Home Remedies for the Healthiest
Legler Smile
Tis the
Season for sweets, sweets, and more sweets. We all deserve to take a break and
divulge in our favorite guilty pleasures. Your taste buds may be smiling as you
bite into that scrumptious piece of gooey, sugary, pie but, your teeth are
thinking otherwise. Don’t fret… Legler Orthodontics is here to rescue your
precious pearly whites from a decaying disaster. Store bought toothpaste and
mouthwash can get pretty pricey so, why not make your own at home? It saves money
(which we all love), gives a feeling of accomplishment, and allows you to leave
out the harmful ingredients commercial products permit. Here are two simple
recipes for DIY toothpaste and mouthwash concluding with some helpful tips to
keep your smile bright, white, healthy and smelling fresh.
Homemade Toothpaste
Each batch
yields the equivalent of one 5.3oz tube of toothpaste. Use a mason jar with a
lid or a plastic container and place somewhere near your toothbrush. When it’s
time to brush, simply wet your toothbrush, scoop out a healthy amount of paste
and begin brushing. Remember as Dr. Legler recommends, circular motions!
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 1 tsp of fine sea salt (optional- minerals from sea salt are great for teeth however can be left out if too salty.
- 2 tsp of peppermint extract or 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil (substitute with favorite flavor- spearmint, cinnamon, orange, lemon etc.)
- Filtered water
Making Paste in 3 Simple Steps
- Start with the ingredients
- Mix together baking soda, optional sea salt (recommended), and peppermint.
- Add water a little bit at a time, stirring consistently until paste is formed.
- For future days, add a small amount of water if the paste begins to dry out.
**Cost Savings**
$3-$4 per tube!
Homemade Mouthwash
Artificial
sweeteners and chemical additives in conventional mouthwash are a No-No in Legler
Orthodontic’s book. “Natural” DIY mouthwash is cost effective and prevents
dangerous chemicals from entering your body. Store mouthwash in a mason jar
with a lid or glass bottle (we recommend a used apple cider vinegar bottle).
Ingredients
- 2 tsp of baking soda
- 2 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 1 tsp Xylitol
- 2 drops of peppermint essential oil (or favorite flavor)
- 1/2 cup filtered water
Making Wash
- Pour water into mason jar or glass bottle
- Add tea tree essential oil, peppermint essential oil and Xylitol
- Add baking soda and stir
- Shake before use (baking soda settles at the bottom)
Helpful Tips for a Brighter, Whiter,
Healthy & Fresh Smile J
Oil Pulling
This oral therapy may be a growing trend however, it has been a
practiced tradition for centuries, first originating in India. Oil pulling is the practice of swishing the oils from plants in your
mouth to produce a wealth of health benefits.
Coconut oil is incredible for oil pulling and is one of the
best ways to whiten teeth, remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums!
Other popular oils used in pulling include, sunflower and sesame oil. Many
practioners have found these alternative oils to be equally beneficial.
This remedy is believed to cure tooth decay, kill bad breath,
heal bleeding gums, soothe throat dryness, prevent cavities, soften cracked
lips and strengthen the jaw.
How- To:
1. Purchase coconut oil from the local
grocery or health foods store.
2. Store coconut oil in temperatures
above 75 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent solidification. Chunky oil is not easy
to swish around your mouth!
3. Make sure to pull first thing in the
morning before brushing teeth or drinking.
4. Gently swish 1-2 tablespoons of
coconut oil for 10-20 minutes. We recommend doing this in the shower and while
you get ready. We know it’s a lengthy process!
5. Spit the oil out in the trash (not the
sink, so it doesn’t clog plumbing) and immediately rinse with warm salty water.
6. Finally brush your teeth as usual,
using your homemade toothpaste!
Spice Up Your Life
Snack on some cloves, fennel, or anise after each particularly odorous
snack or finish a meal with parsley, we find these to be invigorating breath
enhancers!
Sugarless Gum
It is always a good idea to carry some mints or sugarless gum for that
quick spruce up. You never know who you might meet around the corner!
Watch Your Drinking Habits
The worst options are coffee, wine, whiskey and beer. These beverages, that we
tend to sip, contain acid causing the pH levels in the mouth to decrease and
bacteria to fester. This leads to cavities and gum infections. We know…it’s
hard to resist!
Brush Frequently & Don’t Forget
the Tongue
Carry a toothbrush and a small container of homemade toothpaste or mouthwash
along with you when leaving home. Brushing after each meal may not be
convenient, but it is refreshing! One of the main causes of bad breath is food
and plaque residue on the surface of your tongue so, give it a nice gentle
brush-over too! Most importantly, keeping your teeth clean prevents cavities and dental problems from emerging down the road.
Our team at Legler Orthodontics
strives to find new healthy and natural methods to keep dental health exciting.
Check out these links below to learn more about at home dental treatments.