How to Make a Toothpaste Out of Mango Seed
Mango is valued in Asian countries, particularly India, as a dentifrice to heal the gums and soothe toothaches. The benefits of mango seed may be due to the antibacterial properties it possesses. The 2011 study "Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Selected Varieties of Thai Mango Seed Extract" published in the "Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences," found that seeds from all varieties of mangoes "inhibit growth of both gram negative and gram positive bacteria." If you have an Asian grocer in your town, you may be able to buy mango seed powder. Otherwise, you can make your own mango seed powder to use as a toothpaste.
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Things You'll Need
- Fresh mango
- Paring knife
- Scouring sponge
- Spoon or butter knife
- Glass jar
Instructions
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1
Slice open a fresh mango. Cut away as much of the fruit as possible from the seed. Don't throw that fruit away -- eat it by itself or mix it with other fruits to make a fruit salad.
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2
Scrub the seed under running water with a scouring pad to remove excess fruit.
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3
Pry open the fibrous, white, outer seed husk, using a spoon or butter knife, to access the smooth, inner seed. Remove the inner seed and discard the husk.
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4
Set the seed in a shady, warm area to dry. It takes about a week for the seed to completely dry. When it is dry, it will look shriveled and leathery and will sound hollow when you tap it.
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5
Grind up the dried seed using either a mortar and pestle or a food processor, until it is the consistency of corn starch or flour.
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6
Store the powdered mango seed in a glass jar.
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Brush your teeth with the mango seed powder. To use the mango seed powder as a toothpaste, pour a small amount of the powder into the palm of your hand. Moisten your toothbrush with water. Dip the moistened toothbrush in the powder that is in the palm of your hand. The powder will stick to the moistened toothbrush bristles. Brush your teeth as you would with ordinary toothpaste. Rinse your mouth and toothbrush with water when you are done.
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Tips & Warnings
Combine the mango seed powder with equal parts powdered neem leaf or baking soda for extra dental cleansing benefits.
Mango seed toothpaste does not contain fluoride and has not been approved by the American Dental Association as an effective dentifrice. Consult with your dentist before using mango seed toothpaste as part of your oral care routine.
References
- Photo Credit mango image by citylights from Fotolia.com
