Here are some natural remedies for dental health you can use on your own at home between appointments to help keep your smile beautiful and healthy, the way that nature intended!

TONGUE SCRAPING

By scraping the tongue, you not only maintain a healthy mouth, but on a deeper level, you also support your organs. It is believed to remove toxins and dead bacteria, enhance the flavor of your food, and improve bad breath.

2. GREEN TEA

Green tea contains compounds called polyphenols, a unique kind of antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and fight plaque-causing bacteria. If you’re not a big tea drinker, you can try oral care products that contain green tea, such as toothpaste and mouthwash. You can even chew gum or suck on candy made with green tea—just make sure they’re sugarless! Here are 5 things green tea can do for your dental health:

• Fight bad breath

• Prevent cavities

• Help with tooth sensitivity

• Control oral cancer growth

• Fight gum disease

3. WATER

Our bodies are composed of roughly 60% water, which is one reason it’s so important to stay hydrated. Water helps the body absorb essential vitamins and minerals, get rid of waste, keep the skin healthy and elastic, digest food, and lubricate the joints. And believe it or not, staying hydrated also plays an important role in our dental health. Swishing water after meals is a great way to get rid of food particles and sugar on the teeth, but simply drinking water throughout the day is also important to keep the teeth clean and prevent cavities. Drinking plenty of water also helps dry mouth. Not only does it keep the mouth moist, it also stimulates the salivary glands to produce more saliva, which is the first defense against tooth decay. Water also prevents bad breath and tooth staining and helps protect the tooth enamel from damaging acids.

4. ORAL PROBIOTICS

The mouth normally contains a number of microbes that together, are called the oral microbiome. This microbiome includes healthy and harmful bacteria. A healthy microbiome protects the mucous membranes of the mouth, as well as the teeth. Oral probiotics help to:

• Prevent cavities

• Fight bad breath

• Protect against gum disease