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Fresh mint has been used for thousands of years for its powerful healing qualities.

As for the garden of mint, the very smell of it alone recovers and refreshes our spirits. Pliny the Elder

Two easy-to-find varieties are spearmint (Mentha spicata) with its less pungent, sweeter flavor, and peppermint (Mentha piperita), which packs a more powerful punch.

Health Benefits of Mint

• Important Nutrients

  Mints provide vitamin A, iron, and antioxidants. Adding chopped fresh leaves and tender stalks to salads, smoothies, and juices is a simple and delicious way to increase your intake of these nutrients.

• Soothing and Gentle Digestive

  Mint is often used to soothe indigestion and nausea thanks to its oil, which relaxes the smooth muscles surrounding the intestine. A warming mug of peppermint tea aids digestion, relieves an upset stomach, and soothes nerves.

• Fresher Breath

  Who doesn’t love the cooling taste and smell of minty breath? Simply chew on one or two tender leaves.

• Energizing and Calming

  Simultaneously invigorating and relaxing, mint is perfect as a morning wake-me-up or an evening calm-me-down cuppa.

• Headache Relief

  Fresh or dried, in balms or oils, mint offers effective relief for headaches, including migraines. It also serves as a gentle treatment for acne (thanks to its salicylic acid), and a natural way to ease stress and anxiety.

How to Grow Mint

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors and will thrive from October to April in a warm sunny window. Choose a healthy seedling from your local nursery, plant it in well-draining potting soil. Water thoroughly whenever the soil is dry and enjoy delicious mint all through the cold dark months of winter.

Simple Uses for Mint

• Add to Fruit and Salads

  Chop or tear a generous handful of mint leaves and add to fresh fruit salads (strawberry and watermelon pair well with mint). Or toss mint leaves with fresh greens, tomatoes, and your favorite light dressing.

• Flavor Your Water

  Add six to eight torn mint leaves along with several slices of cucumber to iced water.

• Brew Some Tea

  Fancy a cup of afternoon delight tea? Steep 4 to 6 bruised mint leaves and a 1-inch sprig of lavender in hot (not boiling) water for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

• Make a Face Mask

  Blend or mash together 8 to 12 mint leaves, 1 tablespoon plain yogurt, 2 to 3 slices cucumber, and 1 teaspoon honey (a mortar and pestle is perfect). Apply to the face for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

Ever wonder how natural xylitol keeps your teeth and gums healthy?

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found in birch trees and many plants, fruits, and vegetables. It’s also naturally produced by the body; normal metabolism can produce up to 15 grams (g) daily.

The Many Uses and Benefits of Xylitol

• Xylitol as a Sugar Substitute

  Xylitol is a low-calorie sweetener, equal in sweetness and volume to table sugar. In granular form, it can be used in a similar manner, such as sweetening cereals and hot beverages and for baking that does not require sugar for yeast to rise. It’s also available in chewing gums, mints, toothpastes, and other natural products.

• Cavity Prevention

  Research supports using xylitol to prevent cavities and tooth decay, especially in young children. Bacteria cannot utilize xylitol to grow; therefore, fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on the tooth’s surface over time, reducing plaque formation.

• Reduced Ear Infections in Children

  Studies show that mothers who regularly chew xylitol gum are less likely to pass bacteria associated with cavities and ear infections to their children, and that kids given xylitol products or nasal spray are less likely to develop ear infections.

• Blood Sugar Regulation

  This natural sweetener may help to regulate blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.

• Other Benefits

  Other potential benefits include alleviating dry mouth and supporting bone health. To reap the full benefit, a total intake of 5 grams a day is suggested. (About three to five mints or pieces of gum daily, for example.)

Precautions

Be aware that high doses may cause an upset stomach.

Although it is considered safe for humans, xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, so exercise caution around pets.

Toothaches, gingivitis, and other oral ailments can be a real pain... literally. Common herbs—and the essential oils derived from them—are surprisingly effective for treating some of our stickiest tooth and gum complaints.

Herbs for Dental Health

• Calendula

  Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has antibacterial properties and reduces oral inflammation associated with gingivitis. Mouthwash made with calendula helps heal wounds and trauma to gums following tooth extractions.

• Goldenseal

  Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) is helpful for treating infections in the mucous membranes and for reducing bacteria that cause everything from gingivitis to strep throat. When used as a mouthwash it can help treat periodontal disease and thrush.

• Lavender

  Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is a strongly scented shrub of the mint family. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. It promotes wound healing, so it may be helpful following oral surgery.

• Myrrh

  Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) is resin from trees native to Northern Africa. It has pain-relieving and antimicrobial properties. It’s especially useful for treating gum disease, mouth ulcers, and sore throats, and is often found in natural mouthwashes.

• Peppermint

  Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is particularly helpful as a topical anesthetic for the treatment of toothache. Menthol—a volatile oil—and peppermint essential oil, both derived from the peppermint plant, have antibacterial properties. Peppermint adds a pleasant, refreshing taste to mouthwashes.

• Tea tree

  Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) is one of various species that share the name tea tree. A member of the myrtle family, tea tree is known for its antimicrobial activity and is especially powerful against drug-resistant fungal and yeast infections in the mouth. It’s also useful for treating gingivitis and mouth ulcers.

• Xylitol

  Xylitol is a low-calorie sweetener, equal in sweetness and volume to table sugar. Research supports using xylitol to prevent cavities, plaque, and tooth decay. Bacteria cannot utilize xylitol to grow; therefore, fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on the tooth’s surface over time, reducing plaque formation.

Tips and Precautions

A refreshing, minty mouthwash can be made by combining mineral water with one drop each of peppermint, tea tree, and myrrh essential oils. Use it twice daily and don’t swallow.

Natural remedies can go a long way toward providing relief for minor discomfort, but serious pain and infections should be treated by a dental health professional. Unless otherwise indicated, essential oils shouldn’t be swallowed.  

Dental health is far more than just pearly whites—healthy gums hold those pearls in place. Periodontitis, or periodontal disease, causes loss of teeth and other health problems.

"About 300 diseases and conditions are linked in some way to oral health," Dr. Brittany Seymour, an associate professor of oral health policy at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, told the Harvard Women's Health Watch newsletter.

Bacteria and inflammation can travel from the mouth, enter the bloodstream, and reach distant areas in the body.

It all starts with gingivitis.

The Onset of Gingivitis

This early stage of gum disease makes gums puffy and red, and may cause bleeding, bad breath, and loose teeth.

Many people think of it as an adult problem, but gingivitis is common in children, who may not brush thoroughly, and teens, whose busy lifestyles interfere with regular brushing.

Early and Regular Treatment

Gingivitis is easily treated with daily flossing and brushing along with regular professional cleanings.

Ongoing Risks

Left untreated, more advanced forms of periodontal disease develop, with serious health implications, finds Tom McGuire, DDS, founder of the Dental Wellness Institute.

• Cardiovascular Disease

  Older adults with high levels of "bad" bacteria in the mouth also tend to have thicker carotid arteries, implicated in stroke and heart attack.

• Maternity

  Moms with periodontal disease are more likely to deliver premature and underweight babies than women with healthy gums.

At-Risk Groups

• Diabetes and Periodontitis

  Diabetes raises a person’s risk for gum disease, and conversely, gum disease seems to worsen diabetes.

  One 2020 study estimated that people with diabetes who had severe gum inflammation could reduce damage to their kidneys, eyes, and nerves by about 20 percent with improved gum care.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis

  People with this disease are more likely to have gum disease than healthy subjects, researchers say.

Oral Health, Naturally

Practice good oral hygiene and eat a plant-based diet.

• Diet

  Drink plenty of water and eat whole foods, including fresh fruits and raw vegetables that give your teeth and gums a workout.

  If bad breath is a concern, try unsweetened yogurt. A small Japanese study found that it reduces compounds that cause bad breath and reduces plaque.

  For snacks, eat raw veggies, cheese, or fruit as opposed to processed starchy or sugary snacks that leave acids that attack tooth enamel for up to 20 minutes.

• Hygiene

  Tartar sits on the gum line, creating pockets where bacteria thrive. Under the tooth, these pockets lead to inflammation, infection, tooth loss, and eventual destruction of the bone and connective tissue.

  Regular professional cleanings and daily floss-and-brush routines prevent gingivitis.

• For Smokers

  Avoid tobacco, and if you still smoke, stop. It increases your risk for periodontal disease, as well as oral cancers and fungal infections.