It’s been said that a gorgeous smile is priceless. You can’t put a price tag on a nice set of natural, healthy teeth and gums.
Many will do anything to achieve a smile they can be proud of; and with good reason. A beautiful smile really boosts confidence and it contributes to good health.
So, why is a healthy smile evasive to most people? We brush, we floss, we have regular dental visits, and yet tooth decay and gum disease are at an all-time high. Why is this?
The reasons are numerous, and I don’t want to discuss these today. Instead, let’s see if we can discover the best natural cure for gum disease and preventing cavities.
I received an email from a man who wrote the following:
Hi Bev; I believe you are the author of Manuka Honey For Gum Disease? I try to be conscientious about my oral hygiene, I visit the hygienist every three months, and I still have issues with my gums. I am considering trying your recommended regimen but I have a few questions.
It seems risky because you are applying sugar directly to your gums and teeth. Did you have those same concerns and what did you find for answers?
I often wear Invisalign retainers (upper and lower) at night. Would that interfere with the Manuka treatment?
What Manuka Honey UMF Number do you recommend for oral hygiene? Any particular Manuka brands you recommend? Whole Foods seems to be the best retail shopping location for Manuka Honey.
I understand and accept your answers are not medical advice, but I would like to read your thoughts and opinions on the subject.
Thanks,
Here Is My Response:
Hi Gary:
Thanks for your email about manuka honey for the gums and teeth.
It seems that more and more people are having problems with their gums and teeth in spite of the fact that they are dedicated to keeping their teeth clean.
Is Toothpaste Harmful Or Helpful To Your Teeth And Gums?
There are many reasons why gum disease is rampant, but I believe the #1 reason is that people are using toothpaste. Get rid of your toothpaste if you want your gums to start to heal. That may sound strange, but hear me out. Toothpaste, first of all, contain many harmful chemicals (including fluoride) and additives. Also, most commercial toothpaste contains some sort of glycerin. Glycerin coats the teeth and prevents them from “breathing” and absorbing minerals. It is better to do the following:
Brush your teeth with a simple solution of baking soda and water. You can even mix in a drop or two (and no more) of peppermint or clove essential oil for better flavor. At night put baking soda on your toothbrush and brush; before rinsing put about a teaspoon or two of apple cider vinegar in your mouth and you will have a foaming action in your mouth.
This is excellent for your teeth and gums, and it will even push out debris from your teeth that you missed with brushing. You don’t have to worry about this mixture being too acidic because when combined these two ingredients are very alkalizing and beneficial.
Secondly, if you’d like, you can brush with powdered, raw sea salt (such as Celtic or some other natural, unprocessed salt) and water about once or twice a week. This salt contains essential minerals that your teeth love. It will help to keep them strong and it is excellent for your gums.
And last but not least, after you brush you can take manuka honey (at least 10+) and massage your gums with it thoroughly, and then spit. You can insert your guards after this for a beneficial antibacterial action of the honey. You can even make a “mouthwash” in the morning by diluting the honey and working it around in your mouth before spitting. Do this after you brush.
I have an article on my blog about the benefits of manuka honey and what brands I recommend.
Sorry for the long email. I am very passionate about using natural, inexpensive products for better health. If everyone used these methods, dentists would be out of business, and we both know they don’t want to be, so many usually don’t tell their patients about these simple, very effective remedies.
Write me back in a few weeks to let me know what you decide to do.
It will be interesting to see Gary’s results. But each person must do their own research and decide what treatment plan they will ultimately decide to go with.
The “Proof Is In The Pudding”
I read an interesting article by Dr. Mercola about experiments with manuka honey. This is a portion of that post:
Can Manuka Honey Reduce Plaque Formation?
Researchers from India recently explored a number of strategies for reducing dental plaque:
- Manuka honey, which has potent antibacterial properties
- Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, a chemical mouthwash often used to treat gingivitis
- Chewing gum with xylitol, a sugar alcohol that has been found to help fight tooth decay
Sixty healthy subjects first received a professional prophylaxis with the purpose of making their teeth 100 percent plaque-free. They were then divided randomly into three groups, and given Manuka honey, chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, or xylitol chewing gum. After 72 hours, their plaque levels were examined and researchers found:
“Both Manuka honey and chlorhexidine mouthwash reduced plaque formation significantly, better than the xylitol chewing gum.”
So Manuka honey worked just as well as chemical mouthwash — and better than xylitol — in reducing plaque levels, most likely because of its potent antibacterial qualities.
For more information, visit Dr. Mercola’s website.
Today we’ve discussed a few of the best natural cures for gum disease and a healthy mouth. Why not give them a try!
How many of you use any of these remedies? What have you found to be an effective replacement for commercial toothpaste?
This advice will wear the enamal right off teeth! Baking soda and pure sea salt is way too abrasive and vinegar is too acidic.
I’ve use the suggestions in this post for over 20 years and have the most beautiful, healthy teeth possible. My dentist always compliments me. Vinegar is acidic, but when mixed with baking soda, it becomes alkalized. But everyone is different; that’s why it’s important to do your own homework and decide what’s best for you.
Hi Bev,
I have so enjoyed reading your articles. Thank you for all the good info. Now please excuse my ignorance, I wanted to try the baking soda honey and apple cider, however my lovely helpful hubby bought baking powder instead. Can I use this instead of baking soda?
Once again apologies for my ignorance.
Jenny
Jenny: Don’t use baking powder. Use baking soda. They are two very different things.
Bev
Hi,
I really need your advice,
I had brackets on my teeth about 10 years ago, and after 3 and a half year the Dr fixed behind my teeth, then a year later I saw one of my tooth roots is moving and my tooth was placed lower than the other teeth. I went to visit my Dr again and he put brackets on my teeth again. He was surprised! Now I’ve got Hawley retainer on my teeth, really disturbing 🙁 what’s more is that I’ve got a very bad gum inflammation, it really needs to be cured. Plz give me some advice. I’m in iran
Dear Maryam: Sorry about your problems with your brackets and teeth. If you gums are inflammed, please read the post “Best Natural cure for Gum Disease”. I am not a dentist so I cannot provide specific advise to you. If your problem persists, it might be a good idea to change to a different dentist who can help you. I wish you the best 🙂
Hugs,
Bev
Thanks alot. I read the post. Just going to cure my gums naturally in 6 months. I think it will be more helpful than visiting any other doctor.
Hi Maryam: For additional information, please read , . Also google “oil pulling”. This is a very popular remedy.
Hope this helps!
Hi, I was a kid in the system for most of my life and all the medications they had me on for things I was able to later prove I didn’t have, messed up my health but not just my bodily health but also my gums. I have never had a cavity, by some strange stroke of luck, but I have gum disease so bad I have exposed nerves. I can’t go to the dentist. My insurance doesn’t cover it and frankly, after talking to some people at work who had better results with issues they didn’t go to the dentist for… I am a bit nervous about that anyway. Obviously, I can’t afford to lose anymore of my gumline.
I have been doing some research and it brought me here. What would you suggest for me to save what I have left and you know, not lose my perfectly healthy teeth because years of medications screwed up my gums.
I have to be careful I know this, because some natural ways are still hard on the gums. I was once cautioned because I had such degenerated gums I should be careful of using baking soda. Would you say this is true?
I have been looking into using honey, something to clean my teeth, not do any more damage to my gums, and maybe even help me get rid of gum disease for good.
Is their anything specific you might recommend for me, or someone like me(it isn’t exactly an uncommon issue, many people who grew up in the system end up facing things like this, though I guess im lucky because my teeth themselves are healthy, just not my gums. Many people aren’t so lucky)?
Much thanks
-Luna
Dear Luna: Your situation is like my husband’s – good teeth but bad gums. But take heart, there are many things you can do in addition to what I wrote in the article about gum disease. Brushing your teeth with tumeric powder and water is very effective at stopping gum disease. Do this before going to bed. Also, you can mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste and brush your teeth with this instead of toothpaste. Also, brushing your teeth and gums with activated charcoal is also very effective and will make your breath fresh. Once a day swish a mixture of water and sea salt around in your mouth and then spit it out. This will not only freshen your breath, but it will help to remove bacteria and help to strengthen gums.
Also, have you ever done oil pulling? This has been reported to do amazing things to your mouth and gums. People swear by it. You may want to google it and see if it might be something you want to try. I wish you success and good health 🙂
Interesting read! I’ve never heard of using honey for gum health, but the baking soda/apple cider vinegar is familiar to me. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!!