed
Yield: 1 treatment
Method: Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger, or a small spoon until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn't be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush.
Application Tips: Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular commercial toothpaste.
Alternatively, if you don't want to try your hand at making any of the recipes I'll be presenting in this herbal hygiene series, thankfully, there are chemical-free, effective commercial brands available at better health food stores . . . such as Tom's of Maine (fluoride free), Auromere, Nature's Gate, and Weleda. Until next time . . . be well, happy, healthy, and here's to fresh breath and smooth, glossy teeth.
Note: This article is by Stephanie Tourles, Lic. Esthetician & Herbalist, and adapted from her book, Organic Body Care Recipes, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Mrs. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Mrs. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
Today's topic may seem a bit unusual, but I frequently get e-mails from the readers of my blogs and books (see www.amazon.com and www.stephanietourles.com for more info.) asking about how they can naturally take care of their teeth, gums, and breath without depending on potentially toxic, commerically-prepared toothpastes, mouthwashes, and other types of breath fresheners. Beginning today, I'll present a series of blogs highlighting easy-to-make, herbal oral hygiene recipes that offer effective, tasty care for your pearly whites that also leave your breath fresh, and gums in tip-top shape. Enjoy!
The Negative Side of Commercial Oral Hygiene Products
Most commercial toothpastes contain artificial sweeteners or actual sugar, foaming agents, detergents, fluoride (a potentially toxic ingredient which an increasing number of people like to avoid), and synthetic whitening agents or bleaches, many of which, over the years, can wear down tooth enamel, erode gum tissue, and be absorbed into your body through the lining of your mouth. Most mouthwashes are colored with artificial dyes, infused with bad-breath-masking, synthetic flavors, and contain irritating chemicals and preservatives.
Why do most commercial oral hygiene products come with a warning on the label stating, "Do Not Swallow"?? Could it be that the ingredients might make you ill? I've never understood why a product that was designed to promote a clean, fresh, healthy mouth should come with a warning. I find that most perplexing!
The Benefits of Natural, Homemade Oral Hygiene Products
It's easy to make effective, inexpensive, tasty, nontoxic alternatives to standard oral care products. Though they won't taste as sweet as their commercial cousins, the flavors will grow on you, and you may notice that your mouth feels cleaner and fresher longer without the use of chemicals. Try a gentle, natural approach to maintain strong teeth and healthy gums with these recipes that I'll be sharing with you.
NOTE: If you have chronic bad breath or dental problems, see a dental professional.
Soda & Salt Toothpaste
This is a simple, inexpensive, odor-eliminating, tooth-whitening, and highly effective formula. It leaves your mouth feeling super-clean. Note: Cinnamon and clove essential oils may irritate sensitive gums and tongue.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
- 1 drop of any of the following essential oils: peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark. Or, you may use 1 drop of tea tree essential oil if you have a gum infection that needs help in healing.
- A few drops of water
- Optional: 1-2 drops of thick vegetable glycerin for added sweet taste and smooth texture
Recommended For: everyone
Use: twice daily
Follow With: water rinse or mouthwash
Prep Time: approximately 2 minutes
Blending Tools: small bowl, toothbrush, or small spoon
Store In: do not store; mix as needed
Yield: 1 treatment
Method: Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger, or a small spoon until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn't be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush.
Application Tips: Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular commercial toothpaste.
Alternatively, if you don't want to try your hand at making any of the recipes I'll be presenting in this herbal hygiene series, thankfully, there are chemical-free, effective commercial brands available at better health food stores . . . such as Tom's of Maine (fluoride free), Auromere, Nature's Gate, and Weleda. Until next time . . . be well, happy, healthy, and here's to fresh breath and smooth, glossy teeth.
Note: This article is by Stephanie Tourles, Lic. Esthetician & Herbalist, and adapted from her book, Organic Body Care Recipes, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Mrs. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Mrs. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.
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