Retailers offering an assortment of natural health care products for the teeth and gums can give consumers a reason to smile inside and out, knowing they are caring not only for their oral health, but their general health as well.
Brush Away Tooth Decay
Oral health is part of a healthy lifestyle, said Eileen Sheets, managing director, Bioforce USA. “Our teeth are not static, but react to the environment of the body,” she said. “Along with a healthful diet, supplements and oral products containing herbs provide nourishment to the gums and mouth.”
Preventive measures can start early in life, and early in the day, to lower risk of dental problems. The American Dental Association (ADA.org) recommends the following regimen for children and adults:
- brush teeth twice a day, replacing toothbrush every three or four months (or sooner, as bristles wear),
- clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner,
- eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks, and
- visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
A study published in the British Dental Journal showed many people thought their brushing habits were better than they actually were (2005 Jan 8;198(1):29-32). Lead researcher Giles McCracken, Ph.D., said: “Research has shown brushing for two minutes is the optimum time for most people to remove the plaque from your teeth.” Making it easy to keep time, the Intelligent toothbrush (from RADIUS) has a two-minute timer embedded in the handle and a flashing light and beeper that alerts the user, at 30 second intervals, when it is time to brush another area of the mouth.
Straight and unworn bristles work more effectively at keeping teeth clean, said Kevin Foley, president, RADIUS Corp. “Using straight, undistorted bristles makes a big difference in removal of plaque,” he said. “Small toothbrushes last about three months on average. The average manual toothbrush is used for over ten months, [and] worn toothbrushes only perform about 15 percent of the cleaning of a new toothbrush.”
Safe, Natural Hygiene
Toothpaste, toothpicks, mouthwash and sugarless gum are just some of the tools necessary to fight dental caries—especially when infused with a variety of botanicals and free of potentially carcinogenic toxins like sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), or artificial sweeteners like saccharin. Furthermore, when stocking oral and personal care products, “Using cruelty-free, natural products without artificial sweeteners, dyes, bleaches and preservatives is good, but natural products that target problem conditions like spongy, bleeding gums, plaque and tartar formation are superior,” explained Dakshina Vanzetti, president, Auromere Ayurvedic Imports.
A compatriot tool to the toothbrush is the interdental cleaner—more commonly known as floss or toothpick. Dental floss can get into those dark, remote areas brushes can’t reach. A good dental floss is important, said Dr. Ken, and picking the right floss and using the right length—approximately 18 inches—is ideal.
Some may prefer toothpicks over floss to get those tight areas between teeth while massaging the gums. “Tea Tree Therapy Cinnamon and Mint Toothpicks massage the gums, freshen the breath and can even be helpful for those trying to quit smoking,” said Ed Heftman, president, and Suzanne Dean, vice president, Tea Tree Therapy.
Many also use tea tree oil for cold sores, canker sores, oral thrush, toothache and gum infections. “For anyone who may have gingivitis, using a few drops of tea tree oil on a cotton swab and rubbing over the front and back of gums will greatly reduce any inflammation and assist in controlling mouth ulcers,” Heftman said.
Tea tree oil is also found in innovative mouthwashes and toothpastes, and in combination with other natural herbs ranging from rosemary and chamomile to echinacea and fresh mint. Clotho Corp. even adds aloe vera to its dentrifice for calming effects. “With traditional toothpaste there is a lot of water, which has no beneficial functions,” said Vlad Shenker, Clotho Corp. “With Veradent, the water is replaced with the soothing juice of Aloe vera, [and its] well researched combination of active principles.”
Neem (Azadirachta indica), a native tree of India and Burma, is found in Auromere’s Ayurvedic Formula toothpaste, along with 23 other Ayurvedic botanical extracts—peelu, indian licorice root, pomegranate, common jujube, rose apple and clove to name a few. Neem was even found in a study to possibly protect against strep infections, a common throat ailment (Indian J Dent Res. 2001; 12(4):193). Ayurvedic products aim to adjust imbalances in the mouth that cause disease, with an emphasis on prevention and treatment. According to Vanzetti, “These ingredients, when combined together, form a powerful shield against gum disease, and the astringent effect discourages the formation of plaque and tartar while reducing tooth sensitivity.”
Neem is also the main element in the homeopathically-friendly Cinnamon-Cardamom flavored toothpaste from Organix-South. The product contains neem leaf and neem bark extracts, as well as antibacterial grape-seed and thyme, and pain-reducing clove. “We use neem leaf and oil [and] the bark in our oral care products. Although I’m a firm believer that all parts of the neem tree are beneficial for oral care, it is the bark that has been studied,” said Autumn Blum, CEO, founder and formulating chemist at Organix-South Inc.
Sheets agreed Mother Nature provides all the elements necessary for keeping general oral health. “A synergistic combination of fresh herbs, essential oils, silica and calcium carbonate can work to whiten and brighten teeth and promote gum health,” she said.
Don’t Forget to Rinse
A good mouthwash is also important to rinsing the freshly released flotsam and jetsom in the mouth, and preventing the mouth from drying out. “Antimicrobial mouth rinses and toothpastes reduce bacterial count and inhibit bacterial activity in dental plaque that can cause gingivitis,” stated the ADA.
Natural mouthwashes offer help in controlling the inner oral environment. “Natural oral health care is a simple and effective way to limit a family’s toxic exposure,” Blum said. “Keep in mind that digestion begins in the mouth. It is important that any oral care products respect and balance this process. Anodynes (strong numbing agents) and potent germicidal ingredients may have important uses on occasion, but used every day, they can create and compound digestive problems.”
Fortunately, there are natural options in the mouthwash category. “Neem’s properties include antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and digestive bitters,” Blum said. She noted research chemists have identified active constituents, “particularly in the neem bark, that prevent the ability for plaque to colonize.” And like many companies in the natural products industry, Organix-South avoids ingredients like SLS, saccharin, parabens and alcohol.
Shenker agrees on watching what is put in the mouth and avoiding harsh substances. “Tensioactives like SLS can be too aggressive toward the delicate mucous of the mouth.”
Dr. Ken noted: “Mouthwashes that contain alcohol promote the myth that the ‘burn’ is good,” he said. However, he added, “The alcohol content in some rinses (up to 27 percent) causes dryness to the tissues in the mouth.” According to ADA, dry mouth—or xerostomia—can be caused by many types of medications (such as anti-histamines, anti-hypertensives and anti-depressants) or radiation therapy to the head or neck, and can lead to rampant tooth decay.
Chew on This
Chewing gum can actually offer positive dental health benefits, said John D. Hays, president, CEO, WhiteDove Herbals. “Reducing sugar intake of all kinds will decrease the food bacteria in your mouth feed on,” he said. “Chewing gum high in all-natural xylitol [a sugar alcohol], prevents cavities and plaque from forming in your mouth and will keep your breath fresh at the same time.” Chewing the gum may also repair damage to tooth enamel as it prevents plaque build-up.
Preventing tooth decay by reducing bacteria in the mouth or strengthening tooth enamel is essential. “Xylitol is a natural sweetener that helps do both,” said Blaine Yates, CEO, XLEAR Inc. “Most of the bacteria in the mouth cannot metabolize xylitol and actually lose their ability to adhere to the teeth and gums when exposed to it. Furthermore, xylitol has been shown to help increase mineral absorption back into the enamel of the teeth—thus increasing the strength of the tooth enamel,” noted Yates.
ADA maintained: “Long-term, caries-pathogen suppression is feasible with available commercial products. Used in conjunction with other caries-control strategies, such as diet modification, fluoride and occlusal sealants, a xylitol-sweetened gum-chewing protocol appears to be a helpful caries control treatment” (Am Dent Assoc. 2000; 131(7)909-16).
Non-water soluble ingredients used in natural chewing gum are also finding use as a safe and steadfast denture adhesive. “Retailers should know denture adhesive is a $450 million market,” Sheets said. “Although you may think there are no denture wearers shopping your store, there probably are.”
To better market dental health products, retailers should be informed of the positive and unique aspects of natural oral care products, and provide samples and ingredient lists in a section dedicated to oral health. “Consumers are reading the mainstream advertising and will be looking to their natural health store to offer solutions,” Blum said. Ultimately, with many choices and a knowledgeable staff, retailers can help customers bring a big natural smile home to their families.