Natural Remedies for the Mouth

I invited Caroline Young  as a guest blogger because I believe her post would be a nice compliment to the health topics I write about. She talks about using more local, organic goods for treating mouth issues, so that resonates with me. Here is her bio: Caroline Young is a contributor to TopDentists.com, full-time news reporter in Atlanta, a part-time freelance journalist and a yoga instructor. As a health enthusiast, she writes about health topics often in an effort to help others live the best lives they can.
It may seem as if consumers worldwide are shifting from mass-produced manufactured goods to local, organic goods–whether it be food or even mouth treatments. 

Garden Meds

In fact, you may already have some natural remedies in your backyard garden. Several different kinds of common herbs can be used to soothe and improve dental and mouth damage, like canker sores or bleeding gums.

Licorice root has anti-inflammatory traits and is one of the top herbal remedies for healing mouth tissue.

Herbs calendula and Echinacea can reduce inflammation in sore gums.

Rosemary has antiseptic traits and can aid in healing canker sores while lavender oil is great for healing sores too, and clearing up the fungus Candida albicans. A couple of drops of lavender oil is also good at clearing up Candida albicans, as well as reducing inflammation and healing sores.

Goldenseal and Oregon grape roots are two other herbal remedies, which can help kill off bacteria in the mouth.

Aloe Vera, another easily homegrown remedy with several benefits has been seen to speed up the healing process of damaged gum tissue and reverse infection and irritation.

Sage is also a popular healing plants, and can help to fight gingivitis and mouth sores.

Tea tree oil, a natural disinfectant, also has been known to successfully cure canker sores.

Strong Systems

Stress, fatigue and allergies and weakened immune systems are all potential causes of canker sores, according to the The American Dental Association.

However, stress can also promote obesity and depression, and other life-threatening conditions. While there are so many obvious reasons to try to avoid all of these things in life, sometimes it gets rough.

Maintaining a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly and developing a healthy work-life balance are all the keys to staying stress-free (or at least low-stress) and keep the immune system strong. Taking up relaxing techniques like yoga and meditation are also well-known ways to help reduce stress.

Nutritious Notes

It is best to stay away from highly sweetened and processed foods and beverages, which add to chances of developing gum disease, cavities and other mouth issues.

For cold sores in particular, the essential amino acid lysine is a wonderful natural remedy. It must come through food or other supplements, including red meat, milk, egg, cheese fish and wheat germ but another amino acid arginine can reduce lysine absorption. So, when a cold sore strikes, avoid foods high in arginine, like chocolate, peanuts and almonds.

Basic Classic

The good old sea salt water is a fabulous mouthwash that works to cleanse the mouth and fight infection, and on a side note, it is a great toothache remedy.

Help from the Hive

Honeybees collect propolis from trees and plants to seal their hives. It is a stick substance that has some strong antifungal and antibiotic traits, which help fight mouth infections and sores. Propolis is for sale online and in most health food stores, and comes in the forms of powder or a pre-made propolis extract.

I want to thank Caroline for contributing to my blog. Let me know your thoughts on this article. Did you find that you can use some of the remedies she has talked about? If so, which ones are you already using or willing to try?

Your Resident Health Nut,

Renee