Turmeric, the golden spice of everyday Tunisian cooking, is also an overlooked ally for the mouth: worked into a paste and applied to the gums, it is said to calm irritation and fight the bacteria behind toothache, a natural alternative to shop-bought whiteners.
Why be wary of shop-bought whiteners?
Whiteners sold over the counter promise strong, white teeth, but few people know that these off-the-shelf products carry certain risks for oral health.
Those risks include:
- Persistent toothache
- Yellowing teeth
- Worsened gum irritation
- Infections and/or oral disease
- Weakened teeth
- Translucent teeth
- Receding gums
Plenty of tooth whiteners work very well in the short term, but prolonged use can cause trouble more serious than the passing satisfaction they bring.
There is a natural solution, and it may already be sitting in your pantry: turmeric.
What is turmeric?
It is a spice well known in Tunisian cooking, golden in colour, often used to make mustard and curry. Its colour should not worry you: it stains clothes and fabric on contact, yet once rinsed away it is said to work wonders for teeth and gums.
How to make the anti-inflammatory turmeric paste
Ingredients:
- Coconut oil — 1 tablespoon
- Turmeric powder — about ½ to 1 teaspoon
- Peppermint oil — a small amount
Instructions:
- Mix the ingredients into a smooth paste.
- Wet your toothbrush with water and dip it into the mixture.
- Brush your teeth as you normally would, as with a conventional toothpaste.
- Leave it on for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Spit and rinse your mouth well.
- Daily use is recommended until you reach the results you want.
What brushing with turmeric brings
Natural options for oral health often remain preferable to commercial ones, whose potential side effects are better documented as research goes on.
Toothache and oral infections — turmeric is said to have antibacterial and antiviral properties that help fight oral infections and the plaque behind toothache and bad breath.
Irritated, red gums — its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties are said to make it an ally against redness and irritation of the gums.
