by Olivia Elsom

Created on: November 25, 2008

We all know how important maintaining good dental health is, not just for our appearance but also for our general well-being. There are a myriad of oral care products on the market to help us maintain healthy teeth and gums, but have you ever looked at the ingredients list on your favourite toothpaste or mouthwash? There's no doubt that both toothpaste and mouthwash play an important part in dental care, but there are downsides to proprietary products. Along with the beneficial ingredients there are usually some others that are less desirable. Exposure to Triclosan for instance, an antibacterial compound found in both toothpaste and mouthwash, has been linked with cancer, and various other chemicals and sweeteners are commonly found in many oral care products.

Although many people are happy to experiment with making their own beauty products, they often don't consider making their own toothpaste and mouthwash. In fact both can be made easily at home for a fraction of the cost of store bought products. Of course the added benefit of making your own oral care products is that you know exactly what ingredients they contain, and don't have to worry about the possible health implications of consuming chemicals or artificial sweeteners.

Baking soda is a traditional and effective alternative to proprietary toothpaste. It's natural deoderising and slightly abrasive qualities mean it can freshen the breath and remove plaque from the teeth. Another alternative is powdered sage, which is a natural cleanser. As with baking soda, all that's required is a penny sized blob. Press a damp toothbrush into the powder before brushing.

If you prefer to use a paste rather than a powder, a simple paste can be made by mixing baking soda with some glycerine to the desired consistency and then adding a few drops of peppermint oil. The peppermint oil can be replaced by lots of other flavours according to personal preference. Almond, fennel, cinnamon or ginger all make good alternatives to a traditional minty taste.

A slightly more complex paste can be achieved by mixing 1/4 tsp peppermint oil, 1/4 tsp spearmint, 1/4 cup arrowroot, 1/4 cup powdered orrisroot, and 1 tsp ground sage together in a bowl. Add water (no more than 1/4 cup should be needed) until paste is the desired consistency. The peppermint and spearmint can be substituted with 1/2 tsp each of oil of cinnamon and oil of cloves if preferred. Store the paste at room temperature in a tightly covered jar.

For an unusual and tasty toothpaste (which also smells wonderful) try Vanilla & Rose Geranium: Mix 1/2 ounce powdered chalk, 3 ounces powdered orris root, 4 teaspoons of tincture of vanilla, 15 drops oil of rose geranium, with enough honey to make a paste. Store in an airtight container.

Not only are commercial mouthwashes quite pricey, they also contain artificial sweeteners and a cocktail of scary sounding chemicals, and of course many also contain alcohol. If you want to try making your own mouthwash this can be easily achieved by adding a drop of peppermint oil and a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water and using it to rinse your mouth. A number of herbs, including sage and rosemary, can also be infused in a glass of water to make effective breath fresheners with a mild cleansing action. 1 part hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 part water is also a cheap alternative to conventional mouthwash, but be careful to avoid swallowing any of the solution.

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