Make a simple natural toothpaste and mouth rinse with these recipes from Philip Memoli, DMD, dean of the Berkeley Heights, New Jersey-based Institute of Natural Dentistry.
Old-fashioned Toothpaste
2 teaspoons baking soda
2-3 teaspoons peroxide
1-2 drops tea tree (Melaleuca spp) oil
Put baking soda in a small bowl; combine peroxide and tea tree oil in another small bowl. Dip your toothbrush in peroxide, then into the baking soda, and brush gently.
Herbal Mouth Rinse
Echinacea (Echinacea spp)
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Filtered water
Pour boiling water on dried bulk herbs (2 teaspoons per cup of water), or teabags. Strain, cool, then swish. Refrigerate extra rinse.
—D.N.