Let’s talk about your toothpaste.
As a wellness + health geek, it is almost inevitable to discover all the not-so-great information about not only the food that we consume, but also the products we use on a daily basis. One of them being toothpaste!
Most commercial brands contain loads of harmful industrial substances and often advertise them as being good for the teeth. Sadly, as many other “benefits” claimed by the industrial word, they should sometimes be doubted. As some of us may know, a lot of what we soak up from marketing is a whole load of BS. I had heard and seen a lot of fuss around fluoride in the blogosphere and so I decided to start my own research.
These are the bad guys commonly found in commercial toothpaste:
- propylene glycol, also known as anti-freeze. Lovely.
- triclosan, used as an anti-bacterial agent, has been found to disrupt the endocrine system, particularly the thyroid function. Also been found to trigger and worsen various allergies.
- fluoride, which is a deadly toxin if ingested, has been found to be a carcinogen, among other things.
Now, of course I’m not saying toothpaste is the devil, but wouldn’t you rather use a natural effective alternative than throwing a whole load of chemicals in your mouth, potentially alternating your health? Thought so.
Besides, making your own toothpaste means no animals have to suffer for testing the product, and it’s also more eco-friendly! If that ain’t a benefit, then I don’t know what is!
I have found a way to make a DIY, all natural toothpaste which is effective, tastes good, and it’s cheap too!
DIY TOXIC-FREE TOOTHPASTE
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda
- 2 teaspoons
of stevia powder - 15-20 drops of essential oils of your choice.
WHY THESE INGREDIENTS?
- Coconut oil is an all-round natural anti-bacterial, used in indian medicine since years, especially through oil pulling.
- Baking soda has been used as an abrasive substance but its abrasive index is way lower than what’s in a regular toothpaste, so it cleans the teeth without making them sensitive or stripping them off what they need. Plus, good ol’ baking soda has also been used as a tooth-whitening remedy!
- Stevia is a natural sweetener to be used here because the baking soda has a salty flavour to it. By counterbalancing this, we’ll have a pleasant flavour.
- Essential oils come in for many uses, as always! You can use them strictly for flavour, or for their own healing properties.
WHERE TO BUY YOUR INGREDIENTS?
You can find coconut oil and stevia in an organic whole foods shop like Naturata. Baking soda can be found on the baking aisle of your normal supermarket. If you’re lucky, you can also find essential oils in your natural foods shop, or order them online. Another cheaper option is to go to the annual Schueberfouer in Luxembourg, where you can find them at really affordable prices at the market.
CHOOSING YOUR ESSENTIAL OIL
There are a few essential oils I recommend and that I love.
Mint is great for a classic minty flavour. Cinnamon gives you a kickin’ taste of Big Red. Lavender is great for floral notes. And for more fruity flavours I highly recommend lemon or tangerine.
DIRECTIONS
- Melt or slightly soften coconut oil.
- Mix in other ingredients and stir well. If using semi-hard coconut oil, use a fork, if not, use a spoon. If you are using completely melted coconut oil, you will need to stir several times while the mixture cools to keep the baking soda incorporated.
- Put mixture into small glass jar (I make different ones for each family member)
- Let cool completely.
- To use: dip toothbrush in and scrape small amount onto bristles. Could also use a small spoon to put on toothbrush.
Try it out! Not only will it do good to your teeth, but to your body and to the rest of the planet too!
Enjoy!
Credits: Illustration & Graphics by Linda Dieschbourg.