Whatever you put in your mouth gets instant access to your body. I don’t know about you, but I’d personally rather not be swallowing soap, fluoride, dyes, and other chemicals every day. Also consider that your teeth only receive nutrients and minerals from direct contact, so what you put in your mouth is key! Of course, a non-processed, low sugar, whole foods diet is a great way to naturally encourage pearly whites and happy breath, but beyond that, I’ve found some highly effective natural products to boost your oral care regime. Because who needs toxins?
Note: The EWG rating refers to the Environmental Working Group, which rates the toxic load of basically everything in our world on a scale of 1 (least toxic) to 10 (most toxic). I try to stay in the 1-2 zone, with the occasional 3s. The below products are all 1. Can I get an Amen?
Toothpaste –Earthpaste, Spearmint (EWG =1)
Even as a kid, I thought toothpastes were a bit suspicious. After all, we were supposed to put the stuff in our mouth 2-3 times per day for a minute (more if we’re a good boy or girl!), and yet the tubes always proclaimed to seek medical treatment if swallowed. Something’s not right here…. Nevertheless, my obsession with white teeth and minty breath secured my loyalty to products like Crest 3D White (in Glamorous White!). As such, switching out my toothpaste was a bit difficult, and I went on a toothpaste tantrum (Check out my YouTube documentation!) and tried all the natural products I could find, from Toms to Kiss My Face to making my own. In the end, I had the epiphany that the actual cleaning of my teeth was a pretty basic job, so I might as well minimize everything required to do that, and then focus on whitening separately.
The winner? Earthpaste, hands down, takes the steak for most natural. Most people could probably identify each of the 6 ingredients (Yes. Six!), which says a lot. The only thing originally holding me back was the sweetener xylitol, but the new Spearmint flavor doesn’t even have that. AND it’s way more minty. What’s not to like?
Be warned though, Earthpaste is nothing like normal toothpaste. It’s not creamy and white with blue streaks, and doesn’t make you feel all minty sweet and sterilized. Instead, Earthpaste is like a pasty-mud which you’ll likely first wonder if it did anything. But it does! It cleans your teeth really effectively without leaving unnecessary gunk in your mouth, and is so safe you could probably swallow it. Stamp of approval! In fact, I tried using my old lover Crest the other day, and my teeth felt so coated and yucky after. Umm… no.
Teeth Whiteners: Activated Charcoal, Turmeric (EWG= 1)
Who needs commercial teeth whitening systems which leave your teeth stinging and your wallet empty? Thankfully, you can achieve fantastic whitening results from 100% natural ingredients. Just try dipping your toothbrush in activated charcoal OR turmeric powder, brushing for a few minutes, and then rinsing with water. Turmeric will temporarily turn your teeth yellow before rinsing, and activated charcoal will turn them black before rinsing. Each will probably cause a slight moment of panic, in an OMG MY TEETH WILL BE YELLLOW/BLACK FOREVER type way. But it’ll rinse away, I promise. AND it will leave ya with pearly whites making even the best chemical whiteners jealous. Turmeric, by the way, has a lot of anti-inflammatory benefits, while activated charcoal is fantastic for grabbing toxins and (almost) everything bad in the world. Pick your anti-poison! (Tips: Keep 2 toothbrushes on hand. One for your toothpaste, the other for your whitener of choice.)
Mouthwash – Coconut Oil AKA: Oil Pulling (EWG = 1)
Ok, this isn’t exactly mouthwash, but it’s a whole lot more effective! Welcome to the world of oil pulling! Instead of mouthwash, try swishing around coconut oil for 15-20 mins each day, and then spitting it out. (You can start with shorter time periods if that amount of time freaks you out.) Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice which draws out poisons and other nasties from not only your mouth, but possibly your blood stream as well. The lauric acid in coconut oil is also an antibacterial, while the fatty acids can give ya an energetic boost. Everyone wins! I buy the store brands of organic, cold pressed coconut oil at Kroger/Ralphs, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes. (Tips: Spit coconut oil out in the toilet, as it can clog your sink real fast.)
Breath Freshener – Wow Drops, Pure Peppermint Oil, or Herb Pharm Organic Breath Spray (EWG = 1-2)
I am the self-proclaimed queen of breath obsession. Never am I without breath fresheners. Historically this took the form of sugar-free gum, mints, and breath sprays. Of course, those don’t pan out with my Paleo habits. So these days, I rely on Wow Drops (containing peppermint oil and chlorophyl), Herb Pharm Breath Spray (containing peppermint, cinnamon, ginger, and clove), and/or pure peppermint oil. A mere drop of peppermint oil can knock your breath out of the park, while peppermint, chlorophyl, and the other herbs contain anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. Peppermint oil is also effective for opening your sinuses, boosting cognition and getting your brain pumping. Who needs caffeine?
Like what you read here? Check out my book, The What When Wine Diet, available in Kindle, Print, and Audiobook on Amazon! Or my YouTube Channel! And of course, don’t hesitate to Contact Me with any questions – I’d LOVE to hear from you!
Also, new book on Intermittent Fasting coming soon!!
