Herbs For Tooth Decay

In our previous posts on dental health, we covered a lot on tooth decay and cavities, and we exposed the real causes and effective remedies.

This post will be exposing you to amazing herbs you can use for dental problems and cavities. They are highly effective and have no side effects.

They can easily reverse pathologies and strengthen your teeth. You need to support their effect with a good diet so that your teeth can remineralize.

Best Herbs For Dental Problems

Rhus Vulgaris and Lantana Trifolia

These two common plants are the most common remedies for teeth problems. In fact, they are used as chewing sticks to care for the teeth.

These plants are also rich in antimicrobial and antiseptic properties thereby promoting healthy dental care.

These sticks also scrape off plaque and they are good alternatives to toothbrushes.

You can easily get these at any health store.

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Also known as shave grass, this ancient herb is one of the best remedies for rebuilding bones, teeth, and other connective tissues of the body.

It has a high mineral content, especially silica. But you have to take this in moderation as excess silica can be hard on the kidneys. You can add fresh horsetails to your cooked soups and remove them.

Another way to use horsetail is to steep it in ACV for 6 weeks or more. Then you decant and add to your drinks or food. You can also take it as a tea by pouring boiled water over a tablespoon of dried horsetail.

Steep for 10 to 15 minutes and then drink.

Oat straw (Avena sativa)

Oats are rich in highly absorbable minerals that nourish your musculoskeletal system which includes your teeth and jawbones.

Steep dried oat straw for 8 hours. Do and drink this daily to remineralize your teeth.

Oat straw reduces tension (temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ).

Anti-bacterial and Anti-inflammatory herbs and Resins

The herbs and remedies in this group fight bacteria and prevent them from harming your teeth. They also relieve inflammation of the gum and other parts of the body.

Myrrh

This herb is warming and has astringent properties.  It is one of the top home remedies for oral care. Traditional Chinese medicine and other forms of ancient medicine use myrrh oil to date for dental treatment.

It also has powerful astringent and antiseptic properties. These properties help to reduce pain and promote healing. Myrrh is a powerful aid for people who have gum soreness or irritation.

Just a little myrrh can offer so much benefit as its anti-inflammatory property is strong. Due to these properties, it is a strong aid for swellings and soreness.

How to make myrrh tincture for toothaches

This home remedy can instantly kill bacteria attacking your teeth. It is extremely efficient in reducing inflammation. You need the following:

  • 2 cups of water
  • One teaspoon of powdered myrrh

Mix the myrrh and water and leave it to simmer for 30 minutes. Then you strain the drink and leave it to cool down.

When down with toothache, mix one teaspoon of this tincture with a half cup of water and use it as a mouth wash. Rinse your mouth 6 times daily with this solution.

Violet (Viola odorata)

This wonderful poultice soothes inflamed gum and parts of the mouth. It is rich in salicylic acid therefore, it helps in reducing pains.

It also has a high content of mucilage that helps in healing tender gum tissue and mucus membranes.

Apart from making a poultice and applying the paste to the affected region, there are other ways of using violet.

You can chew the fresh leaves or boil them with water and drink them as tea.

Peppermint

green mint photo
Photo by icon0.com on Pexels.com

This is a strong anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and powerful numbing herb. It is highly efficient and has good taste. It can stop pains immediately or prevent you from feeling the toothache.

One amazing way to use peppermint is to make the tea and take it. Put a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves inside a cup of boiling water and leave it to steep for 20 minutes.

When it cools, use it to rinse your mouth. Do this daily until you get your relief.

An excellent way to kill bacteria in your mouth and stimulate digestion is to take peppermint tea after meals.

Another way to use peppermint is to chew on a fresh mint leaf.

Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

This is one of the major herbal mouth allies in herbal medicine. It is a strong astringent and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. It is also a god antibacterial herb and highly rich in tannins.

Witch hazel is a powerful remedy for bleeding gum, the leaves can be used as a poultice and applied on the affected place to induce healing.

You can put the poultice on your wet toothbrush with or without toothpaste once a day and brush your teeth. You can increase the frequency when you have an oral infection.

Brush your gum line gently with it.

Propolis

This bee product stimulates the production of new tissues and it is also anti-viral in nature. It is also used to treat ulcers and mouth sores.

Propolis has powerful protective and regenerative properties for your teeth. It shows results more than most chemicals used in modern dentistry.

This wonderful natural remedy has many benefits.

  • It treats and prevents gum disease
  • Prevents cavities by killing the bacteria and making your mouth inhabitable for them. It also makes it hard for the bacteria to form plaque.
  • It reduces inflammation and encourages oral healing. It is even used to heal people after oral surgery.
  • It helps in improving the effectiveness of replanting knocked-out teeth by stimulating healing activities around the replaced tooth.
  • It hastens healing and reduces discomforts after oral surgery.
  • It treats sensitive teeth. Propolis seals up the tiny tubes and strengthens weak enamel.
  • It even stimulates the growth of reparative dentin.
  • Propolis treats thrush (fungal infection of the mouth). This is a serious problem for people with dentures but propolis can reverse this infection.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Diluted yarrow tincture can be used to brush your teeth and massage your gums gently. This will tone and tighten them and help your teeth stay firm.

Yarrow is a powerful anti-infective herb with a strong anti-inflammatory property. You can take this as a tincture or as an infusion.

Steep it for at least one hour. If you have an infection in your mouth, yarrow will hasten healing and reduce pain. Yarrow also promotes healthy bone health and helps your body form healthy bone marrow.

Pine resin

This has many health benefits, from digestive issues to wounds and sores. It is even helpful in cases of colds, the heart, and the nerves thereby increasing vitality.

It is also amazing for skincare. Now, to dental care, pine resin can reduce your visits to the dentist.

It relieves toothaches, inflammation of the gums, periodontosis (1st and 2nd degree), gingivitis, stomatitis, etc.

After brushing your teeth, add 4 to 8 drops of pine resin on your toothbrush and brush your teeth again. It is bitter so you have to be patient and brush your mouth for 2 to 3 minutes.

Rinse your mouth afterward. You can chew this as gum when fresh.  

St. John’s worth

Massage this herb into the muscles of your jaw to relieve tension or teeth grinding at night. To make it more effective, combine 25 drops of St. John’s worth with 5 to 7 drops of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) tincture.

Use this within 30 minutes of going to bed.

Anti-microbial herbs

The herbs in this group fight micro-organisms.

Sea salt (saline solution)

Pure and unrefined sea salt can kill bacteria and offer instant relief from inflammation. If you don’t have sea salt, you can use the normal table salt.

Add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and mix thoroughly. Use this solution to rinse your mouth for at least 30 seconds and spit it out.

Do not swallow it.

This will clean the areas between your teeth and reduce any swelling or inflammation. Do this daily until the toothache disappears.

Usnea

This common lichen is very powerful against a wide range of microbes. Studies have even shown that it is stronger than penicillin against staph and streptococcus.

This powerful nature cure is used to treat a wide range of infections: some of them are UTI, tooth, mouth, and throat infections (thrush and strep).

Studies have even shown that it is effective against antibiotic resistant strains like MRSA.

In herbal medicine, Usnea is used as an infusion or tincture. Any of this can be used to gargle or as a mouth rinse, especially when facing infected teeth, thrush, or strep.

It can also be consumed as tea 3 or 4 times daily until you get relief.

Bloodroot

Bloodroot is an amazing herb that strongly inhibits the formation of plaque on the teeth. It also destroys bacteria that cause decay.

Its strong anti-bacterial property can eliminate gingivitis and other infections of the gum quickly. It improves overall oral health and prevent the formation of plaque on your teeth.  

Plantain

This is often treated as a common weed but it is highly medicinal. The fresh leaves are used to treat abscesses (boil).

Plantain leaves (Plantago species) maintain healthy gums, fight germs with their antiseptic properties, it relieves pain, and help the gums adhere to the bones and teeth.

It gives instant relief to acute and sudden problems. You can chew a handful of plantain leaves and put them inbetween your gums and teeth. Do this two times daily.

Another way to use plantain leaves is to dry them. Then pour boiled water over them to make them soft. Allow to steep for few minutes and drink as tea and also chew the leaves.

You can also pour boiled water over the fresh leaves and chew them, this will increase the antibacterial properties.

Cayenne pepper and ginger

This combination is a powerful home remedy for toothaches. It has strong anti-microbial properties thereby fighting infections and bacterial attacks.

It also relieves pain and other discomforts. You make a paste using these two strong ingredients.

Mix the following together: 1 teaspoon of ginger powder and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder. Add two drops of water to this mixture to form a thick paste.

Get a clean cotton ball and use it to apply this paste on the affected tooth and area. Ensure you don’t touch your gum because this mixture can be quite irritating.

You can also use the spices separately if you are scared of this combination lol.

Chamomile

Aside from its antimicrobial activity, it is also a strong antispasmodic herb. It helps in relieving a tense and tired jaw. It is relaxing and can be used as a poultice inside and around the outside of the jaw.

You can also drink it as tea and placed the steep tea bag on the outside of your jaw.

Astringent Herbs

The herbs in this group will firmly root your teeth and strengthen your gum.

Krameria

40% of the constituents of this herb are tannins and they have anti-viral properties. If you have bleeding and spongy gums, combine myrrh powder and krameria powder together.

Use as a dentifrice. A dentifrice is a toothpaste or toothpowder or any other substance used in cleaning the teeth.

It is highly effective in treating inflammation of the mucus membranes of the mouth and throat. Krameria can be used as a mouth wash or gargle to treat mouth and throat infections, cracked tongue, cancer sores, and swollen gums.

Oak galls

Also known as oak apples, this herbal remedy is made up of 50% tannins. Ground this into powder and use as a dentifrice.

It is a potent remedy for inflamed and swollen gums. It treats spongy and bleeding gums also. Its astringent property controls bleeding and reduces swellings.

Oak galls produce a soothing and cooling effect on your gums because it has a cool nature. You can also use it as mouth wash or gargle.

It strengthens teeth, relieves gum problems, treats sore throats, loose gums, tonsillitis, throat infection, and a host of other oral problems.

Boil oak powder in water for a few minutes, strain, and use the liquid as a mouth wash or gargle. Make a paste of this and apply it to the affected area of the mouth to cure mouth ulcers.

Tormentil and sage

In the case of chronic gum inflammation, combine these and use as a gargle. This combination is powerful and can bring instant relief to pains and inflammation.

Immune-Strengthening Herbs

The herbs in this class support your immune functions thereby killing bad bacteria that can harm your teeth and gum.

A healthy immune system keeps your body strong and active. It will ensure that all parts of your body, especially your teeth and gums get enough nutrients to heal and remineralize.

Baptisia

This herb is loaded with antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties. It keeps bad bacteria and other decay-causing germs away from your teeth and gums.  

Echinacea

If you want to activate local immunity and induce healing, then get this powerful herb.

Make a diluted tincture and rinse your mouth or gargle with it to treat any type of dental problem.

Essential Oils For Treating Tooth Decay and Cavities

Essential oils are powerful remedies for cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. They help to stimulate the flow of blood to the gums and this, in turn, will make nutrients available to your teeth.

The following essential oils have strong anti-bacterial properties and they are potent in removing surface bacteria from your teeth.

Myrrh oil

A lot has been said of myrrh above. If you have red and swollen gums, put a few drops of myrrh essential oil on the affected area, and massage your gums lightly.

Myrrh essential oil can be used for a lot of dental problems like canker sores, bad breath, and even loose teeth. This is safer and not toxic and it has no side effects.

Even if you don’t have any dental problems, you can incorporate myrrh into your daily dental routine to prevent problems and maintain healthy dentition and oral health.

Peppermint oil

As seen above, peppermint is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial herb. You can apply peppermint oil directly on the affected part and massage your gum gently.

You can also make a mouthwash using peppermint oil. Add a teaspoon of baking soda to a cup of water and add a few drops of peppermint oil.

Use this solution daily to rinse your mouth.

Other essential oils you can use are:

  • Spearmint oil
  • Fennel oil
  • Cinnamon oil
  • Oregano oil
  • Thyme oil
  • Sage oil
  • Clove oil

They can be used directly or you add a few drops in water and ue as a mouthwash or gargle.

You can get any of these oils in a good health store or you can order them online. Make sure you go for organic and 100% pure oils. They should be free from chemicals and other unnatural things.

You will get maximum results if you use oils of the highest purity and quality.

The metaphysical Factor in Dental Health

Apart from diet, a healthy lifestyle, and the use of herbs; our emotions and thoughts have a huge impact on our dental health.

Your mouth is one of the most interactive openings into your body. The mouth is connected to self-expression and speaking your truth.

If you allow yourself to be shamed or silenced, it can affect your oral health.

So, while you are practicing good oral health, eating healthy foods, and living a healthy lifestyle: learn to speak your truth.

Add your voice and opinion to discussions, also learn to ask for help, express yourself freely, and love deeply. You should also learn when to be quiet and when to say “NO”.

Learn to let go and howl. You can even cry if you want to. Crying, shouting, or singing, heals and when you express yourself freely and truly, you will live healthily.

Sources

  1. Chewing sticks; EP, EP, PDF, RG, RG
  2. Myrrh; THP
  3. Peppermint; WebMD
  4. Propolis; CD
  5. Pine Resin; Pine
  6. Usnea; LTOW