Regular toothpaste contains toxins. One of them is sodium fluoride.
Fluoride is considered a neurotoxin. Maybe not by conventional doctors. Or by many dentists.
But most alternative health experts tell you to avoid it.
I’m not a healthcare professional. So I can’t give medical advice. I urge you to consult with your own doctor, and your own dentist.
Do your own research as well.
There’s an organization called the Fluoride Action Network. It has a number of scientists and dentists on its Board of Directors.
In recent years, FAN has used science to convince various communities across the United States to remove sodium fluoride from municipal drinking water.
It’s a fact that fluoride can interfere with your thyroid. That’s why it was once given in large doses to people with overactive thyroids. It solved the problem by depressing thyroid function.
Fluoride can cause a number of other health problems too. The evidence that it promotes healthy teeth is shaky. So I make sure that all of the toothpaste in our house is fluoride free.
Regular toothpaste may also cause aspartame or other artificial sweeteners. Aspartame is considered really bad news is holistic health circles as well.
(If you’re interested, here’s an earlier blog post that describes the potential dangers of aspartame.)
In addition, you’ll find a number of other questionable compounds in toothpaste. Some formulas contain triclosan. This antibacterial agent is a known carcinogen.
That’s why it makes sense to either use natural fluoride-free toothpaste. Or, you can easily make your own tooth non-toxic cleaning solution.
DIY Tooth Powder Recipe
(This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything, I receive a referral fee, at no extra cost to you.)
It’s really easy to make your own toothpaste. All you need are a few basic ingredients. You may already have these in your house. (If you want a really easy recipe, check out this blog post.)
Tooth powder is trendy again. It’s an old fashioned approach that makes a lot of sense, especially if you want to avoid chemicals.
One advantage is that tooth powder is that it’s all natural. So you can avoid fluoride and other nasty additives. It also seems to clean your teeth better than regular toothpaste.
In the past, I’ve used an herbal tooth powder. It contains dried herbs. It does a decent job of cleaning. It’s a perfectly good totally natural product.
However, the tooth powder I ordered doesn’t contain Bentonite clay. This is an ingredient that I like. For two reasons. One is that clay is naturally abrasive. So it does a good job of cleaning your teeth, without hurting the enamel.
Clay is also mineral rich. It’s believed that putting minerals directly on your teeth helps to remineralize them, making them stronger and less likely to develop cavities.
Of course, I have no way of knowing this is what actually happens. I have no way of measuring that my teeth are becoming more mineral rich. But that’s the concept behind the idea of remineralizaing your teeth.
How To Make Herbal Tooth Powder At Home
Anyway, it’s really easy to make your own tooth powder. You need Bentonite clay as a base. If you don’t own any, you can find it at your local health food store. Bentonite clay is also easy to find online.
There’s no right way or wrong way to make homemade tooth powder. As long as you use clay and baking soda as the main ingredients You can then add dried herbs, powdered stevia for sweetener (optional) and a little bit of essential oil for flavor.
If you add coconut oil you will end up with a paste. So skip that part and you’ll have dry tooth powder.
Tooth powder is great. But it has one drawback. It will leave a powdery residue in your sink. This is why I don’t use it every time I brush.
But for periodic deep cleaning it’s great. You can buy ready-to-use tooth powder. I’ve ordered Dr. Christopher Tooth Gum Powder and I have nothing but good things to say about it.
However, it’s also easy to make your own tooth powder. Anything DIY generally means you save a lot of money.
Homemade Tooth Powder Recipe
You could make tooth powder without Bentonite clay. But clay is a great addition. Clay is amazing, when it comes to cleaning teeth. It has so many uses as well. It’s very inexpensive and a jar will last a really long time. The brand of clay I use myself and recommend here is Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay.
Anyway, here’s how to make DIY tooth powder with clay:
1/4 cup of natural Bentonite clay (It’s available here)
1 teaspoon of organic dried sage (It’s available here)
2 teaspoons of Ceylon cinnamon (It’s available here). Ceylon cinnamon is real cinnamon. The kind of cinnamon you find at the grocery store is cassia, which contains a chemical that can damage your liver. Ceylon cinnamon is naturally sweet and tastes exquisite.
3 teaspoons of organic dried cardamom powder (It’s available here)
This recipe is pleasant tasting with the added spices. But if you desire something sweeter, you can add a little powdered whole leaf stevia to taste. Add slowly, so you don’t overwhelm with sweetness. This ingredient is optional. I don’t use it in my own tooth powder.
Mix all of the above ingredients together and store in a clean glass jar with a lid. Use as needed.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils or herbal remedies unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.