It\u2019s safe to say that most of us know the basics of oral hygiene, right?\u00a0Brush your teeth twice a day \u2013 morning and night \u2013 and floss. While the first part may be easy to do,\u00a0many of us fail when it comes to the latter. But we shouldn\u2019t! Flossing is the best way to ensure that\u00a0you\u2019re getting rid of plaque in hard-to-reach places, which minimises your chances of developing\u00a0cavities and gum disease.<\/p>\n
Plus, when you get to do it with a clear conscious by using a 100% plastic-free silk floss<\/a>, there\u2019s really\u00a0no excuse!<\/p>\n While flossing can take you pretty far with oral hygiene, here are a couple of other tips to help add\u00a0some extra sparkle to your smile!<\/p>\n Apart from tasting minty and fresh, what do most commercial toothpastes have in common? They\u00a0contain fluoride<\/a>, a highly contentious ingredient that has sparked much debate in the wellness\u00a0industry.<\/p>\n The mineral is, of course, also widely present in drinking water around the world, as a late 1800’s\u00a0studies proved that it helped combat tooth decay.<\/p>\n However, as with any pro, there is sure to be a con. And fluoride seems to have quite many. For\u00a0instance, there is proof that it\u2019s more toxic than lead and almost as toxic as arsenic. It also may\u00a0contribute to a range of health problems, including:<\/p>\n While most healthcare professionals would dismiss any concerns about the levels of fluoride in\u00a0toothpaste, if you\u2019d rather not take any chances, we\u2019re fortunate enough to live in a time where\u00a0natural oral hygiene products are experiencing a revival!<\/p>\n And, they\u2019re just as effective (not to mention much less harmful to our bodies and the environment)\u00a0than your favourite commercial brands.\u00a0Here are a few tried and tested Faithful to Nature favourites:<\/p>\n Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing oil around in your mouth for a\u00a0prolonged period of time to help remove bacteria, promote oral hygiene and assist the body in\u00a0detoxing.<\/p>\n It is also said to help keep teeth white and sparkle, reduce the risk of cavities, improve gum health\u00a0and freshen breath.\u00a0All you have to do to reap these benefits is dedicate the first 5 \u2013 20 minutes of your morning\u00a0(directly after waking up) to swishing one tablespoon of oil \u2013 in the Ayurvedic tradition, sesame oil<\/a> is\u00a0preferred, but coconut oil<\/a> has become relatively popular for the practice in recent years \u2013 around your\u00a0mouth. If this sounds a bit odd, you can also try one of these:<\/p>\n Be patient with yourself \u2013 if you can\u2019t do a full 20 minutes to start off with, don\u2019t worry! The\u00a0important thing is to make it a consistent part of your morning routine. Also don\u2019t swish too\u00a0vigorously, as this will make your jaw tired \u2013 a gentle action is more than fine. Once you\u2019ve finished\u00a0swishing, DO NOT spit the oil out into the basin or toilet, as it may harden and clog your pipes \u2013 spit\u00a0it into the dustbin instead. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Read more about oil pulling in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n Complement your oil pulling routine by investing in an Ayurvedic Tongue Cleaner<\/a>.<\/p>\n All you have to do is gently slide the tongue cleaner over your tongue from the back to the tip before\u00a0brushing your teeth. This will remove the coating on your tongue, which will help remove bacteria,\u00a0detoxify and fight bad breath.<\/p>\n If you aren\u2019t using a toothpaste with added activated charcoal yet, you can easily incorporate it into\u00a0your oral care routine yourself!\u00a0All you have to do is gently dip your toothbrush\u2019s damp bristles into activated charcoal powder<\/a>, add Disclaimer: things tend to get a bit messy with activated charcoal, so be very careful and don\u2019t even\u00a0think of wearing any of your favourite garments (or anything white) during the brushing process.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Despite the messiness, brushing with activated charcoal can help absorb plaque and other\u00a0compounds that are know to stain teeth, thus leaving you with a whiter, brighter smile!<\/p>\n Ever had the toothpaste run out before it could even be added to the shopping list?\u00a0That\u2019s okay! It happens to all of us\u2026 and it will probably happen again at some point.<\/p>\n So, next time, instead of going into a frenzy to get hold of some minty freshness, simply dip your\u00a0toothbrush into some bicarbonate of soda and get the job done. It will leave your teeth feeling clean\u00a0and your mouth feeling relatively fresh. Do remember to buy toothpaste the next day, however, as\u00a0bicarb isn\u2019t enough to keep your teeth healthy on its own!<\/p>\n Chomp on this: Natural toothpaste vs the conventional stuff<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nSwitch to natural products<\/h1>\n
\n
\n
Try Oil Pulling<\/h1>\n
\n
Invest in an Ayurvedic Tongue Cleaner<\/h1>\n
Whiten your teeth with activated charcoal<\/h1>\n
\nyour toothpaste and brush as you normally would.<\/p>\nKeep some bicarb handy<\/h1>\n