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 Most herbalists and natural healers recommend using warming, astringent, connective-tissue-healing herbs to enhance and maintain oral health. These herbs can be used as a rinse or applied as packs (a pinch of powder, wetted to a mush with a liquid such as water or vitamin E, and tucked next to the teeth).
Rinses are made by preparing a herb as tea in the usual way, or by simply stirring herb powder into water. Hold the rinse in the mouth for a few seconds or up to several minutes, gargle, and spit out. A clean mouth is a healthy mouth. Pleasant breath, clean teeth and healthy gums all contribute to a beautiful smile. Bad breath is usually a sign of poor digestion, which is why cleaning the teeth or using mouth gargles only relieves the problem temporarily. To permanently eliminate bad breath the eating habits or diet should be monitored. Fasting for a day, and then adopting a light, easily digestible diet can eliminate this problem. Consuming aloe_vera gel, or ginger and lemon juice, also helps improve digestion. Rinsing the mouth with a decoction of mint, or chewing parsley or basil leaves can improve breath.    
Healthy Teeth
Healthy teeth are white, evenly spaced, level and clean. Unhealthy teeth are discolored, uneven, and are present in greater or less than the normal number. Teeth problems occur due to poor diet or bad eating habits, tobacco, tea, coffee, sweet and sticky foods (sweets, chocolates, raisins) and very cold or hot food can lead to discoloration or decay. Ayurveda emphasizes on cleaning the teeth twice daily, in the morning and evening.
After eating it is necessary to rinse and gargle to remove food particles that may be stuck between teeth. Eating hard, crunchy fruits and vegetables (Apples, carrots) is good for the teeth. For discolored teeth salt mixed with lime or lemon juice to brush the teeth. To ease toothache, apply a couple of drops of cinnamon or clove oil to the base of the aching tooth. Healthy gums
Healthy gums are red, regular, compact and hard while unhealthy gums are spongy, dark red or very pale and may bleed. Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemon, lime), guavas or pomegranates should be included in the diet to ensure healthy gums as these fruits contain large quantities of vitamin C. Massaging the gums daily with a mixture of salt, black pepper, turmeric and sesame oil is also beneficial.
Tongue
The internal conditions of the digestive system is reflected by the tongue. According to ayurveda the condition of coating on the tongue determines physical disorders that may be present while a mucus like coating on the tongue demonstrates the presence of Ama (a toxic byproduct of poor digestion or improper eating habits). Cleaning the teeth and tongue daily with specially tongue scraper and gentle use of toothbrush. The tongue scraper can also be made by scrapping a branch of a tree which has Katu, ticki and Kashaya rasa. Mint Tooth Paste
| Vanilla & Rose Geranium Toothpaste
| 4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
10 drops flavoring (Spearmint or peppermint extract)
5 teaspoon Vegetable Glycerin
(For Sensitive Teeth 7-8 drops Clove essential oil mix with them) | 1/2 ounce powdered chalk
3 ounces powdered orris root
4 teaspoons of tincture of vanilla
15 drops oil of rose geranium
Honey, enough to make a paste | - Mix the ingredients together.
- The quantity of glycerine to get toothpaste consistency.
- Store in a wide mouth container.
- Be sure to cover the container with a tight-fitting lid after each use.
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Homemade MouthwashMint Mouthwash
| Lemon Mouthwash
| Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash
| 1 cup Water
1/4 cup Plain Soda drink
4 drops Vegetable Glycerine
10 drops Peppermint or Spearmint
1 teaspoon Aloe Vera Gel
| 1 cup Water
1/2 cup Plain Soda drink
4 drops Vegetable Glycerine
10 drops Lemon essential oil
1 teaspoon Aloe Vera Gel
| 1 cup Water
1/2 teaspoon Myrrh tincture
a few drops Tea Tree Oil
a few drops Peppermint oil
| - For Mint and lemon Mouthwash: Boil water and add soda, also Mix all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well and gargle.
- For Bad Breath : Drink chamomile tea. It works against the growth of bad-breath bacteria.
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Homemade ToothBrush
Imagine substituting your tooth brush with a twig, toothpaste with natural juices and your tongue cleaner with the same chewed twig.
Daatun: It is basically a 6 to 7 inch long piece of a stem of the Neem, Guava, or Banyan or Gulmoha tree, preferably freshly plucked from the tree. The Natural Toothbrush is also taken from the root of the Araak (Salvadora Persica) tree. Cut off the top of pouch and slide the toothbrush out. Gently chew the end of the brush to soften the bristles. After use each day, just peel back another layer at the point (removing any germs that came from the mouth) and start again. Place it in a holder so it retains its natural moisture (if the toothbrush should dry out, simply place in water for 10 minutes to re-hydrate). Fruit Teeth Cleaners:
- Rub a lemon rind on your teeth to remove brown stains. Rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward.
- Clean your teeth with a fresh strawberry. Rub it over and between your teeth.
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Herbal Medicine 