“Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.” – Josh Billings
Going toxin free with my oral care was hard. I had researched and read about all the things bad for me, but for some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the minty, burning feeling was good for my mouth! Researching ways to decrease my waste is what made me finally commit to a low toxin oral routine. This year I finally got Justin on board too!
What’s so bad about mouthwash?
That tingly burning feeling that made me think my mouth was oh so clean? Ya, that was actually my oral mucosa being irritated. This irritation actually decreases salvia, which increases your risk of cavities, bad breath, and cancers. Killing 99% of bacteria isn’t a good thing in your home, nor in your mouth! This disrupts the microbiome of your mouth, killing off good bacteria. This can allow Treponema denticola (a bacteria that promotes carcinogenesis) to be more prominent. Many conventional mouthwashes also contain fluoride. Drinking city water, using fluoride toothpaste, even eating produce washed in water containing fluoride can be causing you to get an overabundance of fluoride. This can cause thyroid problems, stained teeth (especially in children), & more. We don’t know the implications of fluorinated water or what levels are safe of fluoride. Because of this, it took 50 years before the US finally decided to lower their levels after seeing the impact on people’s health and teeth. Here’s a podcast episode I listened to that really opened my eyes.
When you’re looking for a mouthwash, look for one that is healing your mouth. Avoiding ingredients such as sulfates, bleach, pesticides, fluoride, glycerin, and alcohol are a safe bet. Instead, look for distilled water, aloe vera, aluminum free baking soda, and essential oils. They are soothing and healing, but also fight tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, morning breath, and canker sores. There are even some great DIY versions online you can find.
The Ugly Truth About Floss
Did you know most people lie about how often they floss? Flossing is extremely beneficial to your teeth and gums, but regular dental floss hurts the environment and your health. Regulat floss is made of nylon which can take 50-80 years to biodegrade. Nylon floss also comes in plastic packaging that’s usually wrapped in more plastic packaging. It is also coated in petroleum wax. Petroleum is a by product of oil refining and first found as leftover residue in oil barrels. Therefore, its a really unsustainable resource and not one you may want in your mouth. Think about it, when you floss, you sometimes go too deep in your gums, causing them to bleed. Anything on that floss deemed “safe” since you aren’t consuming it now has direct access to your blood stream, where it’s not suppose to be and not safe.
Mother nature makes a fabulous alternative: silk. It’s one of nature’s strongest fibers and it biodegrades. The ones I have found are coated in beeswax or a plant based wax for easy use. Some even have antibacterial essential oils and come in a reusable glass container.
Natural Ingredients = Happy Teeth
Have you looked at the label on toothpastes? There’s fine print that states if it is ingested, to call poison control or seek medical help. What the heck? Why would I want to put THAT in my mouth?
Here’s just a couple of ingredients that are a cause for concern:
- Triclosan: This ingredient has been banned in hand soaps, but still allowed in other products. It has been linked to super bugs (AKA antibiotic resistant bacteria), poor gut health, allergies, asthma, cancer, and is an endocrine disruptor.
- Fluoride: This can wreck havoc on your immune system, can cause stained teeth, gastrointestinal problems, certain birth defects, and accumulates in the tissue over time. Children are even more adversely affected by overexposure.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): These are the foaming agents found in cleaners that produces suds and gives you the illusion of clean. Honestly, there’s no reason for this to be in any product in your home. It has been linked to canker sores, has toxic effects on our aquatic life, and the manufacturers tried to get it approved for use as a pesticide, which was denied due to its negative impact on the environment.
There are many DIY versions out there with ingredients you can find around your home and are safe for you & the environment. If DIY isn’t your thing, look for arrowroot powder (used for hundreds of years in oral care), aloe vera (heals & soothes), aluminum free baking soda (whitens & freshens teeth), and bentonite clay (a mild abrasive used for detoxing).
The natural alternatives may not be perfect, but are certainly better than conventional toothpastes, especially those containing fluoride!
What about you?
Do you use natural toothpastes or powders? What about for your children? Here is what we have fallen in love with for us and our kiddos!
If you liked this article, I’d love for you to connect with me in my group!
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