Our neighbors and our friends, like most of Americans are used to buying everything they need for a good oral hygiene. They go to the supermarket and they opt for the prefabricated, mass-produced items. Nowadays it’s easy to procure whatever you need to keep your teeth clean and healthy, but what will happen when all these commodities will be gone? Shouldn’t you be making your own toothpaste and not depend on others?

In a time of crisis, an untreated cavity can pose serious problems and the pain alone will make you go up the walls. Not to mention that a tooth infection, without being handled the proper way, can cause health issues that can bring you down. Every prepper knows it’s better to prevent a dangerous situation, rather than dealing with it first hand, without the proper knowledge and useful tools.

Reasons to make your own toothpaste and other oral hygiene products:

• You save money, you can pick and use the wild herbs at no cost or grow your own medicinal herbs in your garden
• The products you make are more qualitative than the ones on the market since you are using fresh, organic ingredients without adding chemical poison
• It’s Eco-friendly and you can reuse bottles and jars for packaging
• Everything you need can be grown in your garden or are items already available in the prepper’s pantry
• You won’t depend on others when things run out, you can make whatever you need
• There aren’t preservatives in your products, you make batches for your consumption without having to preserve them for a long time

You can’t have good oral hygiene without having a good toothbrush. When things will run out and markets will be looted, you will have to make your own toothbrush.

Here is how you can do it using the alfalfa plant:

1. Take alfalfa roots that are thick around in diameter and strip the outer skin
2. Dry the roots at room temperature
3. After the roots have dried you have to cut them in 3-5 inch pieces.
4. Hit each end with a hammer to break up the fibers and form a brush (beat it enough to make bristles)
5. Fold the roots in half and bundle them

Always soak the brush in warm water before using it and don’t press too hard on your gums as you may cause bleeding.

Now that you have a toothbrush ready is time to make the toothpaste. Here are two toothpaste recipes I’ve tried, that are fairly easy to make. If you don’t like some of the ingredients you can always look on the internet for other homemade toothpaste recipes.

Related reading: Toothache Tree – Your Roadside Source Of Pain Relief And Other Survival Aids

Orange-Lemon toothpaste (powder)

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 2 tablespoon dried lemon rind
• 1 tablespoon dried orange rind

How to:

Grind the rinds to a powder using a grinding tool (either a blender or a mortar and pestle). Add the salt and soda and mix until it becomes a fine powder. You can pour the powder in your hand and rub the wet toothbrush to use it. This toothpaste can last for a long time if you store it in a dry place.

Peppermint toothpaste

Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 – 1 ½ drop of peppermint essential oil
• A few drops of water

How to:

Mix the salt and baking soda in a small bowl and add a few drops of water until a paste is formed. Add the peppermint oil and mix thoroughly. Depending on the consistency of the paste you may choose to add more drops of water. Soak the toothbrush in water and rub it in the bowl before applying the toothpaste on your teeth.

Some people use fresh sage leaves as a quick fix instead of toothpaste, they rub the leaves over their teeth to clean and whiten them.

We covered the toothbrush and the toothpaste needs and now it remains to create a batch of mouthwash. Here are three recipes recommended for daily use:

Rosemary-Mint mouthwash

Boil 3 cups of water and then take the water off the heat. Add 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh mint leaves, 1 teaspoon of anise seeds and 1 teaspoon of chopped fresh rosemary leaves. Cover and let the herbs infuse for 20 minutes. Let the mixture cool for about one hour, strain and use as a mouthwash after each brushing.

Honey-Lavander mouthwash

Add 1 teaspoon of raw honey to 3 cups of water. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mix it well. While mixing, add 2 drops of lavender essential oil and 1 drop o peppermint essential oil. Use as mouthwash after each brushing and do not swallow.

Mint-Clove mouthwash

Bring one cup of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon of whole cloves, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and remove from the heat. Add 4 drops of peppermint oil and mix it well, cover and let the mixture infuse for 20 minutes. Strain the mixture with a fine mesh strainer and let it cool for about one hour. Use every time you feel the need and after each brushing.

A word of advice for storing the mouthwash, regardless the recipe used, you should pour the mouthwash into a bottle with a tight lid and keep it in a refrigerator or a cold place, away from sunlight. The mouthwash should last without a problem for at least a week.

Remember that good oral hygiene is important and knowing how to produce your own toothpaste and mouthwash can save you a lot of trouble.

Stay fresh and be safe!

Other Useful Resources:

The LOST WAYS (The vital self-sufficiency lessons our great grand-fathers left us)

Bullet Proof Home (Learn how to Safeguard your Home)

US Water Revolution (A DIY Project to Generate Clean Water Anywhere)