I have always been obsessed with oral hygiene.. brushing and flossing three times a day, as well as using a rubber tip and water flosser. However, within the past year my teeth have been staining easily. This really concerned me so I started doing more research. I learned all about remineralization, dental fluid transport, pH levels, and the harmful chemicals found in most toothpaste and mouthwash. For example, flouride. I know this is a touchy subject since many dentists promote it, but let me just talk about the chemistry of it. I was actually learning about enzymes today in my chemistry class, which is why it is on my mind. Adenosine diphosphatase is the enzyme that rebuilds tooth enamel. Flouride actually inactivates this enzyme (along with many other enzymes)! So flouride which is found in toothpaste, mouthwash, and drinking water actually prevents your teeth from rebuilding its enamel. If you are curious about how fluoride is harmful to the body, there are plenty of peer reviewed articles and studies out there.
Another important little fact is that glycerin which is used in toothpaste actually prevents remineralization because it sticks and coats our teeth for days after brushing!
Snacking
Your mouth needs time to neutralize the acids in your saliva after you eat. It is important to allow enough time for your teeth to remineralize by waiting 3 to 4 hours between eating.
Dental Fluid Transport
This is something I learned about in anatomy, but I decided to research it some more. Teeth are very porous and healthy teeth have a flow of fluid from within carrying nutrients through the outer structure of the tooth. Sugar (I'm not just talking about processed white sugar, but things like white bread and other simple carbs that turn right into sugar) stops the flow of fluid, preventing the teeth from maintaining themselves.
It is important to understand that tooth health starts from the inside. If your teeth are not getting the proper nutrients due to a poor diet or chemicals interfering with mineral absorption, then it doesn't matter how much you brush and floss your teeth. Keeping the surface of your teeth clean is important, but it is even more important that you are taking in the right nutrients and not inhibiting them with chemicals (not only for your oral health, but for your entire body).
It is important to strengthen your teeth from the inside so that you will not need to use those harmful whitening strips and mouthwashes to keep your mouth cavity free and your smile bright!
You can start off by making your own mouthwash and toothpaste with simple ingredients (this also saves you money).
Homemade Mouthwash:
1/2 cup water
2 tsp baking soda
2 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
Shake it before using because the baking soda will settle to the bottom. Use about 2-3 tsp and swish for 1 to 2 minutes. This is cheap, easy to make, it has antibacterial properties, and it will freshen your breath without any harmful chemical!
Homemade Toothpaste
2 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons baking soda
15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil (if it is too “hot” I’ve read that you can substitute half the peppermint oil with spearmint oil)
½ tsp stevia or 1 tsp xylitol (optional)
Heat coconut oil on low heat until it has melted. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and transfer to a squeeze bottle or small dish to cool.
If this is too much work, you can just sprinkle some baking soda onto your toothbrush! Baking soda can be harsh on your teeth so it important to brush gently. For this reason, I usually only use baking soda based toothpaste and mouthwash at night.
For information on oil pulling and its benefits read my oil pulling post (Oil Pulling )
Another important little fact is that glycerin which is used in toothpaste actually prevents remineralization because it sticks and coats our teeth for days after brushing!
Snacking
Your mouth needs time to neutralize the acids in your saliva after you eat. It is important to allow enough time for your teeth to remineralize by waiting 3 to 4 hours between eating.
Dental Fluid Transport
This is something I learned about in anatomy, but I decided to research it some more. Teeth are very porous and healthy teeth have a flow of fluid from within carrying nutrients through the outer structure of the tooth. Sugar (I'm not just talking about processed white sugar, but things like white bread and other simple carbs that turn right into sugar) stops the flow of fluid, preventing the teeth from maintaining themselves.
It is important to understand that tooth health starts from the inside. If your teeth are not getting the proper nutrients due to a poor diet or chemicals interfering with mineral absorption, then it doesn't matter how much you brush and floss your teeth. Keeping the surface of your teeth clean is important, but it is even more important that you are taking in the right nutrients and not inhibiting them with chemicals (not only for your oral health, but for your entire body).
It is important to strengthen your teeth from the inside so that you will not need to use those harmful whitening strips and mouthwashes to keep your mouth cavity free and your smile bright!
You can start off by making your own mouthwash and toothpaste with simple ingredients (this also saves you money).
Homemade Mouthwash:
1/2 cup water
2 tsp baking soda
2 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
Shake it before using because the baking soda will settle to the bottom. Use about 2-3 tsp and swish for 1 to 2 minutes. This is cheap, easy to make, it has antibacterial properties, and it will freshen your breath without any harmful chemical!
Homemade Toothpaste
2 tablespoons coconut oil
3 tablespoons baking soda
15-20 drops of peppermint essential oil (if it is too “hot” I’ve read that you can substitute half the peppermint oil with spearmint oil)
½ tsp stevia or 1 tsp xylitol (optional)
Heat coconut oil on low heat until it has melted. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and transfer to a squeeze bottle or small dish to cool.
If this is too much work, you can just sprinkle some baking soda onto your toothbrush! Baking soda can be harsh on your teeth so it important to brush gently. For this reason, I usually only use baking soda based toothpaste and mouthwash at night.
For information on oil pulling and its benefits read my oil pulling post (Oil Pulling )