Self Dentistry

I have been a bit interested in self dentistry for about a year or so now. With the rising cost of health insurance and dental insurance, and the lack of a truly GOOD dental insurance (If you have one, FANTASTIC! But ours leaves big holes in what is covered and what is not) I have scoured the net for different recipes for things that I can make at home that are:


A) greener to the environment
B) Greener to my health
C) Less expensive than traditional


I love making things that are non toxic, or better than the alternative, but lets face it, sometimes the local health food store wants an arm and a leg for this stuff! Here are just a few of the things that I do or have made, and some variations that you can make to your own. A word of caution though, I have a friend who works in the dental industry, she recommends that you use baking soda no more than 2X per week on your teeth (because it is abrasive) and lemon juice no more than 1 or 2X per week (because it’s a mild form of acid) so, just keep that in mind when making some of these recipes. Also, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, what works for me and my family may not be best for yours, so try these out, but be sure you are doing what it takes to meet the needs you have.

Herbal Mouthwash

1 cup distilled water or a nice herbal tea

1 teaspoon raw honey

4 drops Peppermint essential oil (or spearmint, or a mix)

2 drops tea tree oil

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (optional)

Measure out honey into measuring cup. Add the essential oils, Mix well with the honey. Add a small amount of warm distilled water or herbal tea of sage to the honey until completely dissolved. Add the remaining amount of water. Bottle and label. Shake well before each use and swish for  60 seconds. For optimal freshness make weekly.

ACV based Mouthwash

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 cups boiling water

Combine vinegar with boiling water and let cool. Store in a clean bottle and use as needed.

Toothpaste

3T baking soda

3T coconut oil

A few drops of clove oil, cinnamon oil, ginger oil or peppermint oil

Melt the coconut oil in a bowl put inside a bowl of warm water, mix all ingredients together, when you put it in a container it will harden. Just put a small amount of it on your toothbrush and go! Some people will add a few drops of glycerin to this, I have not done this, but, try it out!

This last recipe is not one that I have tried, but I know so many people who don’t have any kind of dental plan that I wanted to put this one out there for those who need it..

For Bacterial or Viral Related Infections

1 cup Rosemary or Sage herbal tea

1 teaspon fresh lemon juice (optional)

1 teaspoon raw honey

2 drops Peppermint essential oil

2 drops Bergamot essential oil

1 drop Tea Tree essential oil

Brew 1 cup of Rosemary or Sage herbal tea. Add fresh lemon juice. Measure 1 teaspoon of honey and add essential oils to it and mix well. Combine aromatic honey with th warm herb tea and lemon juice. Mix well and bottle in clean glass container. Shake well before each use. To use, simply swish vigorously and leave in the mouth for a minute or two before spitting out. Can be used several times per day. Most beneficial when used following oral care, after meals when the mouth is clean. Avoid drinking and eating within 20 minutes of use to allow essential oils to be absorbed and affect local bacteria. For optimal freshness make weekly.

Natural (homemade) Beauty Products

I am on a quest to:

A) Not put anything ON my body that I dont want to put IN my body

B) Make my beauty products with stuff that I mostly have in the house already, or that have dual purpose

C) As one woman put it "Stick it to the man" by not having to BUY beauty products

There are a few things that I have been doing or am trying that I like. And a few that Im looking for something better. Maybe you have ones you would like to share with me? I would LOVE it if you would!

DRY Skin Brushing

Maybe I havent been doing this long enough to SEE any results, but I dont see anything, except maybe that I dont need lotion anymore. Maybe thats from the brushing or maybe thats just from the diet changes.. Anyhow, I do this all the time cause it FEELS AMAZING! Ill keep up with it just cause it FEELS like a spa treatment. And maybe it is helping stuff along..

Raw honey as a face wash

 I put it on my face in the tub, leave it there for about 2-4 minutes then wash off with a wash cloth. My skin feels really soft, it seems to get a little tighter too, though I dont really NEED that, I suppose its a plus. My skin feels more even and less red. I love this treatment and use it everyday, and will continue to use it.

Raw Coconut oil as a moisturizer

 I use about the size of a pea or smaller. put on face. Feels oily for a while, but once it soaks in, its great! I have heard a few people (not many) say that it doesnt work for them, they have had success with jojoaba oil, which I have not used by itself on my face. 

Witch Hazel as a facial toner

I sometimes use witch hazel as a facial toner, since I have been using the raw honey, I havent needed it, but sometimes (probably 2 or 3 times a week) Ill use it to wake up my skin, just to get that refreshed feeling.

Coconut oil bath Soak

I put (apx) 2 TBLS of coconut oil in the tub and soak for a while. If I do this 2 or 3 times a week. I dont need lotion. I try to keep this out of my hair so it wont get greasy, but I  have seen some people say that they use it on their hair too.. (does NOT work well with my hair) My skin feels great and smells good too!

Homemade Deodorant

made from shay butter, coco butter, baking soda, sandlewood, and flax oil. This stuff when you mix it all up, smells SOOOOOO good. Ive been using this stuff twice a day JUST because it smells so good. Using it twice a day works great, im not sure about once a day cause I have never used it just the once. Im sold on this.

Homemade Toothpaste

Made from cocnut oil, tiny bit of baking soda, tea tree oil and clove oil. I LOVE the tea tree and clove oil, and in the past have put those in store bought natural toothpastes. However, this one makes my teeth really sensitive. Ive noticed that I can only use this a day, then the next day I have to use like a Toms Of Maine one or something. If anyone has a different homemade one that they use and like, let me know, I would LOVE to try a different one!

Baking Soda shampoo

Just mix 3TBLS baking soda with about 2.5 cups of warm water and mix and massage into hair, then rinse. Ive only used this method twice, and so far It did NOT take more color out of my hair that other natural shampoos, it did not make it softer but more corse, and it DID give it more body and it did bring out my natural wave, which I almost never see with other products. I followed the baking soda with Apple Cider Vinegar rinse, it seems nice, but I think I want to use this method for about 2 weeks before I can really say if I will keep it or not.

Relaxing Detox Soak

Epsom salt and ginger or another essential oil or fresh herb. Real hot water, SOAK. This has been one of my favorite things since I was about 12. Seriously, I love to soak for a while, it clears my head. Especially when the tub smells good.

Please share what you are using,  what you like, what you dont, etc. Im really looking to make my tub into a SPA. I have 2 young girls, I dont get out all that much, and I am really trying to make the most out of my relaxing time, not to mention pocket book!