For the last few years, we have been detoxing our home – and while that might seem ambiguous to some, it’s necessary for us. It’s a passion of mine to know what’s in the food that I eat, and the stuff that goes in and on my body.
It’s really a passion of mine to know where my food comes from – and by “come from” I don’t mean the grocery store. I love to know why I’m doing certain things – and I don’t do certain things just because I hear they are good, or it’s good – I want to know why I’m using certain products or feeling a certain way. I dig. And read. And read some more.
That digging and reading and self research is what helped us achieve a healthier lifestyle now versus where we were a few years ago. When people think we are crazy, I put up my alligator skin.
I love knowing what’s in what I eat and use, and at the end of the day, what matters is what I have to be able to sleep at night knowing that I took care of my family and myself in the best way possible. And do you know what?
You really need to do the same.
It’s pretty awesome when you can not worry about being that different person. You should try it. It’s liberating.
If you haven’t heard this statistic, it’s shocking:
……….We come into contact with more than 500 chemicals and toxic substances every day,
….there are already approximately 200 chemicals in the average person’s body fat. It is not a question of if we are carrying a burden of toxic compounds, but how much.
I personally wanted to change that. So I started slowly and worked my way into doing what I could to make things better for my family. One of the ways that we were poisoning ourselves was with our toothpaste.
Toothpaste was big for me. I used to coupon. In fact, I couponed all, the, time. FREE toothpaste was where it was at, in terms of couponing. I had boxes upon boxes in my closet from playing the coupon game.
Why would I pay for toothpaste?
In fact, why would I turn away from free toothpaste?
The bottom line is that there are many things that money can’t buy – and your health is one. You can’t capture that time back. So what are your alternatives?
Make your own toothpaste.
You can make your own – we have made our own remineralizing toothpaste and it works rather well. It’s different than commercial toothpaste. My family uses it provided there is not another option in the house (and no complaints from it either). We make it with Peppermint Vitality Essential Oil so it’s fresh and clean tasting.
Buy Fluoride and Chemical Free toothpaste.
Commercial varieties with healthier options are out there. You will want to avoid those with fluoride and toxic chemicals.
Think fluoride is necessary? It’s not.
Fluoride is still added to many commercial brands of toothpaste, mouthwash and even infant formula – it’s poised at protecting teeth from the development of cavities – but.. it has never been proven to actually help in that area.
Fluoride comes in two forms – calcium {fluoride} and sodium {fluoride}. Both can actually be harmful if taken in excess. Calcium fluoride is found naturally in underground water sources – and while it is the safer one of the two, it can actually weaken the bones and teeth.
Sodium fluoride, on the other hand, is a synthetic waste byproduct of the aluminum, nuclear and fertilizer industries (source) and is added to public water supplies. Despite its toxicity, it was actually recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA).
Sodium fluoride can affect the immune system by weakening it – it can lead to kidney and liver damage. Over time it can lead to fatigue, fibromyalgia, memory loss and sleep issues. (Src)
But here’s the kicker: Sodium fluoride can actually carry aluminum across the blood brain barrier and lead to Alzheimer’s disease. It can also calcify the pineal gland. which is the mass of tissue behind the brain. (Src)
Fluoride accumulates in the body. Healthy adult kidneys excrete 50 to 60% of the fluoride ingested each day (Marier & Rose 1971). Any remaining fluoride accumulates in the body, typically in the bones and pineal gland (Luke 1997, 2001). Babies and children excrete less fluoride from their kidneys and absorb up to 80% of ingested fluoride into their bones (Ekstrand 1994). The concentration of fluoride in the bones increases over a lifetime (NRC 2006). — Site ref
Use Young Living Thieves Oral Health Care
You know I had to say this – and even if I wasn’t crazy about Essential Oils I would still tell you to look at Thieves oral health care line. It’s one of my favorites.
We have some of the most amazing dental products at our disposal – and they work amazingly well without the harmful, toxic ingredients as commercial toothpaste.
Thieves Aromabright Toothpaste:
AromaBright gently bushes away daily buildup and helps combat the effects of unsightly staining. It’s tough on buildup, but its smooth, plant-based formula is gentle on teeth and their delicate enamel. Peppermint, Spearmint, and Cinnamon Bark essential oils, along with our popular Thieves blend, give this toothpaste a sweet spicy-mint flavor and freshen breath—all without synthetic dyes, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Thieves Mouthwash:
A mouthwash free from harsh alcohol and artificial dyes and flavors. The spicy-sweet flavor of Thieves combined with Spearmint and Peppermint will leave you with fresh breath and a pleasant taste. This stuff is strong – I would encourage you to use a half capful or, dilute with a small amount of water.
Thieves Dentarome and Dentarome Ultra:
Naturally derived ingredients such as baking soda and Thieves essential oil blend gently lift stains for brilliantly clean teeth. The minty combination of Peppermint and Wintergreen essential oils add to the refreshing flavor.
KidsScents Slique Toothpaste:
My kids LOVE this stuff. It has Slique essential oil blend and Thieves essential oil – and doesn’t have the garbage that commercial toothpaste has.
Is it worth paying more for this stuff? Definitely – sure, we could very well get our free toothpaste and call it a day.
Though we mentioned why we feel it’s worth every penny to pay a little more. With the sheer number of kids that we have (5) and the fact that these little people are brushing as much as they are, we need to know that what they are using is safe.
No matter where you are on your health journey, I hope this has been an encouraging way to help you consider making the switch from commercial toothpaste to something better. We are all at a different place in our own quest for personal improvement – at least we are.
If you would like to learn more about essential oils and how we use them in our daily lives, head HERE.
I stumbled upon this page because I am watching 80s flicks I recorded with my PVR (haha) and I sat through the commercials, so I thought I’d do a search. I can’t believe the amount of back-to-back ads for toothpaste, laundry detergent, and household cleaning products. All big brands, many of which have left me in rashes, and my doggie itching non-stop, in fact… Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience. It’s truly frightening that chemical-laden products are pushed upon us so aggressively. There are many alternatives, worth the extra money, and it’s great that you’re sharing some homemade options with the rest of us! All the best from Toronto, Canada.