Natural Whiteners: Strawberries have a slight bleaching action and, if used daily, help to rid the teeth of tea, coffee and cigarette stains.  This treatment leaves your mouth feeling clean and tasting wonderful. Eating a bowl of strawberries daily is also another good way to brighten teeth while improving health.

Directions:  Remove the green top and stem.  Using a small bowl, mash the strawberry into a pulp.  Dip your toothbrush into the pulp and brush normally.  Rinse thoroughly.

Natural Breath Freshness:  Remove onion and garlic odors with a sprig of fresh parsley - that's why restaurants serve this as garnish.

An Apple a day does more than keep the doctor away - it also freshens breath.  This naturally fibrous, juicy, sweet fruit, when chewed slowly, whisks away order and leaves your mouth feeling wonderfully fresh.

Buy a small bottle of peppermint, spearmint or sweet orange essential oil and keep it handy.  Apply just one drop to your tongue when your mouth is in need of freshening.

Swish water in your mouth for 10 seconds and swallow.  This helps loosen any food debris and moisten your mouth.  A moist mouth harbors less order causing bacterial than a dry, pasty mouth.

Natural Toothbrush:  4 - 5 inch stiff twig from a sweet gum, sassafras, pine, oak, black gum or flowering dogwood tree (must be freshly cut).  Peel the twig and chew on the end until it is frayed and soft.  Dip the twig in a water and gently rub your teeth and gums for a minute.  This is a great thing to know if you forget your toothbrush while traveling!

Herbal Toothpicks:  Memories of my childhood!  You will need some good-quality wooden toothpicks and enough essential oil of your choice (cassia cinnamon, fennel, peppermint, orange, anise, nutmeg, spearmint or tea tree) to cover them.  Place the toothpicks inside a jar filled with essential oil and soak overnight.  Remove the picks from the oil and set them on a platter to air dry.  When completely dry, they are ready to use.  Store the flavored picks in an airtight glass or tin jar.  Use the herbal picks to clean your teeth, stimulate your gums and suck on to freshen your breath.  The leftover essential oil is still good and can be used to make more herbal picks!