Do you think about what you put in your mouth? I'm not talking about food, I'm talking about your dental care products. We give so much attention to our personal care products like makeup, lotion, soap, etc. but we don't usually think about our toothpaste. I'll be honest, dental care products were pretty low on my priority list when I was switching over to a more non-toxic lifestyle. I was SO focused on everything else, that I just didn't pay much attention to my oral health routine. Part of that was also because I just didn't know any better.
Over the years I've done countless hours of research and have learned so much about the toxins in our everyday products. It wasn't until last year that I really learned how important the oral microbiome is for our overall health. Your mouth is the start of your digestive system and whatever you put in it, guess what? It finds its way to your gut. Gut health has been such a hot topic lately (and for good reason) but we can't really talk about healing our guts until we address the start of the digestive system. Think about it. Would you try pick up a book and start reading from the middle to end? No, because that would be pointless. You would have no idea what was going on. You may have a little understanding with how it ends, but the context would be lost. The same goes for healing our gut. We need to start at the beginning, not the end.
You might be thinking, "okay great, but where do I start?" and the answer is simple! Your toothpaste! That's the easiest place to start! You use at least twice a day! There are so many companies out there who claim to be "natural" but they can be sneaky and greenwashing is reaaaaal. So here are some basic ingredients you should be avoiding.
The Dirty List:
Triclosan
Triclosan was originally made to be a pesticide back in the 1960's and has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Essentially this chemical is sterilizing the microbiome in your mouth which leads to so many other health concerns including gut dysbiosis. "One study identified high levels of triclosan in approximately 60% of the human milk samples that were tested, thereby indicated the high absorption capabilities of this chemical." (Cuffari, 2019) I don't know about you, but that alone makes me want to stay far away from it.
Fluoride
Oh the much controversial fluoride. There is so much debate on this one. But, the one thing that both sides seem to recognize and agree on is the fact that fluoride is a neurotoxin. Anything that is a toxin to your brain is probably something you want to avoid putting in your mouth if at all possible. Studies have shown that exposure to too much fluoride can result in something called fluorosis which can occur in the teeth or bones. It's a build of fluoride and can cause pain and damage to bones as well as the enamel. "...a study posted in 2020 found that that short-term exposure to high concentrations of fluoride quickly damages the enamel." (Wells, 2022) This study also revealed that even lower levels than that is deemed "safe" produced the same enamel damage.
Now, you may be wondering isn't fluoride a naturally occurring mineral? Yes and no. The fluoride that is naturally found in the Earth's crust, rocks, and soil is calcium fluoride. It's much different than what is synthetically produced and used in water and personal care products like toothpastes. This difference is significant. In nature we could be exposed to small levels of the naturally occurring calcium fluoride, but never at such high quantities as the synthetically added fluoride. The thing is, humans don't need fluoride to sustain life or for growth like we do other minerals. So why are we adding it to so many products and our drinking water?
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
You know that foamy feeling your toothpaste gives you? You can thank sodium lauryl sulphate for that. It's a surfactant which means it lowers the surface tension between ingredients and is why it's commonly used in soaps, detergents, and personal care products. Studies have shown that it can cause ulcers in the mouth or make present ulcers worse.
Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA is found in both antifreeze and brake fluid and has been linked to cancer in animals. That about sums it up right there. This is a nasty one that shouldn't be in any personal products.
So now that we know a few to avoid, what should be in our dental care products?
The Clean List:
Hydroxyapatite
Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral and is the main component of enamel and bones. It helps keep your teeth strong!
Baking Soda
Baking soda helps to keep your microbiome healthy and prevents plaque from forming. It also helps prevent your teeth from decaying and remineralizes them! Baking soda can also help balance your saliva's pH level.
Bentonite Clay
You may be thinking clay? In the mouth? That just sounds repulsive. But hear me out. Bentonite clay is rich in minerals that help to remineralize and strengthen the enamel. Not only that but it's alkaline which inhibits bacterial growth. It also pulls toxins from the mouth. I call that a win win!
So you're probably thinking "Ok I know what to avoid, but now what do I use instead?" I'm glad you asked! I'll give you some of my favorite swaps and what I use now!
Instead of using a conventional toothpaste, consider using a tooth powder. It's full of remineralizing goodies that keep your enamel happy, plus it doesn't have any of the nasty junk in it. My favorite tooth powder is this one.
I also swapped my toothbrush to a sustainable bamboo brush. I also have an electronic toothbrush with replaceable bamboo heads. This one is more because I hate plastic and try not to use it when I can.
Another thing you might want to consider is using a gum serum instead of a mouthwash. This one here is my favorite and is full of so many good essential oils. Plus nothing can really grow in oil so you're helping out your mircobiome at the same time!
I also recently added a copper tongue scraper to my routine and it's a great way to clean your tongue where all the bacteria likes to hide (ew I know.)
I also swapped my conventional mint floss to these charcoal infused floss picks. Conventional floss usually has a ton of plastics and artificial flavors, all the things I try to avoid.
Here's what my daily routine looks like:
Morning
First thing I usually do is scrape my tongue. I don't know if there's a "right way" or "right time" to do this but this is when I do it. Then I brush my teeth with my morning toothpowder, and floss. After all that I'll use a couple drops of the gum serum.
Night
My routine is pretty much the same at night except I floss first and use my night time toothpowder instead.
Every now and then I also use this teeth whitening system that utilizes both blue and red light therapy. It can also help heal or prevent cavities!
My favorite dental care line actually has a detox kit that includes everything I just mentioned. It makes the perfect gift too! You can grab yours here!
Primal Life Organics is by far my favorite dental line and you can shop all their products here!
I also got to chat with the founder and CEO of Primal Life Organics and you can listen to the podcast episode here!
I hope this was helpful and as always I encourage you to do your own research and find something you feel confident and comfortable using for yourself and your family!
References:
Cuffari, B. (2019, July 3). What is triclosan and why is it banned? News. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Triclosan-and-Why-is-it-Banned.aspx
Wells, K. (2022, August 19). The dangers of fluoride: Wellnesse. Wellnesse. Retrieved October 28, 2022, from https://wellnesse.com/blogs/health/dangers-of-fluoride?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=16165536148&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteOaBhDuARIsADBqRegJsrB62fzaY9sfnXQM_jj0AzsbmXqbNxEM0TRbj1p3UfjRmjGLcHwaAg_2EALw_wcB
