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Dental Herbalism: Natural Therapies for the Mouth
A comprehensive practical reference to herbal dental care for all ages
• Details the use of 41 safe and effective herbs for the mouth
• Explores 47 common conditions that affect the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, acid reflux, and tooth loss
• Provides recipes for herbal toothpastes, mouth rinses, pain-relieving poultices, and teas for prevention and daily care
• Examines infant and toddler oral care, including remedies for teething and thrush
Our oral health is intimately linked with our overall health and well-being. In this practical guide to herbal dental care, medical herbalist Leslie Alexander and registered dental hygienist Linda Straub-Bruce detail how to use 41 safe and effective herbs for the mouth for optimum oral health, prevention of decay and inflammation, and relief from pain and discomfort.
The authors provide recipes for herbal toothpastes and rinses, poultices for pain and inflammation, and teas and tinctures for intervention, prevention, and daily care. They explain how recent research confirms the link between poor oral health and many diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. They examine the risk factors, symptoms, causes, and herbal preventives and remedies for 47 common conditions that affect the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, bruxism, acid reflux/GERD, and tooth loss. They explore the complete anatomy of the mouth and explain proper brushing, flossing, and tongue-cleaning techniques to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and maintain bridges, implants, and braces. The authors address the importance of diet and nutrition in oral health as well as controversial topics including fluoride. They provide an in-depth chapter on pregnancy, infant, and childhood oral care, including herbal remedies for teething and thrush.
Ideal for those looking to improve their own oral health, herbalists looking to address the root cause of systemic inflammation, or dental professionals searching for natural alternatives, this authoritative yet practical guide empowers each of us to reclaim the health of our mouths and sustain a full, strong set of teeth for a lifetime.
• Details the use of 41 safe and effective herbs for the mouth
• Explores 47 common conditions that affect the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, acid reflux, and tooth loss
• Provides recipes for herbal toothpastes, mouth rinses, pain-relieving poultices, and teas for prevention and daily care
• Examines infant and toddler oral care, including remedies for teething and thrush
Our oral health is intimately linked with our overall health and well-being. In this practical guide to herbal dental care, medical herbalist Leslie Alexander and registered dental hygienist Linda Straub-Bruce detail how to use 41 safe and effective herbs for the mouth for optimum oral health, prevention of decay and inflammation, and relief from pain and discomfort.
The authors provide recipes for herbal toothpastes and rinses, poultices for pain and inflammation, and teas and tinctures for intervention, prevention, and daily care. They explain how recent research confirms the link between poor oral health and many diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. They examine the risk factors, symptoms, causes, and herbal preventives and remedies for 47 common conditions that affect the mouth, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, bruxism, acid reflux/GERD, and tooth loss. They explore the complete anatomy of the mouth and explain proper brushing, flossing, and tongue-cleaning techniques to prevent tooth decay and gum disease and maintain bridges, implants, and braces. The authors address the importance of diet and nutrition in oral health as well as controversial topics including fluoride. They provide an in-depth chapter on pregnancy, infant, and childhood oral care, including herbal remedies for teething and thrush.
Ideal for those looking to improve their own oral health, herbalists looking to address the root cause of systemic inflammation, or dental professionals searching for natural alternatives, this authoritative yet practical guide empowers each of us to reclaim the health of our mouths and sustain a full, strong set of teeth for a lifetime.
488 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 27, 2014
I'll do a fuller review on my blog later with another similar book.
But a good look at the topic, more medical dental theory than the title would suggest, but that kind of makes it useful in its own right.
Good part of herbal an health libraries.
But a good look at the topic, more medical dental theory than the title would suggest, but that kind of makes it useful in its own right.
Good part of herbal an health libraries.
October 8, 2014
Lots of good information here. one I will go back to time and again. More information then needed for the layman but still easy to read and follow. Will definitely be applying much of what I read.
December 31, 2022
Dental Herbalism has some very valuable information that I will be implementing into my personal life and into my practice. I hadn’t considered the full importance of the mouth and it’s relationship to the entire body as deeply as I will be in the future.
From every day care with powders, rinses and how to make a toothbrush to more in-depth information that may heal what is said to not heal, this book is a keeper and will be referred back to many times in my future.
From every day care with powders, rinses and how to make a toothbrush to more in-depth information that may heal what is said to not heal, this book is a keeper and will be referred back to many times in my future.
June 16, 2018
Fantastic resource where there are not many published!
April 3, 2019
This was a book that sat in my reference reading stack for far too long.
For reasons I won't get into, thinking about teeth and dentistry pushes me close to a panic attack.
And I almost had one the first time I picked this up to start reading. So it gathered dust for a few years.
Finally made myself dig into it, and I am quite glad I did. Not just as an herbal reference, but as a ... primer of sorts on dentistry, dental issues, and the various things that can be done.
I actually feel slightly less terrified of the whole topic now.
For reasons I won't get into, thinking about teeth and dentistry pushes me close to a panic attack.
And I almost had one the first time I picked this up to start reading. So it gathered dust for a few years.
Finally made myself dig into it, and I am quite glad I did. Not just as an herbal reference, but as a ... primer of sorts on dentistry, dental issues, and the various things that can be done.
I actually feel slightly less terrified of the whole topic now.
March 28, 2019
Very interesting
April 10, 2017
I found this to be an excellent dental overview. That being said, I didn't find that it did a great job with as a dental herbal.
There was a well organized, accurate (at least it jives with my other herbals as far as I can tell) herbal section but it wasn't highly dental oriented. In other words, there was a good detail of information about each herb but most of it was pretty identical to an ordinary herbal.
The author was more supportive of antibacterial herbs than I'd like.
For example, I was mostly reading this to figure out how to deal with my receding gums.
Most of the recommended herbs for this issue had some sort of antibacterial action.
Many antibacterial herbs are broad spectrum and will kill positive bacteria and in doing so may leave only the most resistant bugs like candida. This was not addressed explicitly (although perhaps it was addressed in the author's choice of herbs I am no expert). I would've liked more warnings and explicit time frames (e.g. don't use this mouthwash for more than 2 weeks) in this regard.
That being said, she did recommend using astringents for gum recession which I was thinking of doing. However, she left out cranesbill (which I think is pretty much just an astringent) and chose astringents that have more actions(willow and red raspberry leaf). I am not saying this is incorrect, but I would've liked an explanation as Cranesbill is a pretty common astringent (as far as I know) and the one I was thinking of using.
There was a well organized, accurate (at least it jives with my other herbals as far as I can tell) herbal section but it wasn't highly dental oriented. In other words, there was a good detail of information about each herb but most of it was pretty identical to an ordinary herbal.
The author was more supportive of antibacterial herbs than I'd like.
For example, I was mostly reading this to figure out how to deal with my receding gums.
Most of the recommended herbs for this issue had some sort of antibacterial action.
Many antibacterial herbs are broad spectrum and will kill positive bacteria and in doing so may leave only the most resistant bugs like candida. This was not addressed explicitly (although perhaps it was addressed in the author's choice of herbs I am no expert). I would've liked more warnings and explicit time frames (e.g. don't use this mouthwash for more than 2 weeks) in this regard.
That being said, she did recommend using astringents for gum recession which I was thinking of doing. However, she left out cranesbill (which I think is pretty much just an astringent) and chose astringents that have more actions(willow and red raspberry leaf). I am not saying this is incorrect, but I would've liked an explanation as Cranesbill is a pretty common astringent (as far as I know) and the one I was thinking of using.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews