26 Dec 10 Holistic Dental Tips for 2026
Ready for a healthier new year? By adding a few of these simple holistic dental tips into your daily routines, you can get whiter, stronger teeth, healthier gums, and even fresher breath. Make this the year you cultivate mindfulness by taking care of your body inside and out, starting with your mouth.
Ten Tips for Better Oral Health
1: Get hydrated!
Keeping up with your body’s need for water throughout the day supports saliva flow and a neutral pH balance.
2: Re-orient your diet to support good dental health.
Fermented foods, probiotics, and thoughtful use of antibiotics keeps your oral microbiome at a neutral pH. Emphasize leafy greens, nuts, and crunchy vegetables that naturally clean your teeth while also delivering the minerals that help build strong enamel. And don’t forget to take your vitamins—if you aren’t getting enough vitamin C, D, and B12 you have a higher risk of dental problems.
3: Switch to natural oral care products.
Conventional toothpaste and mouth watch contain all sorts of harmful, toxic ingredients. Choose oral care products with clean, biological ingredients like tea tree oil, hydroxyapatite, and xylitol. Switch to an herbal rinse or a Himalayan salt rinse and ditch the harsh, alcohol-based mouthwash.
4: Try to reduce stress.
When you feel wound-up and stressed out, your body responds with extra cortisol. This drives inflammation throughout your body, including your gums, increasing your risk of gum disease. Stress can also contribute to night bruxism (clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth while you sleep) which can cause enamel loss and even cracked or broken teeth. Whether it’s aromatherapy, exercise, or sleep stories, find something that helps you relax.
5: Rinse your mouth throughout the day.
Rinsing your mouth with water after meals, snacks, or drinks is a great way to fight plaque. To freshen your breath, try a saltwater rinse, and herbal rinse, or green tea. If you’re on the go, chew some sugar-free gum with xylitol to stimulate saliva production and prevent plaque buildup.
6: Use essential oils to lower your risk of tooth decay.
Careful use of essential oils can help eliminate the bacteria that cause plaque, gingivitis, and bad breath. For instance, tea tree oil and clove oil both have antibacterial properties that help fight cavities and gum disease. Talk to your dentist about how and when to use them properly.
7: Focus on strengthening your tooth enamel.
Look for a toothpaste or tooth powder with hydroxyapatite (a fluoride alternative) and essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Avoid abrasive ingredients like activated charcoal or silica and always use a soft-bristled brush. And because eating and drinking can temporarily weaken your tooth enamel, wait at least 15-30 minutes before you brush.
8: Explore gentle whitening approaches.
Holistic remedies like oil pulling are a safe and easy way to remove stains and fight plaque. You could also try making your own baking soda toothpaste. The gently abrasive action of the baking soda will help remove plaque and stains, and it won’t scratch your enamel if you brush gently and only use it once a day. Depending on the level and intensity of whitening you seek, you might also want to consult a holistic dentist about professional teeth whitening.
9: Give up (or limit) enamel-staining drinks.
As much as you enjoy coffee, red wine, and black tea, these beverages have tannins that will stain your tooth enamel over the long term. So can energy drinks, sodas, and anything with artificial dyes. Try drinking through a straw to reduce contact with your teeth, and rinse your mouth or drink a glass of water afterwards.
10: Be consistent.
Building a healthy smile takes time and patience. But if you keep up the good work, over time you’ll see that consistent efforts get noticeable results. We know how hard it is to make oral health a priority. But if you focus on making smart choices whenever you can, and schedule at least two dental checkups a year, you’ll be well on your way to better oral health.
Discover the Benefits of Seeing a Holistic Dentist
At Prescott Dentistry, we are committed to supporting our patients’ health and wellbeing through holistic dental care. Come see the difference that a unified mind/body approach can bring. If you have any anxiety about going to the dentist or dental procedures, we’ll do our best to make you comfortable so you can get the care you need. Contact us to request an appointment today.
Photo by Jhon David on Unsplash, used with permission under the creative commons license for commercial use 12/20/2025.