Gently Georgic: 2011

We get a lot of requests at the OraMedia site for formulations for homemade toothpaste and oral rinses - even a few from South America, where, in some countries, baking soda is a controlled substance due to its use in the manufacture of cocaine.

The following formulations are submissions by readers.

#1 (From Dr. Paul Keyes)
Add glycerin to baking soda to form a pasty mixture that can be applied to a toothbrush with a spoon or other instrument.

Put a capful of hydrogen peroxide in a tumbler.
Moisten bristles of toothbrush (mulitufted) by dipping in peroxide
Rub moistened bristles over cake of unscented Neutrogena soap
Cover bristles with soda-glycerin mixture.
While watching in a mirror brush cheek-sides and tongue-sides of teeth
Redip brush in peroxide as needed
Work mixture between teeth with a flat toothpick or Butler stimulator

A few drops of wintergreen oil could be added to the glycerin-soda mixture for flavor

#2
Equal parts Real Salt (Redmond Utah) and baking soda made into a paste using 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. I have been using this formula for approx. the last three months and it seems to be shrinking the pockets around my teeth. I will know this for sure next month when I allow the dentist to probe depths.

How To Protect Your Children From Tooth and Gum Disease -
From Birth to Early Teens...
A four-part series by Dr. Robert Nara
including 'Saving Orthodontic Dollars'

#3
I have been making my own toothpowder for years:

2tbsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (sea salt, available in bulk at health food stores)
1 tsp vodka
2 drops each: Oregano oil, wintergreen, peppermint
Shake it all up good and it is wonderful.

I also use 2 drops of Orageno oil in my irrigator.

If someone has bonding on their teeth it is not recommended. Oregano will stain it. That is what my dentist said.

I bought a wide mouth jar at the store, added one cup baking soda and one cup salt, then shook. I wet my brush, shake off the excess water, dip it in the mixture, and brush for two minutes. Then I swish a few tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide around in my mouth, gargle, and spit. I rinse with water a few times, making sure to gargle. Follow this with dental floss.

I've eliminated bleeding, tender gums using this for a year now. The interesting thing is using the hydrogen peroxide. It sometimes foams like mad and sometimes doesn't foam. I figure it's the variation in germ amounts in my mouth! Probably keeps me from getting colds and sore throats, too.

#5
About 20 years ago, My wife and I were both diagnosed with having periodontal disease --- with deep pockets, over 10. It was suggested by our dentist that we see a periodontist with the idea of having our gums cut, plaque was removed, and the gums stitched after that procedure.

A friend of ours had that done and was not pleased with the pain, suffering and expense.

We then learned about Dr. Nara and his technique. We followed his recommendations. After following his regime for slightly over a month, we went back to our dentist for a review of our condition. He was thoroughly pleased with the results. When we told him we did not get a treatment from the periodontist but, instead, used Dr. Nara's method, he was shocked, and pleasingly surprised.

Last year, after having neglected to continue with this wonderful method of prevention, I was examined once again and informed my gum pockets were as deep as 16. And, again, I was referred to a periodontist that had "the latest technology --- scaling my teeth with a microscope viewing devise. "It may or may not work. And, it is not covered by insurance."

I opted for trying Dr. Nara's method again. After two months, I revisited my dentist. Again, he was impressed with the condition of my gums.

The method I use is an irrigator with the cannulae tip
.
I use a heaping teaspoon of salt, a heaping teaspoon of baking soda (to neutralize the acids) and over an ounce of hydrogen peroxide (which helps to remove the plaque).

I follow that with Rockland's SuperOxy Mouthwash, which contains Aloe Vera (for healing); to which I add about 50% of hydrogen peroxide. It has a mint flavor. I'm inclined to think I can mix my own, experimenting with the same ingredients (H2O2, Mint, Aloe Vera and pure water), suited to my taste.

I hope this information is helpful to stop the "Drill, Fill, Bill" mentality of so many of today's dentists.

#6
Here are my ideas for holistic home-made tooth products!

Healing Clay from the Healing Earth

I like to use Clay - Argiletz clay - either as a dry powder with a damp toothbrush dipped in it. There are different colors with slightly different properties.
Clay is so rich in minerals - it is wonderful for demineralization. It is also highly alkalizing without resorting to using baking soda. I have read some excellent research about the detrimental systemic effects of baking soda if ingested and inadvertently some will be absorbed through oral tissue or swallowed.

White clay is great for general dental use for adults and children
Green clay is slightly more cleansing and toning to the gums
Pink and red clay are soothing
Yellow clay is great for regenerating tissue - it is very high in natural sulfer which has a strengthening effect on gum tissue.

As a powder it can be used straight or mixed into a paste with water, with salt water, with proplolis, with colloidal silver or liquid calcium/magnesium etc.

It can be rinsed out - or left on for a while and rinsed out - there is no danger to swallowing it - actually good for you - many people take up to a tablespoon or more internally for cleansing and as a mineral substance that adjusts homeostasis

A formula that I devised is

LittleTree Toothpowder

2 tablespoons white clay powder
1-2 teaspoons very fine MSM powder
1 teaspoon (or more to taste) very fine Xylitol powder
lemon or peppermint or fennel essential oils to taste (1-5 drops)

Dentie: A traditional Japanese/Macrobiotic Remedy

Also great is dentie powder - a mix of charcolated eggplant and unrefined sea salt.

Some people find it too strong for everyday use but it is excellent treatment to use it 1-3 times a week for gum strengthening and deep teeth cleaning.

It is great to have on hand because it can stop bleeding - not just in the mouth - also traditionally used for nose bleeding and in emergency situations has been taken internally with a bleeding stomach ulcer or cancer (obviously professional care is also required!)

This arresting of bleeding quality obviously makes for a great remedy for any gum bleeding issues if they are caused by over expansion (yin in macrobiotic terms)
In natural food and organic and macrobiotic supply stores and mail/internet order companies dentie can be bought as an inexpensive powder, mixed into a paste in a toothpaste tube. It can also be made at home.
Dentie is made from the calix of eggplants. The calix is the top part, by which the eggplant is attached to its stem.

The original way of preparing it is:
for a long period (weeks, months or even years!) the calixes of the eggplants were stored under pressure (A heavy weight) with 20 percent salt. Then this mixture was dried and carbonized.

The modern way to prepare it is quicker! The top parts of the eggplants are roasted slowly for a long time, until they pulverize. To this 30-50% roasted unrefined sea salt is added.

By subjecting this very yin (expansive) plant to the influences of heat, time, salt and originally also to pressure - all very yang factors), the strong yin substance of the eggplant is neutralized completely and only the deep yang essence of the plants remains! True alchemy.

Dentie has been shown to be effective for dealing with problems fo the teeth and gums especially if these problems have a yin cause.

For example:
Toothache - if caused by yin - over consumption of sugar, alcohol, tropical fruit etc. - rub dentie into the gum around the painful tooth for 5 minutes
pyorrhea - a purulent gum dis-ease caused by yin factors, especially sugar rich foods. Brush teeth and gums carefully. Then rinse mouth and rub dentie on the outside of gums. Allow the dentie to soak into the gums as long as possible. It isn't harmful to swallow but avoid swallowing to much to avoid craving sweets and lots of liquid. It is very salty!

I avoid anything made with glycerine and prefer to use things as a powder or paste made with water just before use. I have read research that the presence of glycerine severely to completely inhibits remineralisation - which is vital. Apparently it takes up to 12 or more vigorous rinses to remove the glycerine after brushing teeth with toothpaste or any formula that contains glycerine. If it is not removed, then the remineralisation which occurs through the minerals that are dissolved in saliva's interaction with the tooth surface, is compromised.

I also like to use just a drop of pure organic peppermint oil especially after the sonicare use.

With my Sonicare or Ionic toothbrush I often use just water and find it clears plaque, tartar and gives a fresh mouth feel!

#7
My submission is my personal variation on a recipe from the book, An A-Z Aromatherapy by Patricia Davis.

The original recipe is this for mouthwash:
250 mls cheap brandy
30 drops Peppermint essential oil
20 drops Thyme eo
10 drops Myrrh eo
10 drops Fennel eo

I really didn't want the alcohol wash, so I mix the essential oils with
about 3/4 cup of baking soda. I run it through a mesh sifter or strainer a couple of times to mix it well and put it in a little plastic container with a lid. I just dip my wet toothbrush in this to brush my teeth with. It gives the soda a better taste and is very good for the gums.

That is the basics. You can substitue Tea Tree oil for the Thyme and this is very anti-septic. You can also substitute Mandarin for Fennel if you prefer that taste (Fennel tastes like black licorice for those who don't know). Myrrh is essential to this mixture for its healing and tonic properties.I made this for my mom who has yellowed teeth and receding gums from smoking cigarettes. She wet her toothbrush with Hydrogen Peroxide and then dipped
it in the powder. Within a week we noticed a difference, within two weeks her teeth were whiter and her gums were pinker with no brown spots. She certainly has a prettier smile now!

I hope this can help some people out there like it helped us!

#8
Tooth Powder

3 parts baking soda
1 part sea salt
3 parts calcium-magnesium-vit c powder*
3 parts finely ground prickly ash bark
1 part echinacea powder
1/2 part goldenseal powder
Optional: peppermint essential oil to taste

Combine the ingredients and shake well. Use about 1/4 tsp on a wet toothbrush.

*I use Wachter's Cal-Mag-Vit C Powder which adds a nice flavor. All ingredients are available at a health food store.
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Personal note:
Due to extenuating circumstances I hadn't used my toothpowder for about 9 months and was using a powder from the health food store. I had a few teeth "pinging" occassionally and was unable to chew on one side due to sensivity. This motivated me to make a batch. After two days all was well and the sensivity was gone. I never have a problem with bleeding gums or plaque. Recently had a check up with a new dentist. He said my gums were in great shape and asked what I used. I shared the formula to which he replied, "That's why! Keep up the good work."

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Tom,

...I really feel like I hit "pay-dirt" when I found out about OraMedia. I downloaded a lot of your information and am pouring over it with great delight. I am very focused on discovering every natural means for staying healthy and have supported my health and that of friends and family with natural means for many years. I am also a compounder of natural health products and have made many beneficial remedies by gleaning the wisdom of learned people. The information on your site has helped me greatly in understanding what one can best do to keep teeth and gums healthy.

I plan to have one or more natural health-oriented websites up and running within a month or so, and as a service to my readers I would like to include a link to OraMedia ( Mizar5.com ). Without a doubt, yours is the best dental information I have encountered on the Internet! I wish you the best success for your site, for you are providing a valuable resource for those, like me, who want to steer clear of medical/dental intervention.

Thanks again.
John Barilla, Brother John Enterprises, Inc. 1/25/06