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9.9.14

Two bunches of neem plants tied with banana leaves used for mouth detox

While you cannot feel, see, or even taste them, your mouth is the permanent residence of a multitude of microorganisms. These microorganisms are teeny, tiny bacteria – and, similar to those that live in your gut, can be both beneficial and harmful to our health. The beneficial bacteria, which are also known as probiotics, aid in the digestion of foods, and protect our teeth and gums from the bad bacteria, which can easily grow out of control. Bad bacteria is disease-causing and leads to an array of oral health conditions such as bad breath, gingivitis, periodontitis, cavities, and plaque build-up.

Controlling the bacteria and toxin levels in our mouths is not only important for keeping our oral cavities healthy, but is also important for whole body health. Infections and bacterial overgrowth in the mouth can travel throughout the body’s system, leading to cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, and low birth weight – all of which are easy to prevent! While the bad bacteria is always present to some degree, it can be kept in balance with good oral practices, targeted nutrition, and a few of our favorite holistic cleansing techniques. Get on board with these detox practices to make your mouth the most kissable it’s ever been…

9 Ways to Detox your Mouth

Tongue Scraping

The fastest and easiest way to get those bad bugs out of your mouth is with a tongue scraper. A traditional technique in Ayurveda, tongue scraping cleans bacterial build-up, food debris, fungi, and dead cells from the surface of the tongue. This helps to not only clean the mouth, freshening the breath, but it also stimulates the metabolism as well.

TCM Pick: Why you Should Scrape your Tongue

Oil Pulling

A simple swish and swirl of your favorite oil is the answer to fresher breath, whiter teeth and a toxin- free body. The practice of oil pulling literally pulls toxins from the oral cavity, which is then spit out and cleared from the body. A research study indicated that oil pulling reduced plaque-induced gingivitis, and the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which is known to cause cavities. So grab a jar of coconut oil from the kitchen counter, and get pulling!

TCM Pick: Gargle with Coconut Oil

Non-toxic Toothpaste

Toothpaste is key to maintaining good oral health, acting as an antibacterial, but what type are you choosing? We’ve chosen to commit ourselves to toxin-free living, which means detoxing our toothpaste as well. Eliminate Fluoride, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth SulfateTriclosanSodium Hydroxide, and other nasty chemicals. These chemicals are damaging to the body as a whole, and can even reduce the healthy bacteria (probiotics) in the mouth. Opt for a toothpaste that uses natural antibacterial agents and breath fresheners such as neem, licorice, eucalyptus, clove and peppermint instead. Or better yet, create your own!

TCM Pick: Homemade Peppermint Toothpaste

Ionic Toothbrush

A toothbrush is used to mechanically reduce bad bacteria in the mouth, but new studies reveal that ionic toothbrushes introduce new benefits. An ionic toothbrush temporarily reverses the polarity of the tooth surface from negative (-) to positive (+), which draws plaque towards the toothbrush head. As a result, you are able to clear more plaque. In addition, because the teeth’s polarity is temporarily reversed, your teeth reject plaque even in areas that haven’t been touched by bristles. Research has proven that ionic toothbrushes reduce hypersensitivity, plaque and bleeding too, making it one of our favorite ways to clean our teeth.

TCM Pick: Dr. Tung’s Ionic Toothbrush

Green Tea

Drinking green tea not only protects against radiation, boosts your mineralization and helps you to lose weight, but it can improve your oral health as well. Research has found that the frequent consumption of green tea may help promote healthy teeth and gums, reducing periodontal disease. It is believed that green tea’s mode of action is through its high levels of the antioxidant, catechin. Previous studies have demonstrated catechin’s ability to reduce inflammation in the body, as well as the indicators of periodontal disease, thereby reducing bad bacteria in the mouth.

TCM Pick: Organic Jasmine Loose Leaf Green Tea by Numi

Oral Probiotic

We’ve been so focused on balancing the good bacteria in our gut with fermented foods and Kombucha, that we have forgotten all about the mouth! The mouth needs good bacteria too, which is why taking oral probiotics can be extremely beneficial, especially if cavities are a frequent occurrence. The more good bacteria you have, the more of a defense you have against the bad bacteria, reducing the incidence of inflammation and infection.

TCM Pick: DentaVen by Premier Research Labs

Neem Oil

Neem oil (plant pictured above) is an ancient remedy used for clearing up infections in the mouth. While the oil does not pleasant taste, we believe in its healing capabilities enough to endure it. Acting as an antibacterial, neem oil can be used to keep the bad oral bacteria from taking over and proliferating. Clinical studies have shown neem to be effective in lowering levels of plaque and tartar, while reducing inflammation, bleeding gums and dental infections. Simply apply a few drops of the oil directly to the gum line, massage, and allow it to sit overnight.

TCM Pick: Neem Oil by TheraNeem

Camu Camu

In efforts to not only boost our immune system, but to keep our gums happy too, we are keeping up with a daily dose of vitamin C. Rather than getting it from a synthetic vitamin tablet, we are using the superfood Camu Camu. Camu Camu contains 250mg of Vitamin C per teaspoon, containing more Vitamin C than any other known botanical source. Vitamin C is needed for healthy gums, reducing the incidence of bleeding gums, gingivitis, and even periodontitis. The good news is that the effects of Camu Camu go far beyond a healthy gum line, helping to improve immunity and the texture of the skin, while repairing and maintaining cartilage, bones, and teeth.

TCM Pick: Camu Camu Powder by Immunologic

Tea Tree Oil Floss

There is just no way around it – flossing daily is an integral part of keeping our mouths fresh and clean, so why not add an extra bonus with tea tree oil. A natural disinfectant, tea tree oil reduces bad oral bacteria. Research indicates that tea tree oil significantly reduces gingivitis and bleeding of the gums, even in those with gingivitis. So grab some tea tree oil floss to blast those bugs hiding in between your teeth!

TCM Pick: Tea Tree Oil Floss by Desert Essence

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Comments


  1. Plug! My apothecary carries a peppermint infused coconut oil for oil-pulling and people LOVE it. It’s a, er, more tasteful way to gargle oil. 🙂 <3

    Rachelle | 01.27.2015 | Reply
  2. Please do not lump fluoride in as a “nasty chemical” with the other toothpaste ingredients listed. Fluoride is important for dental health and is still recommended by the American Dental Association. I urge people to discuss their oral health with their own dentist before deciding to eliminate fluoride from their oral care.

    Nicole | 01.29.2015 | Reply
    • This may not be the place for you if you still love fluoride. . we know better. We’ve all done our research and made our decisions. If you want to learn, fantastic. If not, go find your people.

      shay | 11.03.2015 | Reply
      • uh.. fluoride is very useful, hen you apply it directly to the teeth.. in water is a different issue.

        tired of people demonizing fluoride. it is very helpful.. when its on your teeth. science.

        and do you know pretty much all foods have traces of fluoride in them. green tea naturally has some fluoride in it.. but green tea is still very healthy.. so sshhhh.

        sciencee | 07.06.2018 | Reply
    • Before you stick up for the American Dental Association or Fluoride you ought to research the history on both. Namely, the person (s) that originally set up the ADA. why they set up shop in the US, what materials they were using in Europe, and how Fluoride came to be deposited in our water supply.

      rick ciotti | 06.22.2018 | Reply
  3. Synergy Organics mouth rinses destroy the bacteria in dental plaque that cause gingivitis. They have a much higher penetrative ability than chemical rinses, and are recognized by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Assoc as superior to any other antibacterial oral product. Oil pulling is great, but 20 minutes! 30-60 seconds is all you need with our rinses to get that fresh, ‘just been to the dentist’ feeling. And they taste great! Developed by dental professionals.

    Mary | 02.02.2015 | Reply
  4. From what I have read it seems that there are lot of natural remedy out there for lots of ailments so please let me have some more remedies,Thank you.

    Chris | 02.02.2015 | Reply
  5. Do your research please! Neem oil should NEVER be taken internally or put in your mouth. It is the neem leaf / bark that should be used for oral health….

    tina | 04.30.2015 | Reply
  6. I’ve always found natural remedies to be pretty interesting. It’s true that our mouth is constantly full of bacteria. While this sounds bad, many of them are necessary for us to live. I’ll have to try using the tongue scraper you mentioned. Thanks for the intersting article!

    Serge Duval | 05.27.2015 | Reply
  7. I am aware that the mouth has lots of microorganisms in it but reading this post got me interested in the detoxification process of the mouth to control all those organisms that the mouth has in them.

    Atlanta Dental Spa | 01.21.2016 | Reply
  8. It is people’s responses like Shay’s above that turn people off. Responses should always be done kindly.

    Dorothy | 09.14.2016 | Reply
  9. Shay is right. Sometimes it hurts to call a spade a spade. The American associations of health literally don’t allow people with cancer to treat themselves naturally and avoid death through chemo and have been after holistic centers for decades… you think they’ll tell you flouride (and chlorine) is bad for you? Judging by what doctors do these days, you are your own doctor! Cure yourself naturally. To every ailment, a cure has been created. You just have to do your homework and find it. Eat food that comes from land, not from a shelf. Use medical technology mostly to assess your situation, as in imaging (MRI, etc.), but find the cure somewhere else. If a chemical conventional medicine won’t hurt you, it won’t help you. That’s what honest doctors tell you.

    Ahmed | 10.08.2016 | Reply
  10. This article has truly been a life saver for me. Not sure which flavor. Oil pulling and the garlic should be a household practice taught early on. All, this really works

    Yoli | 04.09.2017 | Reply
  11. Would anyone care to share their natural “tooth paste” recipes based of the recommendations in this article?

    Karen | 01.11.2018 | Reply
  12. Flouride only harms if ingested. As a topical ingredient it is vital to building and maintaining strong, fortified teeth. Ingested in large enough doses, it can harm us, so it should not be in our drinking water. Just don’t swallow your toothpaste and you’re good.

    Lorelei | 02.27.2021 | Reply
  13. Thank you so much for this article. I have been doing my own research on how to improve the health of my mind, body and soul. This article is very helpful! Thank you!

    Latasha B | 07.19.2022 | Reply
  14. What are natural remedies to get rid of thrush in kids ? Or candida overgrowth in adults?

    Maya | 08.15.2023 | Reply

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