Bentonite Oral Balm

with White Oak Bark and Wheatgrass

Bentonite clay with white oak bark and wheatgrass extract along with these other beneficial herbs is an unbeatable combination to leave your mouth fresh, clean and healthy. The difference is so remarkable, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’d never want to use a regular white (silica) toothpaste again.

Most commercial toothpastes, and sadly even some ‘natural’ ones found in health food stores, contain ingredients you'd be smart to avoid. What's more, as you'll find when you're farther along in your raw foods journey, commercial toothpastes taste horrendous to a healthy mouth.

For everyday brushing needs, you'll greatly benefit from using an all-natural, multi-purpose oral paste you can not only brush with, but use as a balm or salve for your gums. You can chew it for added effect, and you can even swallow it with no adverse effects whatever! Yes, every single ingredient is edible - which is definitely not the case with conventional toothpastes. What's more, bentonite clay and every herbal extract will in some way help improve your overall oral health. You'll never have to worry about swallowing it. If you do, no problem! Consider the ingredients.

All these and more are in our Oral Balm!

Our Oral Balm Ingredients Explained:

Bentonite

Bentonite clay is the foundational ingredient in my new formula. It's one of the most powerful detoxifying agents known. It offers superior purifying properties to draw out toxins - highly desirable in an oral care product because the mouth harbors millions of bacteria. Bentonite clay is safe to use both externally and internally.

Bentonite, a powerful healing clay used in poultices, intestinal cleansing products, mud masques and other skin care products, has a very fine velvety texture. It is odorless and does not stain. Bentonite clay has the ability to draw debris out of tissues, while improving circulation. When mixed with herbs or essential oils, its effects are only enhanced, and it can act as a powerful antibacterial as well as a soothing agent.

White Oak Bark

(Quercus Alba) has been used for centuries to combat conditions such as mouth sores and bleeding gums. The tannins in white oak bark bind with protein in the tissues, strengthening them against bacterial invasion, forming a protective coating which allows new tissue to regenerate underneath. When used externally, white oak bark’s astringent qualities alleviate many ailments, including mouth sores and bleeding gums.

Powdered Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass juice was popularized in health circles in the mid twentieth century by the legendary Ann Wigmore, founder of the Hippocrates Health Institute. The juice may be drunk fresh or eaten after the grass has been dried into powdered form. Not only has it been used successfully in the natural treatment of cancer, ulcerative colitis and a host of other diseases, its powerful cleansing, detoxifying and purifying properties also make it a valuable addition to a dental care program. Wheatgrass contains abundant amounts of high quality chlorophyll, approximately 70%, which is believed to help carry oxygen to every cell in the body. This, in turn, helps the body to fight off disease and harmful bacteria.

Chlorophyll arrests the growth and development of unfriendly bacteria by producing an unfavorable environment for their proliferation. Used orally, wheatgrass juice is very effective at drawing toxins and impurities out of the gums and surrounding tissues. The chlorophyll found in wheatgrass also has deodorizing properties. Chlorophyll's ability to combine with oxygen seems to contribute to its ability to remove foreign matter and toxins from the walls of blood vessels and capillaries. Wheatgrass also contains an enzyme known as SOD, which acts as an anti-inflammatory

The effectiveness of chlorophyll, such as that found in wheatgrass juice, for oral health was proven by a dentist named Homer Judkin of Paris, Illinois. He reported in his findings that after injecting chlorophyll into the gums of his patients, infections ranging from trench mouth to advanced cases of pyorrhea responded dramatically within thirty days. The gums tightened up and remained clean.

According to Dr. Gloria Gilbere, N.D., D.A. Hom., Ph.D., wheatgrass juice is highly beneficial for oral health because it possesses the ability to destroy harmful germs and microbes, boosts immunity, neutralizes cell toxins and bacteria, and contains liquid oxygen and detoxifying enzymes as well.

Used orally, wheatgrass is indispensable for neutralizing toxins, tightening the gums and sweetening the breath.

What a mouthful!

Coconut oil

has been gaining in recognition among health enthusiasts, owing to its enormous health benefits, both internally and externally. But you may not have known it's also helpful in treating periodontal problems. Coconut oil contains medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). These fatty acids neutralize odors due to their ability to kill disease-and-odor-causing germs. Its moisturizing effects, especially when used at night, help combat dry mouth that encourages bacterial growth and plaque.

Other benefits derive from caprylic and lauric acids in coconut oil, which contribute to its antifungal capabilities. Caprylic acid is highly effective against E. coli, salmonella and candida. Lauric acid is beneficial to the immune system. Coconut oil is also an effective antiviral agent. If you are practicing oil pulling in the morning, consider using 1 or 2 tablespoons of coconut oil instead of raw sesame oil, or alternating back and forth between the two.

Goldenseal

(Hydrastis canadensis) is esteemed today for its immune system enhancing properties. An herbal antibiotic, it is also valued for its astringent, anti-inflammatory, tonic, and haemostatic properties. For many years it has served medicinally as a treatment for various types of inflammation of the mucous membranes, both internal and external. Goldenseal’s combination of benefits makes it a favorite for use in mouthwashes and gargles. Goldenseal contains a group of alkaloids, including berberine, effective against Streptococci. Goldenseal, abundant in minerals such as iron and silicon, also has astringent qualities that help prevent bleeding of the gums.

Stevia

(Stevia Rebaudiana) plays a double role in dental health. It imparts a sweet flavor that’s totally sugar and calorie free. We are using dry green leaf stevia, not an extract of refined white stevia. The healthy green color of Oral Balm is partially due to the beautiful certified organic wheatgrass and green leaf stevia. The latter adds a completely safe sweetness that won't cause tooth decay. Stevia has been proven to inhibit plaque growth and has been used in some South American countries specifically as a dental aid. Portuguese researchers have shown Stevia inhibits the growth and reproduction of Streptococcus mutans, the main factor in the formation of dental plaque.

Eucalyptus

(of the Myrtaceae family, which also includes the myrtle, clove, and guava plants) contains a volatile oil prized for its high medicinal value. The oil, which is steam-distilled, contains antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and antispasmodic properties. Eucalyptus oil comes in three grades. The medicinal grade contains the compound eucalyptol, sometimes called cineol. The oil, extracted from the leaves, is effective against many types of Staphylococcus bacteria, including plaque-producing bacteria. It is used in mouthwashes to fight gum disease and gingivitis.

Tea Tree Oil

(Melaleuca alternifolia, native to Australia) is so effective at killing germs that some Australian dentists even use it to sterilize teeth before filling cavities. Better to have used it before cavities developed! Due to its potent antiseptic benefits, studies have shown, daily use of tea tree oil inhibits bacteria and plaque, reducing the incidence of bleeding gums. In 2004 The Australian Dental Journal published a study showing that tea tree oil was found to be effective against gingivitis. The oil is also used to relieve the pain of canker sores.

Turmeric

(Curcuma longa) is one of Ayurvedic medicine's wonder herbs. Its active ingredient, curcumin, an antioxidant known chemically as a polyphenol, helps give it anti-inflammatory benefits. Turmeric harbors an impressive array not only of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits but antiseptic properties as well. Recent research has investigated its promising abilities to prevent and block cancer cell formation. Turmeric’s warming qualities help increase circulation. A French study suggested that curcumin seems to alter the genetic signaling involved in plaque buildup at the molecular level. Turmeric fights gum inflammation by suppressing the action of a gene that creates irritant chemicals. In the absence of irritation, bacteria cannot find a place to grow, which reduces the likelihood of gingivitis. Turmeric also, researchers believe, reduces inflammation by lowering histamine levels.

Bloodroot

(Sanguinaria canadensis) contains the plaque-reducing compound sanguinarine, shown in studies to help reduce the amount of dental plaque deposited on teeth. Sanguinarine helps reduce plaque, and consequently gum disease, through its ability to chemically bind to plaque, preventing it from adhering to teeth. This is one small example of the truth of the old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Myrrh

(Commiphora species pluralis) is a broad-spectrum antiseptic found effective in preventing tooth decay. The tannins it contains give it astringent properties. Aside from its antiseptic and antibacterial compounds, myrrh is also reported to have antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties and to be one of the most favorable healing herbs for gingivitis. Myrrh works as an antimicrobial in two ways - by stimulating white blood cells, and by directly affecting microbial activity. It is recommended specifically in herbal medicine for the treatment of oral infections, gingivitis and pyorrhea

Clove

(Syzygium aromaticum) seems just a common spice rack item, but its power is not to be underestimated. This humble spice not only carries a fascinating history but also is one of the most important ingredients a dental formula could have. Clove oil contains a molecule called eugenol which inhibits disease-causing bacteria while leaving beneficial bacteria intact. Clove oil is also the oil highest in anti-oxidant capabilities. It is highly antimicrobial and antiseptic, making it suitable for parasite-cleansing formulas. Clove is probably most well known, however, for its ability to numb tooth and gum pain when applied topically. Clove oil is used around the world for all types of dental pain, and its aromatic and disinfectant properties make it perfectly suited for mouthwashes and toothpastes.

Calendula:

(Calendual officinalis) with its long track record as a natural, nontoxic means of healing wounds and soothing skin, is widely used in homeopathic medicine. Calendula is a “vulnerary agent,” which means it promotes wound healing. It offers anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and has been used to treat lacerations and skin infections and to aid in healing inflamed mucous membranes, thanks to its astringent qualities and the anti-inflammatory triterpenoid esters contained in its petals and pollen.