It can be an oxymoron when people worry about bio and organic food, as well as non-toxic sunscreen and yet do not think about the sparkling green toothpastes that the children use.
However, even if you make the toothpaste yourself, that does not necessarily mean that it is very healthy and useful for your teeth.
We have been witnesses of people sending recipes to us, and it is these recipes that are dangerous to the enamel or the micro biome.
There are some facts below that are useful to know about making your own toothpaste, and also to pick just the right ingredients that will be the most beneficial to your dental health.
- Titanium dioxide
This ingredient is added to the toothpaste to make it white. Most of the research proofs show it is safe, and it is not absorbed by the skin, but there is no study that proves whether it is absorbed by the oral tissues. There is a fair list of safety concerns regarding the compound in the EWG. The fact is, if its only purpose is to make the toothpaste white, than what business it has to do in your mouth? - Fluoride
This ingredient can be toxic if swallowed and the thing is that it doesn’t even work as a toothpaste ingredient. - Colorings
Unfortunately, these are connected to hyperactivity in children and ADHD. There is no need for the paste to be blue! - Glycerin
It is not toxic, but it has nothing to do in your mouth! It is a soap. This soap strips your natural oral mucosa, leaving a film behind, which could coat the teeth deregulating the natural biofilm structure. As a result this could change the mouth microbiome and influence the natural process of remineralization (the cavity-fighting mechanism) - Highly abrasiveingredients
These can damage the enamel resulting in increased sensitivity of the teeth, prone to cavities and gum recession. No toothpaste shall be too abrasive because if it is, when combined with the brushing of the teeth it can remove the biofilm of the tooth.
The Best Ingredients to Use in Homemade Toothpaste
- Coconut oil
It can help boosting the natural microbiome in your gut, because it all starts in the mouth, and prevent candida in a natural way. There isn’t much evidence regarding the effectiveness of coconut oil in reducing bacteria that cause cavity. The truth is, it can only be of help as long as you do not use it for replacing flossing, tongue scraping and brushing. - Crushed cacao
I know it is hard to imagine this, but cocoa actually can make the perfect toothpaste. This is due to the cacao compounds that promote remineralization far better and much more safely than fluoride. Depending on the size of the cacao grains, it can actually be safe abrasive to break up the biofilm. - Bentonite clay
This is a natural polisher that is rich with minerals, without being too abrasive. It is also alkaline which is of big help reducing the mouth’s acidity. The thing is that the conventional medicine has us informed as if it is really important to use mouth wash that supposedly removes 99% of the bacteria. However, it is really good to sustain a balanced ecosystem of bacteria in our mouths that will help fighting off diseases, while at the same time stimulating natural remineralization. I hope that you know that clay is used to polish expensive cars, without making even one scratch. - Trace minerals drops
If you drink reverse osmosis water, keep in mind that it doesn’t only remove the bad stuff from the water, but the good stuff too. A doctor named Haas has recommended the use of Liqumins Trace Mineral Drops. - Baking Soda
Its alkalinity is what makes it so useful. Our mouth cave is continuously attacked by acids because of the food we consume. It is of crucial importance to neutralize these acids by consumption of veggies and water, because it is obvious that we need to maintain our mouth pH balance. This will encourage the good bacteria as well as protect the enamel from decay. The pH of baking soda is 9 to 11 and that is why it neutralizes acids and minimally abrasive to the teeth. If you don’t have baking soda, or you don’t like using it, you can use sea salt as an alternative. - Xylitol
Its performance in reducing the bacteria that causes cavity, are simply stunning. However, make sure you don’t add too much because it is still a sweetener and too much of it can change the taste buds to get used and ask for more sweetness. - Essential oils
Essential oils help fighting gingivitis as well as plaque when used in combination with flossing and brushing. This was claimed by American Academy of Periodontology in 2007.
What You Need To Avoid
- Anything acidic
What you can do is but pH strips on E-bay or Amazon so you can test the acidity. The ideal pH, the neutral one, is the one of 7. While it is true that tooth enamel is constructed to resist acids, keep in mind that the teeth are under a constant and continuous attack by food and drinks we consume - Hydrogen peroxide
Even though this ingredient is broadly used in whitening products it does not work when used in toothpaste form. If you want it to work than it should be kept on the teeth for a longer period of time. You can use custom – made tray, which is the ideal solution, but also whitening strips. If HP is used for brushing the teeth it is simple too short of a time for it to work. Even when it is used, it should not touch the gums, the tongue or soft issues within the mouth because it can create free radicals that can age us.
We are aware that you might have some questions, so that is why we provided some answers for you!
What if I just use baking soda?
It is actually very safe to do it, because it neutralizes acids, it is not too abrasive and it is not toxic.
Do I actually need to use toothpaste at all? Can I just use water?
It is perfectly fine to dry brush your teeth. The toothpaste is actually there to add a bit of graininess to help the brushing motion to break up the biofilm. Nonetheless, lack of toothpaste or water should not keep you from washing your teeth.
Make sure the toothpaste you use is high on your priority list, because it affects your overall health.
