Are You a Tooth Seeker?

Oral health is an untapped field in the holistic health and wellness world, but your mouth really is a litmus test for the health of your total body. Chronically inflamed gums? You might wanna look at your cardiovascular health. Horrible halitosis (bad breath)? You 100% have a dysbiosis in your gut. Scalloped tongue? Your body is yearning for alteratives and a diet change-up. We've got a whole workshop going through oral health from an herbalist's perspective, but for now, read on about why we are selling our herby tooth powder.

The root of Iris germanica was traditionally use as an antimicrobial, breath-freshening and teeth-strengthening chew toy for sweet babies! You know we added it to our tooth powder! Creative Commons image - see resources

Here's the Tooth Truth

Although it might leave your mouth feeling minty fresh, conventional toothpaste is not the path towards a healthy & balanced oral microbiome*.
While there are a few toothpastes we do love (read on to learn more!), we designed our herby Tooth Seekers Tooth Powder to stand alone or to be used in combination with your favorite toothpaste.

Our tooth powder is formulated to:1. Support healthy microbial communities of the mouth
       -with antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral & sialogogue herbs
2. Fight inflammation and sensitivity
      -with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, astringent, & immune supportive herbs
3. Correct the pH of the mouth to prevent demineralization & protect toothy integrity
        -with mineral-rich & alkalizing ingredients
4. Freshen the breath
         -with carminative, aromatic, & antimicrobial herbs 

How to Use: 
-Wet your toothbrush (we recommend soft bristle brushes)
-Dip it in the tooth powder so that all the bristles are coated in a solid layer.
-Brush gently using thorough, circular motions. Be sure to get every surface of every tooth. Aim for 2 minutes of brush-time, minimum.
-Alternatively, you can apply a nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste** to your brush and then dip it into the tooth powder for an added dose of herby mineralization (this is the method we recommend!). 

FUN FACT:
Our favorite dentist, Dr. Mark Burhenne, tells his patients that toothpaste isn’t even necessary if you are eating a paleo diet (tooth truth drop: processed and sugary foods & drinks sit at the root of poor oral health) and practicing good dental hygiene (you’ll learn more about this in our online workshop!). In fact, the physical motion of brushing alone is what really promotes the rebuilding of teeth. With the addition of our Tooth Seekers tooth powder, you’ll receive the added benefit of a fresher breath and more balanced microbiome!

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*To Fluoride or Not to Flouride - that is the question

*To Fluoride or Not to Fluoride - That Is the Question
Fluoride use in toothpaste is a contentious topic. While fluoride applied topically has the ability to remineralize teeth, we feel there are far better, safer alternatives for daily use.
Consider this:
-There’s a reason conventional toothpaste has a poison control warning: fluoride is toxic. Due to its pervasiveness in our water supply and oral products, we are likely swallowing far more than we should. 
-Where does it come from? Fluoride is an unregulated by-product of our fertilizer industry and the U.S.A has the most fluoridated water in the world. 
-Numerous studies affirm that fluoride disturbs neurological development - especially in kids (Valdez-Jiménez et al 2011).
-The actual amount of fluoride you need to remineralize your teeth would require a prescription strength toothpaste or a visit to the dentist

**What is Nanohydroxyapatite?

For these reasons and more, we choose to avoid fluoride all together (thanks to our Berkey Filter’s fluoride remover) and replace it with a 100% non-toxic alternative that outperforms fluoride altogether. It’s called nanohydroxyapatite and these nano-sized particles are what naturally make your teeth and bones strong. Our teeth will readily absorb these particles and start rebuilding enamel giving your teeth a smoother, whiter, more reflective, and stronger surface

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More About the Ingredients in Tooth Seekers

Orris root, Iris germanica 
Taste/Energetics: bitter, acrid, pungent; hot, dry, aromatic
Actions: antispasmodic, aperient, aromatic, carminative, expectorant, pectoral, purgative, sedative

Orris root comes from the lovely Flag Iris native to the Mediterranean but naturalized in many parts of the US. Like other members of the Iris family, such as Calamus, Orris root has a dispersive, cleansing and purifying nature. Externally, it is cherished as an antiseptic and additive to perfumes and cosmetics for its pleasant violet aroma. Internally, its acrid and aromatic qualities are excellent at breaking up congestion while its antimicrobial action resolves the issue at the root. Historically, the fresh root was given to babies to chew on for healthy mouths and strong teeth. Today, Orris root is commonly found in tooth powders and pastes for its delightful aroma, clearing & opening qualities, and antiseptic (topical) and antimicrobial (internal) actions. 

Arrowroot, Maranta arundinaceae
Taste/Energetics: sweet, bland cooling, neutral
Actions: demulcent, mucilaginous, nutritive 
The rhizomes of this tropical plant have been used as a nutritive & thickening agent in foods and medicines for 1000s of years. The common name “arrowroot” refers to its historic use as an antidotal poultice for poisonous arrow wounds. It was also used as a topical remedy for spider and snake bites. It provides a nice, neutral base for tooth powders

The tropical native, Arrowroot, was named as such because it was used to remedy wounds from poisonous arrows! Creative Commons image - see resources

Myrrh, Commiphora myrrha
Taste/Energetics: spicy, neutral
Actions: analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, expectorant immune stimulant
This precious resin of the gum tree has been treasured for centuries for its ability to calm mucus membrane irritations from pharyngitis to UTIs. It’s particularly adept at resolving infections of the lungs and mouth. It’s antimicrobial and astringent action makes it an excellent gargle for sore throats or a topical application for wounds.
*Do not ingest myrrh if pregnant due to its emmenagogue effect

At the time of Jesus' birth, Myrrh was considered more precious than gold. It was a used in holy anointing oils, wines, and for embalming. Historically it was also used to improve oral health, promote longevity, and bring youthfulness to aging skin. Creative Commons image - see resources

Echinacea, Echinacea angustifolia
Taste/Energetics: cooling, pungent, stimulating
Actions: alterative, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant, sialagogue, vulnerary
Echinacea root is one of our favorite remedies for dry mouth, bad breath, or inflamed gums. It’s powerful sialagogue action encourages salivary flow which moistens the mouth and bathes it in infection-fighting moisture. It’s a vulnerary, healing wounds in the mouth, and a gentle immune stimulant and alterative, improve the overall function of the immune and lymph systems. 

Cinnamon, Cassia cinnamomum
Taste/Energetics: warming, drying, pungent, sweet
Actions: analgesic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, carminative, circulatory stimulant, styptic 
With it’s spicy sweet anti-inflammatory and astringent action, Cinnamon was made for the mouth. We love it for its ability to: tone and tighten inflamed gums; get that nourishing blood flowing; promote breath freshness, and resolve microbial imbalances in the mouth

Clove, Syzygium aromaticum 
Taste/Energetics: pungent, spicy, hot, dry
Actions: anesthetic (topically), analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial anti-oxidant, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, expectorant
People have been chewing on Clove buds to ease toothaches for centuries - Clove’s pleasantly aromatic, spicy taste and pain-relieving nature lends itself beautifully to  any oral routine.

Baking soda
Did you know that every time you eat, you are de-mineralizing your teeth? Your body necessarily tells your mouth to create an acidic environment in order to aid the digestive process (this is why sticking to 3 square meals and not snacking is a very good habit for your teeth!). Baking soda is highly alkaline and therefore encourages a healthy pH, supports beneficial bacteria, and protects your enamel from decay. Plus it’s known to whiten teeth! On its own it can be a bit abrasive, so we’ve balanced it with other herbs to make it a-okay for moderate daily use. 

Xylitol
This sugar alcohol is known for its abilities to reduce cavity-causing bacteria and freshen the breath. We add just enough to get the benefits without going overboard on the sweetness ​

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Resources
We love Dr. Mark Burhenne’s approach to oral care. You can follow him at @Askthedentist or check out his website www.askthedentist.com) 

To learn more about the tooth truth about fluoride, visit www.fluoridealert.org 

Creative Commons: Aracaria Biodynamic Farm, Nikonian Novice