Natural Oral Health Care

• cleaning dentures
  To clean dentures leave them in vinegar for as long as you would leave them in a denture cleanser - about 15 minutes to half an hour. Then brush them thoroughly. 

• bad breath fighter
  juice of 1 lemon
  1/4 cup (60ml) water
  
  Bad breath is a common problem that everyone worries about from time to time, especially after a meal laden with garlic and onions. If you don't have a toothbrush handy, a quick gargle with a lemon mouth rinse can help. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the water (make sure to strain any seeds). Gargle this mixture for 15 to 20 seconds, taking care to swish it between your teeth and into the back of your throat. This solution is not harmful to swallow, but might be distasteful to some people. 

• canker sore relief
  1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking soda
  1 small glass warm water
  
  Those painful white canker sores that occasionally pop up in your mouth can make it difficult to eat, so they demand swift treatment. One common formula is to make a mouth rinse out of 1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking soda and a small glass of warm water. Stir to dissolve the baking soda completely and then take a sip to swish around your mouth (do not swallow). Repeat 3 or 4 times a day until the sore is gone.

• tooth-whitening toothpaste
  1/2 teaspoon (2.5g) baking soda
  1/2 teaspoon (3ml) water
  
  Baking soda is great at polishing and whitening your teeth. To use, mix 1.2 teaspoon (2.5g) with a few drops of water in the palm of your hand to make a paste. Dip your toothbrush in the mixture and brush as usual; rinse thoroughly when your done. Note: Baking soda does contain quite a bit of sodium, so do not use if you've been diagnosed with gum disease or if you're on a salt-restricted diet. 

• sore throat soother
  1 teaspoon (5ml) honey
  2 teaspoons (10ml) lemon juice
  
  Sore throats are often aggravated by a nasty buildup of phlegm, but a combination of lemon juice and honey is a great, natural way to gain some soothing relief. Place the honey in a small bowl and stir in the lemon juice. When completely combined, swallow the mixture slowly allowing ti to rest at the back of your throat as long as possible. The citric acid in the lemon juice will help to loose congestion and the honey will provide a gentle coating. Both ingredients are credited with having antibacterial properties, too.