Tooth Powder and Mouthwash

Shalom Shalom!

I'm back y'all.  I told y'all that I have a lot of catching up to do with this blog, so I am taking the time to post a few things.  Next up...homemade dental care in the form of tooth powder and mouthwash.

Just like the all-purpose cleaner in the previous entry, many of us are forgoing commercial dental products--which are full of fluoride and other harmful ingredients to natural alternatives that work just as well, if not better.  At first, I was making the toothpaste with the coconut oil and was going to do an entry on that.  The toothpaste was fine when the whether was cool, but when it got warm, the toothpaste became tooth oil!  Because coconut oil becomes liquefied at 76 degrees F, the tooth oil just wasn't working. I know that tooth powder was a thing, so I turned to making that.  At least, unlike the toothpaste/oil, it won't melt, and it can be used year round.  I actually prefer it better because, unlike the coconut oil based toothpaste, you can spit it out in the sink without concern of clogged drains (which is why is it NEVER recommended to spit out coconut oil in the sink, but rather in the trash can--which can be quite disgusting).  

The same with the mouthwash.  The chemicals used are not good, so you can get the same from natural ingredients.  In addition, many store bought mouthwashes contain alcohol--which can be a bit of a concern--especially if you are sensitive to alcohol and if you plan on using it on children.

Both products contain ingredients that are cleansing, purifying, exfoliating, and antifungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic.  They run the gamut for what they can do, and as a result, I get great results and don't miss commercial products at all.  Interested?  The keep reading to learn how!  

First, we'll start with the tooth powder.

What you'll need are:

*4 Tablespoons of Bentonite clay.  Bentonite clay draws out impurities

*2 Tablespoons Salt. I use Himalayan Pink Salt.  It's best to use a good quality salt like Himalayan Pink or even a Celtic sea salt because it has trace minerals in it--including calcium.  Salt is also a wonderful abrasive that gets plaque and other materials that get stuck on your teeth

*2 Tablespoons of baking soda.  Baking soda is an excellent abrasive

*Essential oils of your choice.  For this, I use peppermint and tea tree.  Peppermint, well, it tastes good.  It also has wonderful antiseptic properties.  Tea tree is antibacterial and antifungal.

Next, you'll need a vessel to hold your tooth powder.  This is a four ounce glass jar.

First, add your Bentonite clay...

...then your baking soda...

...and then your salt.

Mix well.  In hindsight, I remember, when making this at the time, that I shouldn't have shaken it with the canning lid on.  In my research, it has come to my attention that metal counteracts the effectiveness of the Bentonite clay. The first time, I made this, I stirred the ingredients with a wooden chopstick.

People, when you make yours, do not shake and DO NOT mix with metal.  Use a wooden or even a plastic implement (wood preferably) to do so.

You can either use as is or add the essential oils.  I add one dropperful of each oil, and THIS TIME, I mixed it with a wooden chopstick--which I have aside that's dedicated for making tooth powder.

Tooth powder...done.

Now, onto the mouthwash!

Your daily dental routine is usually not complete without mouthwash, and this one doesn't disappoint.  While, yes, I've said above that many commercial mouthwashes contain alcohol, but there are also some alcohol-free ones on the marker--which do the same job but without the burn of alcohol.  Despite this, even the alcohol-free ones are still laden with chemicals, and our aim (at least in our house) is to live as natural a life as possible.  My homemade mouthwash tastes very similar to the alcohol-free store bought mouthwash, and it works just as well too!  Here's how to make it!

Here's what you'll need:

*2 cups of distilled water

*1 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice.  Aloe vera juice has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

*2 Tablespoons of alcohol-free witch hazel.  Look specifically for alcohol-free--as the alcohol in regular witch hazel is almost similar to rubbing alcohol, so you don't want to put that in your mouth.  Witch hazel has astringent, has healing properties, and reduces bacteria.

*2 teaspoons of baking soda.  Baking soda is pivotal in keep you mouth clean and smelling fresh.

*Essential oils of your choice.  For this, I use peppermint and myrrh.  Peppermint, again, is antiseptic and tastes good.  Myrrh is good for the gums--in keeping them healthy.

Here is my vessel...a 32-ounce amber glass bottle.

First, pour in the water and aloe vera juice...

...then the baking soda...

...witch hazel...

...and finally, the essential oils.  I used about two dropperfuls of each oil.

Shake well...

...and it's now ready to use

Pour a little in a glass, and use as you would any other mouthwash.  

I assure you that both of these products will leave you mouth feeling clean and fresh.  So much so, you won't even think about buying another store-bought, commercially-made, chemically-laden dental product again.

Try them for yourself.  I assure you that you won't be disappoint.  Please provide your feedback on how it turned out for you.  All feedback is welcome--both accolades and suggestions on how to make it better.  Let's all live naturally together!

Thank you so much for taking out the time to visit Teacher Of Good Things.  So until the next entry, Shalom Shalom!