Beyond Fluoride: Natural Oral Health Care

Most people grow up learning to practice good oral health care, including brushing and flossing. As an adult, maybe you have even tried fancier toothpastes that claim to detoxify and protect against plaque or tartar. But are you brushing and flossing only to have receding gums or blood in the sink? Are you still getting cavities? 

Receding gums, deep pockets, cavities and blood upon brushing or flossing are all signs of an unhealthy mouth and could be a hint that your toothpaste and oral health care routine are not doing enough for you. Is there more you can do to support a happy mouth? You bet there is!

Why Avoid Fluoride in Toothpaste

Traditional toothpastes still use questionable ingredients like fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, and carrageenan to help combat plaque and gingivitis. Why avoid fluoride in toothpaste? Many have concerns about the potential health risks of excessive fluoride intake. Unlike toothpastes with fluoride as an ingredient, natural toothpastes use ingredients from nature to help bust through biofilms, support strong tissue, and maintain a proper oral pH. 

For some, the answer to “Why avoid fluoride in toothpaste?” is simple age: children younger than two years old should not be using a toothpaste with fluoride. Look instead for toothpastes like Xlear Spry Xylitol Toothpaste Fluoride Free, which is safe for children and adults and helps clean and whiten teeth without the use of fluoride.

Maintaining oral hygiene is important, so look for natural products that fight against common issues that can affect tooth and gum health.

Biofilm Busters

Biofilms are microorganisms that form a hard barrier over bacteria. This hard layer encloses opportunistic bacteria, giving it a safe place to multiply and spread resulting in plaque, tartar and gingivitis.

Brushing and flossing are typically not strong enough to break through biofilms and regular toothpastes don’t provide necessary ingredients to penetrate the biofilm. It is only when the biofilm is disrupted that the bacteria inside can be neutralized. 

Broadspectrum botanicals and essential oils assist in removing biofilms, opportunistic bacteria, and plaque. Look for toothpastes like North American Herb & Spice OregaFRESH P73 Toothpaste that contain ingredients like oregano oil, clove oil, black walnut, myrrh, goldenseal or grape seed extract.

Reaching Deep Pockets

Brushing and flossing may not be enough to reach bacteria and biofilms below the normal gum line due to deep pockets. Deep pockets are spaces between the gum and tooth. This little pocket is a perfect haven for bacteria, providing a safe breeding ground so an infection can spread into the bone potentially leading to gum disease or tooth loss. To reach this deeper bacteria, opt for an oral care solution with lavender oil, echinacea, noni, CoQ10 and quercetin. These ingredients should be swished about the mouth or placed directly onto floss and help reduce swelling and speed repair of damaged tissue. Herbal mouthwashes that contain cinnamon, horse chestnut, wild indigo and witch hazel are also able to reach bacteria in these deeper pockets. 

Healthy Oral pH

A healthy oral pH is between 6.2 and 7.6. Your oral pH is determined by the type of foods you eat and how many minerals are in your diet. Healthy saliva production helps maintain this pH. Acidic foods like fried foods, sodas (both regular and sugar-free), potato chips, sugary foods, and juices are too acidic for the body to maintain a healthy oral pH. Certain medications like antidepressants and antibiotics are very acidic and can decrease saliva production resulting in dry mouth, gingivitis, and ultimately tooth loss. Build a healthy oral pH with foods like whole fruits, vegetables, garlic, ginger, pumpkin seeds, green tea, and kombucha. When you have a healthy pH, opportunistic bacteria can’t survive and healthy bacteria thrive-providing you with healthy teeth and gums. 

Beneficial Bacteria

Yes, just like your gut, there are beneficial bacteria for your oral cavity! Beneficial bacteria help inhibit harmful bacteria. Taken routinely, beneficial bacteria can help maximize oral health by restoring pH levels, increasing saliva and lessening tissue swelling. Specific strains of good bacteria can help combat bad breath and help support a proper immune response. Strains of beneficial bacteria that love to live in the mouth are Streptococcus salivarius M18 and lactobacillus reuteri.

Are you ready to upgrade your natural oral health care routine beyond fluoride?