I’ve realized that cleaning my teeth can be done simply. I don’t need expensive tools. Consider my husband’s grandparents (from a small village in So Mexico); they clean their teeth, but it’s integrated into their everyday life. They chew on sticks from various trees on their land, and they also chew on certain herbs from their garden, which effectively cleans their teeth. I also noticed that if I consume enough K2 my teeth are always clean and don’t require much cleaning.

You might know that I use a miswak twig (or tooth-cleaning twig) to clean my teeth. But I also mentioned there are other ways to clean your teeth.

Well, now I am going to share a few more ways, since God left a plethora of choices.

Look to the Fruit

There are fruits you can eat that will clean your teeth. Apples can do this. They are slightly abrasive, and they also contain malic acid. Malic acid helps dissolve the biofilm that bacteria create to stick to your teeth. This biofilm will become plaque if not stopped. You should also know that malic acid stimulates your salivary glands. Saliva helps remineralize your teeth, and it also contains some bacteria-balancing enzymes. You can find malic acid in strawberries as well, so snack on those sometimes.

And consider the following, too:

• Fruits with citric acid like oranges or lemons also dissolve bacterial biofilm

• Polyphenols prevent this biofilm from even forming, and you can find this in fruits like berries or blood oranges

• Fruits with tartaric acid like grapes or cranberries help decrease dental caries

• Fruits with glycolic acid like pineapples, cantaloupe or unripe grapes offer similar benefits

I don’t suggest these fruits to completely replace your cleaning utensil, but they will assist in cleaning your teeth. I just wanted to show you how natural cleaning your teeth can be. Some of the above can also harm your enamel if eaten in excess, so it is also about balance.

You can also find tooth-friendly ingredients in the twigs of the fruit trees above.

Some of the following fruit twigs can be used for brushing when fresh, though you may have to do a little processing. Cut the twig, remove the bark, and you could soak it in a solution a bit or pound with a stone. You could do this with other twigs, such as those from birch trees or hazelnut trees.  Many twigs work best as chew sticks, and your saliva will wash away harmful bacteria.

• Lemon twigs

• Lime twigs

• Orange twigs

• Apple twigs

• Cranberry twigs

• Grape twigs

• Cherry twigs

And a Few More Chewing Sticks …

The following will help your oral health because they have similar benefits to the twigs above. They contain natural flouride, antibacterial enzymes and are naturally astringent.

• Twigs from the Margosa tree
• Twigs from Arjuna tree
• Black Catechu twig
• Twigs from the Arak tree
• Twigs from nut trees
• Twigs from coconut trees
• Liquorice sticks (come from the root of a legume plant and is not a twig–but you can chew on it like the others)

Mango Leaves

Mango leaves are also antibacterial. This is due to the mangiferin they contain. Mangiferin has been shown to effectively kill several strands of bacteria responsible for dental erosion, bad breath, cavities, plaque and gum disease.

You should find some at your local health food store, or you can even find some on Amazon. To use, just follow the steps below:

1. Wash the fresh mango leaf.

2. Remove the midrib from the leaf, but keep it to use as a tongue cleaner.

3. Fold the mango leaf in half with the glossy side facing inward.

4. Roll the leaf into a cylinder.

5. Bite one of the ends off, and brush with that end.

6. Brush your tongue afterwards, and you are done.

Mango twigs will help clean your teeth as well if you were wondering. Just chew on them.

You Can Also Use Herbs & Spices

As you can see, food heals your teeth and can clean your teeth. So, of course, you can simply chew on herbs and spices as mentioned earlier.

Check out the following:

• Yerba buena (or mint) is popular in southern American countries and is simply chewed. This is antibacterial due to the menthol content.

• Neem, which is quite popular nowadays, is an effective oral health enhancer due to its nimbin content. Nimbin helps destroy cavity-causing bacteria.

• Cinnamon sticks contain cinnamaldehyde, which gives cinnamon a wide bacteria-killing radius. This will help reduce the amount of oral pathogens making a home in your mouth. I use Ceylon sticks.

• Cloves stimulate blood flow to the gums & freshens your breath.

 Tooth-Friendly Powders & Cleaning With Your Finger?

You can also consider the powders that some indigenous people have used by simply putting some on their finger and rubbing it on their teeth. This can be too abrasive if done everyday. But I have noticed that with natural options this type of cleaning is not needed everyday if you eat correctly.

Consider the options below:

• Activated charcoal, antibacterial, sucks up positively charged particles, which are harmful bacteria

• Prickly ash bark powder, contains alkaloids that help diminish harmful bacteria

• Red clay, similar to charcoal

• Bentonite clay, similar to red clay

• Diatomaceous earth, similar to bentonite clay

• Sea salt, abrasive and balances the pH level in your mouth

• Wood ash, similar to the clays mentioned above

Or… Try a Wooden & Boar Toothbrush?

 If you’re not ready to use a twig or clean with your fingers, there is another popular option: a wooden & boar toothbrush. Boar bristles were used before nylon toothbrushes were created in 1938. Many people did not like boar bristles because the bristles were too hard and fell off easily. So, nylon brushes were introduced and became the norm. Some of the boar toothbrushes made these days are softer. And when you wet them, the bristles soften up a bit. You may also find some bristles made with horse hair, which is softer but harder to find.

But since it’s not toothpaste and a toothbrush in one, like some of the other alternatives, I would suggest combining this brush with the powders above (or your own creative concoction).

These are only a few more ways to take care of your dental health. Remember that your oral health extends to your overall health. So, be sure that what you use is pure–not contaminated, and try to get it the freshest that you can. If you haven’t done so, replace your old toothbrush and upgrade; your teeth and health deserve it.

Shalom,