Difference between revisions of "Brush Teeth Without Toothpaste"
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#*A couple drops of peppermint oil (a flavoring agent) | #*A couple drops of peppermint oil (a flavoring agent) | ||
#*1/8 cup water | #*1/8 cup water | ||
| − | #Cook your ingredients to form a paste. Combine all ingredients, then heat and stir for five minutes over medium heat, or until your mixture has achieved a paste-like appearance. You can make a year's supply of homemade toothpaste for one-tenth the price of purchasing a market brand.<ref>http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/natural-remedies-zmaz95djzgoe.aspx?PageId=2#ArticleContent</ref> | + | #Cook your ingredients to form a paste. Combine all ingredients, then heat and stir for five minutes over medium heat, or until your mixture has achieved a paste-like appearance. You can make a year's supply of homemade toothpaste for one-tenth the price of purchasing a market brand.<ref name="rf1">http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/natural-remedies-zmaz95djzgoe.aspx?PageId=2#ArticleContent</ref> |
#*Experiment with different flavorings. Making your own toothpaste can be an especially useful solution if you harbor a strong dislike of the mint flavoring used in most commercial toothpastes. | #*Experiment with different flavorings. Making your own toothpaste can be an especially useful solution if you harbor a strong dislike of the mint flavoring used in most commercial toothpastes. | ||
#*As your homemade toothpaste doesn't have all the ingredients found in commercial toothpaste (for better and for worse), consider alternating between your homemade toothpaste and a commercial toothpaste every two weeks. | #*As your homemade toothpaste doesn't have all the ingredients found in commercial toothpaste (for better and for worse), consider alternating between your homemade toothpaste and a commercial toothpaste every two weeks. | ||
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#*Place in a container or jar with a tight-fitting lid, or consider placing in a squirt-top container (the grain of your mixture will be fine enough to "squirt"). Avoid metal containers. | #*Place in a container or jar with a tight-fitting lid, or consider placing in a squirt-top container (the grain of your mixture will be fine enough to "squirt"). Avoid metal containers. | ||
#*Store in a dry location. | #*Store in a dry location. | ||
| − | #Apply the dry mixture to your toothbrush. Dip your toothbrush in the powder, or squirt from your squirt-top bottle onto your damp toothbrush. Use just as you would commercial toothpaste.<ref>http://www.diynatural.com/whitening-tooth-powder/</ref> | + | #Apply the dry mixture to your toothbrush. Dip your toothbrush in the powder, or squirt from your squirt-top bottle onto your damp toothbrush. Use just as you would commercial toothpaste.<ref name="rf2">http://www.diynatural.com/whitening-tooth-powder/</ref> |
===Using Single-Ingredient Alternatives=== | ===Using Single-Ingredient Alternatives=== | ||
#Scrub with sea salt. Sea salt contains trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sodium, nickel, and iron that can strengthen your gums, fight tartar build-up, freshen your breath, and possibly even whiten your teeth over time. The iodine in sea salt has antibacterial properties and can neutralize acids that cause tooth decay. | #Scrub with sea salt. Sea salt contains trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, sodium, nickel, and iron that can strengthen your gums, fight tartar build-up, freshen your breath, and possibly even whiten your teeth over time. The iodine in sea salt has antibacterial properties and can neutralize acids that cause tooth decay. | ||
#*Dip a wet toothbrush into 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt and brush very gently. Try to avoid your gums, as sea salt may cause your gums to become inflamed and painful — especially if you are not used to this method. Use extra caution the first time you try this method. | #*Dip a wet toothbrush into 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt and brush very gently. Try to avoid your gums, as sea salt may cause your gums to become inflamed and painful — especially if you are not used to this method. Use extra caution the first time you try this method. | ||
| − | #*Alternatively, try rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in 4 ounces of warm water, then swish for 30 seconds. Spit out the solution when you're done. This saltwater rinse can help heal swollen or inflamed gums and rinse away bacteria.<ref>http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/5-minute-health-tip-brush-with-sea-salt-and-baking-soda/#axzz3pJg9Hwm2</ref> | + | #*Alternatively, try rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt in 4 ounces of warm water, then swish for 30 seconds. Spit out the solution when you're done. This saltwater rinse can help heal swollen or inflamed gums and rinse away bacteria.<ref name="rf3">http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/5-minute-health-tip-brush-with-sea-salt-and-baking-soda/#axzz3pJg9Hwm2</ref> |
#Brush with baking soda. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has long been recognized as a natural way to clean and whiten your teeth. Because baking soda is highly alkaline, it works to neutralize acids that can cause tooth decay. It also kills bacteria and freshens your breath. | #Brush with baking soda. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has long been recognized as a natural way to clean and whiten your teeth. Because baking soda is highly alkaline, it works to neutralize acids that can cause tooth decay. It also kills bacteria and freshens your breath. | ||
#*Mix baking soda with water until it reaches a paste-like consistency, then use it to brush as you normally would. | #*Mix baking soda with water until it reaches a paste-like consistency, then use it to brush as you normally would. | ||
| − | #*You may also consider combining baking soda with sea salt to make a variation on homemade toothpaste.<ref | + | #*You may also consider combining baking soda with sea salt to make a variation on homemade toothpaste.<ref name="rf3" /> |
| − | #Use a natural soap. While we aren't usually accustomed to the taste of soap in our mouths, natural soaps are an effective tooth cleanser. Try a mild product such as unscented olive oil soap.<ref>http://www.care2.com/greenliving/11-easy-tips-for-natural-tooth-care.html</ref> | + | #Use a natural soap. While we aren't usually accustomed to the taste of soap in our mouths, natural soaps are an effective tooth cleanser. Try a mild product such as unscented olive oil soap.<ref name="rf4">http://www.care2.com/greenliving/11-easy-tips-for-natural-tooth-care.html</ref> |
| − | #Try coconut oil. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties — and it tastes, of course, like coconut. You may also consider combining it with ingredients such as baking soda.<ref>http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2011/05/12-natural-toothpaste-alternatives</ref> | + | #Try coconut oil. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties — and it tastes, of course, like coconut. You may also consider combining it with ingredients such as baking soda.<ref name="rf5">http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2011/05/12-natural-toothpaste-alternatives</ref> |
===Pursuing Alternatives to Traditional Tooth-Brushing=== | ===Pursuing Alternatives to Traditional Tooth-Brushing=== | ||
| − | #Use a miswak stick. Humans have used the sticks of the ''Salvadora persica'' tree to clean their teeth for over 4,000 years. The fibers of this tree contain sodium bicarbonate and silica — both abrasive enough to remove stains. These twigs also contain natural antiseptics, resin that may form a protective barrier over your teeth, and essential oils to freshen your breath.<ref>http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-magic-toothbrushes-work-without-toothpaste-180954988/?no-ist</ref> | + | #Use a miswak stick. Humans have used the sticks of the ''Salvadora persica'' tree to clean their teeth for over 4,000 years. The fibers of this tree contain sodium bicarbonate and silica — both abrasive enough to remove stains. These twigs also contain natural antiseptics, resin that may form a protective barrier over your teeth, and essential oils to freshen your breath.<ref name="rf6">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-magic-toothbrushes-work-without-toothpaste-180954988/?no-ist</ref> |
#*To use a miswak stick, use your back molars to chew the bark off the end of one of the sticks and separate the fibrous "bristles" by chewing on the pulp. Use the resulting bristles to clean your teeth. | #*To use a miswak stick, use your back molars to chew the bark off the end of one of the sticks and separate the fibrous "bristles" by chewing on the pulp. Use the resulting bristles to clean your teeth. | ||
#*Never bite hard things with your front teeth, as they are not able to support high-pressure forces and can easily chip or break. | #*Never bite hard things with your front teeth, as they are not able to support high-pressure forces and can easily chip or break. | ||
| − | #Irrigate your mouth with a water pick. A water pick is a kind of a pressure washer for your teeth, commonly recommended by orthodontists to supplement brushing for patients with braces. Anyone, however, can benefit from using a water pick. Oral irrigation cleanses below the surface of your gums to reduce harmful bacteria and eliminate loose plaque.<ref>http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-23/issue-10/feature/oral-irrigation.html</ref> | + | #Irrigate your mouth with a water pick. A water pick is a kind of a pressure washer for your teeth, commonly recommended by orthodontists to supplement brushing for patients with braces. Anyone, however, can benefit from using a water pick. Oral irrigation cleanses below the surface of your gums to reduce harmful bacteria and eliminate loose plaque.<ref name="rf7">http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-23/issue-10/feature/oral-irrigation.html</ref> |
#*A water pick massages your gums, which increases blood flow. This can help protect your gums from bacteria — follow up with mouthwash. | #*A water pick massages your gums, which increases blood flow. This can help protect your gums from bacteria — follow up with mouthwash. | ||
#Try [[Do Oil Pulling|oil pulling]]. Oil pulling is an old wellness technique for detoxifying and cleaning your teeth and gums. Vegetable oils such as olive or coconut oil can whiten your teeth, reduce sensitivity and alleviate bad breath. They also bear some antibacterial properties. | #Try [[Do Oil Pulling|oil pulling]]. Oil pulling is an old wellness technique for detoxifying and cleaning your teeth and gums. Vegetable oils such as olive or coconut oil can whiten your teeth, reduce sensitivity and alleviate bad breath. They also bear some antibacterial properties. | ||
| − | #*Swish with a teaspoonful of oil for approximately 20 minutes, then spit into a trash can to avoid clogging your drains with oil.<ref | + | #*Swish with a teaspoonful of oil for approximately 20 minutes, then spit into a trash can to avoid clogging your drains with oil.<ref name="rf4" /> |
| − | #Purchase a Misoka toothbrush. The Misoka toothbrush uses nanotechnology to clean your teeth. These brushes are made with extremely fine bristles coated in mineral ions. When you dampen the brush and pass it over your teeth, the ions remove stains and form a protective coating over your tooth enamel.<ref | + | #Purchase a Misoka toothbrush. The Misoka toothbrush uses nanotechnology to clean your teeth. These brushes are made with extremely fine bristles coated in mineral ions. When you dampen the brush and pass it over your teeth, the ions remove stains and form a protective coating over your tooth enamel.<ref name="rf6" /> |
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