Leslie Kenton herb feature

RADIANT SMILES

A lovely smile can light up your day. Bring a gleam to your smile by using fresh and wholesome herbs and you just might find yourself lighting up everyone’s day.

Tea is for Teeth
Green tea – Camellia sinensis – has hit the headlines recently for its remarkable antioxidant properties. What you may not have realized is that it does wonderful things for your teeth too. Green tea contains tooth strengthening soluble fluoride. And on its way through your mouth the tannins it contains help to stop plaque building up around your teeth.

And if you have an irresistible sweet tooth so you always reach for the sugar, help is at hand. Sweeten your tea by adding a little licorice root to the pot while you are brewing it. Licorice contains glycyrrhizin which is antibacterial. It also prevents decay rather than encouraging it as sugar does.

Toothsome Tea

Put 1-2 teaspoons of green tea in a tea pot with a small piece of licorice root. Pour a cup of boiling water over it. Allow to steep for 5-10 minutes, strain and drink. Slosh it around your mouth well (but don’t upset dinner guests).

CLEAN TEETH

You can make your own toothpaste and powders using ingredients you have to hand. Before commercial toothpaste people used many things to clean their teeth, including sea salt. I find this a little too abrasive and have discovered that orris root powder much kinder yet works just as well.

Tooth Powder

Put ½ teaspoon of dried sage into a pestle and mortar with 1 teaspoon of orris root powder. Pound them together well until you have a powder. Add 1-2 drops of essential oil of peppermint and mix well. Keep your powder in an airtight jar and use on a damp toothbrush. Don’t swallow it as any essential oil can be dangerous if ingested.

For a really zingy tooth powder use ½ teaspoon of sage, ¾ teaspoon of orris root powder and ¼ teaspoon of ginger. This really makes your mouth glow.

One of the latest fashions in toothpaste has been the addition of bicarbonate of soda as it bubbles in your mouth making it feel fresh. You can make your own using ordinary bicarbonate of soda you would use for cooking.

Bubbling Bicarbonate

Put 3 teaspoons of sodium bicarbonate into a small bowl. Add 3 teaspoons of glycerin and mix well (don’t worry, the sodium bicarbonate won’t fizz up). Keep it in a jar with a wide enough rim to dip your toothbrush into.

You can use this toothpaste just as it is. I don’t much like the taste, however, so I add 3 drops of essential oil - no more than this as ingesting essential oils can be dangerous. Choose from:

Essential oil of peppermint for its refreshing taste
Essential oil of lavender for breath freshening
Essential oil of myrrh to soothe sore gums

WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT

Some commercial mouthwashes are too strong. In fact some can leave you gasping for breath. Instead, rinse out your mouth with a gentle herbal infusion that you make and keep in the fridge. Try a strong peppermint tea for a refreshing rinse.

Put 4 teaspoons of dried herb in a tea pot. Pour a cup of boiling water over it and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain and set aside to cool. Rinse well and remember to spit it out as this is a strong tea. You can even infuse herbs in white wine for an astringent and delicious mouth wash.

Tipsy Teeth
Take a good handful of fresh herb and put it in a jar. Crush the herb slightly and pour a pint of white wine over the it. Seal the jar and leave it in a cool place for a week. Strain and pour into a clean bottle. Use it to rinse your mouth out well and don’t worry if you swallow a little. Not too much or you might start your day a little tipsy. Choose your herbs from:

Peppermint – refreshing and tasty
Myrrh – antiseptic and astringent for problem gums
Comfrey – soothing, and full of natural minerals to strengthen teeth

The classic definition of a herb is a non-woody plant which dies down to its roots each winter. This definition is far too limiting. It was probably made up by 19^th Century European botanists who had never seen the rainforest in which, of course there is no winter to die back in. Neither had they ever heard of woody trees and shrubs such as hawthorn and ginko and elder which are some of the best selling herbs on the market these days. I define a herb as a medicinal plant. It can come from any climate and be a leaf, a bark, a flower or a root. It can be home-grown or wild, a weed, a spice, a plant which is used for its healing or culinary or beautifying properties.

Once you discover the power of herbs it is easy to become so enthusiastic about them you go overboard trying to use them for everything. It is not wise to take lots of different plants all at the same time. Or you might start to think that since a small amount of something is good for you, taking twice or three times that amount will be even better. It isn’t. If you want safe and sane herbal help here are a few guidelines to follow:

Herbs occasionally interact with conventional drugs. Be sure to tell your doctor that you intend to try a herbal remedy.

If you want to use herbs to treat a serious medical condition, find yourself a good medical herbalist to work with. Don’t do it yourself.

Take no more than recommended dosages of a herb or combination. If you notice any adverse reaction, stop right away.

Use only the very best herbs whether they be fresh, dried, teas, tinctures, extracts, or capsules.

Give plants enough time to work. Many herbs, such as St John’s Wort and Wild Yam, are slow to build beneficial effects on the body. Look to six weeks for results.

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