What’s the Best Mouthwash?
Channel: NutritionFacts.org
Date: 2014-08-08

There’s a cheap concoction one can make at home that safely wipes out cavity-forming bacteria on our teeth better than chlorhexidine mouthwash and also reduces their plaque-forming ability.

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I now just keep a mason jar filled with cold-steeped green tea (Cold Steeping Green Tea http://nutritionfacts.org/video/cold-steeping-green-tea/) with a spoonful of amla in the fridge and swish and swallow any time I’m rummaging around in there. For extra credit you can gargle a bit with it too (see my video Can Gargling Prevent the Common Cold? http://nutritionfacts.org/video/can-gargling-prevent-the-common-cold/).

Green tea shouldn’t be the primary beverage of children, though, as the natural fluoride content may cause cosmetic spots on the teeth. For more check out my video Childhood Tea Drinking May Increase Fluorosis Risk (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/childhood-tea-drinking-may-increase-fluorosis-risk/).

Here’s the links to the two oral health videos I refer to in the video: Plant-Based Diets: Oral Health (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-based-diets-oral-health/) and Plant-Based Diets: Dental Health (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-based-diets-dental-health/).

Another reason we may want to avoid antibacterial mouthwashes is that they can kill off the good bacteria on our tongue instrumental in enhancing athletic performance with nitrate-containing vegetables. See my video Don’t Use Antiseptic Mouthwash (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/dont-use-antiseptic-mouthwash).

Green tea doesn’t just kill off harmful bacteria, but harmful viruses as well. Check out Treating Genital Warts with Green Tea (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/treating-genital-warts-with-green-tea/).

Need a reminder what amla is? More on dried Indian gooseberry powder power in:
• Amla Versus Cancer Cell Growth (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/amla-versus-cancer-cell-growth)
• Amla Versus Cancer Cell Invasion (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/amla-versus-cancer-cell-invasion/)
• Amla Versus Diabetes (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/amla-versus-diabetes/)
• A Better Breakfast (http://nutritionfacts.org/video/a-better-breakfast/)

Have a question for Dr. Greger about this video? Leave it in the comment section at http://nutritionfacts.org/video/whats-the-best-mouthwash/ and he'll try to answer it!

Image Credit: treobenny via Flickr.

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