Rough-leafed Dogwood..the 'med' tree...

[chain]

Mother nature can cure our ills if we just knew about her remedies. The RL Dogwood tree has, according to my recently published 'Trees of Missouri' manual, a highly active antibiotic sublstance that is effective in preventing tooth decay and treating other ailments. 'Chewsticks' are made cutting off a small stem several inces long, removing the outer bark, and chewing on the tip to soften the fibers, which can be used to brush teeth and massage gums.

[SwampDonkey]

Doing that also leads to receding gums. Flowering dogwood has been used as chewing sticks as well. Teeth whitening properties of dogwood were especially noted during the civil war for native Native Americans and slaves.

[Source: Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants/Peterson Field Guide number 40]