Contrary
to popular belief, your teeth are designed to last a lifetime. Over
the years the dental industry has made a killing selling the idea
that we need to brush our teeth with toothpaste and chemicals in
order to keep our teeth clean. In a SHTF or long-term emergency
scenario, tooth paste may be less accessible and we will need to fall
upon more traditional means to clean our teeth.
Although
certain foods can have a cleaning affect on your teeth, there are
other natural alternatives that you can turn to keep your teeth and
gums clean. Below are six alternatives to toothpaste that can be used
to not only promote healthy teeth and gums, but most of these
alternatives have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that
assist in preventing dental issues such as gingivitis, canker sores
and gum disease.
Chew
sticks - Traditional peoples the world over use natural tooth
brushes made from healing plants. These primitive twig “brushes”
actually work quite well, and provide a natural-bristle, disposable
brush with healing herbs already incorporated right in the plant.
People would chew on the tip of a twig to make it spread out into
several small strands. They would then use it in the same way that a
toothbrush is used. If this is the only option to brush your teeth,
look for twigs that contain oils to help stimulate blood circulation,
tannins that tighten and cleanse gum tissue and other materials, such
as vitamin C, which maintain healthy gums. Bay, eucalyptus, oak, fir,
and juniper and twigs of the neem tree are good choices to make
primitive toothbrushes with.
Salts
- Salt is a multipurpose prep that every prepper should have a
good supply of. In the case of dental health, it is a mild cleanser
that can be used multiple times daily or as a mouthwash to help with
bad breath or used as a disinfectant rinse. Salt has a natural
healing property to it, as well as removes plaque, tartar and bad
breath.
Cleaning
teeth – Mix one part salt to two parts baking soda after
pulverizing the salt in a blender or rolling it on a kitchen board
with a tumbler before mixing. It whitens teeth, helps remove plaque
and it is healthy for the gums. Another recipe for cleaning teeth is
one teaspoon each of ground sage, baking soda, and table salt.
Washing
mouth – Mix equal parts of salt and baking soda as a mouth wash
that sweetens the breath.
Baking
soda - Baking soda is a classic amongst natural teeth cleaning
methods, and is harmless. It is very effective in removing stains and
killing plaque-causing bacteria, and it also reduces acids which harm
your tooth enamel. Hippocrates recommended a mixture of salt, alum,
and vinegar as a mouthwash for preventative measures. Here is a basic
recipe for baking soda toothpaste:
Ingredients:
=>
1/2 cup aluminum free baking soda
=>
5 drops peppermint essential oil
=>
2 drops cinnamon or clove essential oil
Mix
all ingredients together and use as you would normally for
toothpaste.
Essential
oils - Incorporating essential oils into your dental preparedness
supplies can function as natural antibacterial and antimicrobial
agents, as well as natural cleansers for a well-rounded mouth health.
Essential oils such as peppermint and spearmint can be mixed with
water to make dental rinses too.
Three
popular essential oils amongst preppers are:
Peppermint
Oil - Peppermint essential oil is the most popular oil used for
teeth cleaning. It helps freshen breath, kill bacteria, and clear
sinuses. 5 drops added to your teeth cleaning regimen will do the
trick.
Clove
oil contains eugenol, a natural pain killer and antibacterial.
Mix 2 to 3 drops of pure clove oil with 1/4 teaspoon olive oil.
Saturate a cotton ball with the mixture and place the cotton ball
beside the tooth.
Cinnamon
oil - Cinnamon naturally contains antimicrobial and
antibacterial properties and can help fight harmful mouth bacterias.
Cinnamon bark oil has been known to effectively destroy 21 different
types of bacteria. Rinsing with diluted cinnamon oil after you brush
your teeth, or using a toothpaste made from cinnamon oil may help
you kill harmful bacteria and prevent cavities. It’s warming
properties will also stimulate the blood circulation in gums. Note:
Using cinnamon oil can cause some irritation and inflammation,
therefore if you plan to use cinnamon oil, always dilute it first. If
you suffer from any inflammation in your mouth, discontinue using
cinnamon oil and the symptoms should disappear within 24 hours.
4
thieves oil - A combination of clove, lemon, cinnamon,
eucalyptus, and rosemary, this oil possesses both antimicrobial, and
antibacterial properties. A few drops of this oil can be used to
prevent and treat gum disease, drops can be applied orally to
maintain healthy teeth and reduce cavities, to clean teeth and be
used as an effective mouth wash, or applied to gums and teeth for
pain relief from toothaches.
If
you are faced with swollen gums, nightly gum packs made from herbs or
herbal infused oils rolled in gauze can be tucked into the corners of
the mouth. In auyervedic medicine, a combination of turmeric, aloe,
willow bark, vitamin E, and powdered alum can help relieve pain and
swelling. If this regimen is regularly used and followed with a
healthy diet and vitamin supplements, it can reduce symptoms
significantly.
Hydrogen
peroxide 3% - This product assists in healing canker sores, helps
kill off bacteria living in the mouth, and fights gingivitis. There
is conflicting information about the abrasiveness of hydrogen
peroxcide on teeth, so to be on the safe side, dilute this product
with water if you decide to use it in your mouth.
A
mouth rinse can be made by mixing equal parts of water and a 3%
solution of hydrogen peroxide. This mouth rinse should be swished
(not swallowed) around the entire mouth for 15-30 seconds. Using the
diluted mouthwash and then following it with your normal brushing
regimen will thoroughly clean the mouth and teeth, as well as kill
off harmful bacteria. Don’t limit using hydrogen peroxide to inside
your mouth, you can even clean your toothbrush with hydrogen peroxide
after use to kill off any remaining bacteria that may still be left
on the toothbrush.
Water
- This is the most basic a person can get with cleaning their teeth.
Brushing your teeth with water may not have any healing properties,
but it will at least get any residual food off of your teeth. And
anything is better than nothing at all.
To
conclude, without our normal dental items being readily available to
us during a long-term emergency, we may have to fall upon more
natural approaches to dental health. Having supplies and possessing
knowledge on natural alternatives to maintain healthy teeth and gums
will prevent and may control any current issues from exacerbating.