If one was to stop and think about it, most kinds of toothpaste leave a lot to be desired. Although they promise us gleaming smiles and fresh breath, if we actually read the what’s inside that tube, it could change toothpaste as we know it.
We all know that toothpaste is vital for our well-being. Poor oral hygiene is closely linked to other maladies, and it is imperative to maintain healthy teeth and gums. In one woman’s never-ending quest to have pearly whites, she had probably tried every toothpaste on the market, only to be let down time and time again. Yes, her teeth appeared cleaner, but they didn’t become blindingly white as promised.
What was even worse than having teeth a shade similar to off-white was the shock she felt when she looked at the long list of questionable ingredients in the toothpaste she had bought. Surprisingly, she hadn’t become radioactive. The list was quite impressive and not in a good way. For example, you know when you are brushing and you feel that foaming action? You are thinking, “Wow, this is really getting my teeth clean!” Although it might help one’s teeth look cleaner, that fact is that BHT, Titanium Dioxide, Phosphorus Acid are not chemicals that belong in our mouths! These are more along the lines of cleaning agents and belong under the kitchen sink.
Using Her Noggin
After deciding to create a homemade toothpaste that not only would help her in her pursuit for whiter teeth but was also safe and effective, she began experimenting with different combinations of non-toxic ingredients.
The simplest form of toothpaste was tooth powder. One can utilize baking soda by itself or combine with salt to create a more abrasive cleaning agent. After researching the benefits of coconut oil, this chemist in training decided to give it a whirl. Coconut oil has been proven to not only whiten teeth, but it also has antibacterial properties. To perfect her homemade toothpaste, coconut oil was added to the recipe followed by a round of oil pulling. Oil pulling involves swishing coconut oil around in one’s mouth for about 10-15 minutes to help whiten teeth naturally and keep it germ-free.
Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
- Coconut oil two tablespoons.
- Baking soda two tablespoons.
- Sea Salt two tablespoons.
- Peppermint oil 20 drops.
At one point, she was positive that she resembled a mad scientist, but after trial and error, she found that having healthy teeth and gums doesn’t need to cost a fortune, nor does it mean she needed to ingest chemicals that aren’t particularly safe. There are many natural kinds of toothpaste available on the market, and by no way, shape or form should anyone should stop buying them as it is a personal choice.
Whether it is an economic issue or simply wanting to go green, homemade toothpaste do work as good as their store-bought counterparts.