Mission Possible: Healthy Teeth! Installment #2

Mouthwash is a popular tool that many of us use to combat tooth decay.   I’ve never been a fan of mouthwash, simply because I didn’t like the taste!  As I’ve begun learning about the chemicals contained in alcohol based mouthwashes, I’m thankful I haven’t used them regularly!

Did you know:

Long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes dries and changes the pH of the mouth and throat and is associated with an increased risk of mouth and throat cancers. If a mouthwash contains a harsh detergent like cocamidopropyl betaine, this compounds the damage. Listerine contains a slightly milder detergent, Poloxamer 407, but its unique qualities – being soluble in liquids at low temperature, but turning into a gel at higher temperatures (ie body temperature) – makes it a film former, keeping other toxic ingredients on the surface of the mouth for longer.
– TheEcologist.org

Yuck!  The trouble continues – mouthwashes are chock full of synthetic colors and artificial flavorings.  People also routinely get drunk off of mouthwash!

What to do?  I was interested to hear a testimony about the power in Thieves Mouthwash when I went to a class on essential oils.  After a lady used the mouthwash consistently, her dentist was astounded because she didn’t have any plaque!  None!

Thieves essential oil is a blend of oils that have a 99.96% kill rate against bacteria that cause cavities!  Young Living, the company that makes Thieves, includes colloidal silver as a base, thus increasing the bacteria kill rate even more!

In fact, the National Institute of Health actually recommends using an essential oil based mouthwash.

It took me a few nights to get used to the taste – but I’m not an experienced mouthwash user.  I just drink a little water right after I use it and the strong clove taste doesn’t bother me at all.

I’m excited to have added a mighty weapon to my arsenal for fighting teeth decay!   Cavity-free teeth, here I come!