Toothpaste

I am not totally against modern medicine, but I really try to educate myself and if I don't like certain chemicals or ingredients I try find alternatives. Lately, I've been researching toothpaste. Fluoride is one of the most common ingredients in toothpaste (it is also in most treated water) and it is extremely toxic to our bodies in high levels. I know this is a controversial argument and the other side of the argument states that fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, so how is it bad for you? But asbestos is a mineral, and we all know how bad asbestos is for us. I have no doubt that between the amounts of fluoride in our hygiene products AND in our water supply we are being bombarded with way too much fluoride. In an effort to reduce the amount of fluoride I allow in my body I decided to make my own toothpaste.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 tsp baking soda

about 10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil

Place in a glass jar (a babyfood jar or small mason jar will do) and be careful spitting it down the drain, as the oil can build up in the drains. I prefer to spit it into a trashcan. 

Since there is a bit of baking soda it will taste a little salty. You can add some extra drops of peppermint oil, however you will never be able to match the flavor of traditional toothpastes, as they use artificial flavorings. 

So far in the few weeks I've been using it I don't have any complaints. My teeth feel just as clean as if I used regular toothpaste, but I know exactly what is going in my mouth and I don't have to worry about the toxicity. 

I post this to strongly urge everyone to ask questions. Don't just accept anything your doctor or your dentist tells you. Do your research and learn what ingredients are in the things you use everyday. Our bodies are important and we need to make sure we are treating them with  love and care, and that includes knowing what we put into them. 

For more information check out these links

6 Reasons to Start using Coconut Oil as Toothpaste

Does Fluoride Really Fight Cavities

fluoridealert

*EDIT Ok, so a friend of mine brought up a good point and I feel the need to include that here. Our bodies DO need fluoride, HOWEVER not in the amounts that most of us get it in (hence my above post). Fluoride is naturally occurring, but adding it to products is unnecessary since most people do get it from their water sources. I have city water where I live, so I know I am getting the amount I need, I don't need to add any more from the hygiene products I use. Fluoride is found in most water sources around the world, however water treatment plants often add even more fluoride, and that on top of using hygiene products with added fluoride can cause fluoride poisoning if you ingest too much of it.