We all want our teeth to be healthy and white, but there are so many different research and opinions of the ingredients placed in commercial toothpastes that it’s hard to decipher what is best for us.
But one thing is for sure – we all know that fluoride is bad for our health as larger amounts can cause nervous system problems, weaken bones and ligaments, and so on. But on the other hand, fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.
So it’s basically – am I going to put unhealthy fluoride in my mouth every day or am I going to avoid it and risk getting more cavity? At least, that’s what I had doubts about.
What to avoid in your toothpaste
Fluoride might be important for preventing tooth decay but if you are not prone to cavity it is a good idea to avoid it. I leave you to decide for yourself if you want to use fluoride in your toothpaste.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a foaming agent, known skin irritant and pesticide. SLS opens up the gaps between the skin cells in the mouth which allows toxins and carcinogens to penetrate in. Even dentistry specialists agree that it should be avoided.
Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic invisible to an eye. First of all – plastics. It says it all. Secondly, those small pieces of plastic run through water treatment centers, they get into our water systems, and getting into the food chain.
Whitening agents such as peroxide and hydrogen peroxide are toxic and irritant to soft tissue.
If you wish to replace your commercial toothpaste that contains these harmful chemicals, there are many natural toothpastes you can make. This green clay toothpaste is one of them.
This green clay toothpaste contains:
Green clay – excellent at removing plaque and whitening teeth, full of minerals
Chalk – contains calcium which is great for the teeth, removes grime
Peppermint essential oil – effective at killing anaerobic bacteria, leaves a minty, fresh breath
Glycerin – many people started to avoid glycerin due to the statement made by chemist Gerard Judd who said that glycerin coats the teeth and prevents them from remineralizing. I’ve searched the internet a lot and it turns out there is not even one proof of that – it is just a personal opinion that rarely anyone agrees with. If you wish to avoid it anyway, you can use distilled water instead.
Natural green clay toothpaste recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of green clay
- 1 tablespoon of chalk (calcium carbonate) or put 1 more tbs of green clay
- glycerine (add to desired consistency)
- 2 drops of peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
- Mix the green clay and the chalk.
- Add glycerin (or distilled water) to the clay and chalk mixture.
- Mix it until you get a fine paste, add more glycerin if needed.
- Add 2 drops of peppermint essential oil and mix it all up.
- Put the toothpaste in the container.
The shelf life of this toothpaste is very long if you use glycerin – it should last for more than 6 months. You will notice if it goes bad. If you use water instead, it will shorten the shelf life so keep an eye on it after about 2 months.
If you don’t feel like making your own toothpaste, I have listed reliable organic toothpastes that can be bought.
What do you use to wash your teeth?
