Because February is National Dental Health Month, I wanted to give you three holistic, super easy tips on having clean, white teeth!
This routine is as easy and 1, 2, 3… and it’s also completely non-toxic, healthy and inexpensive.
Want whiter teeth? Give this a try!!!!
Because it is natural for our enamel to yellow as we age, it is an instant boost to your appearance to whiten your teeth… making you look years younger.
I like it even more than plucking my eyebrows for an instant makeover!
So here is how I boost my whitening naturally.
It’s only three steps and will make a noticeable difference in your teeth!
1. Start by oil pulling.
I talk about oil pulling with coconut in more detail here… but I basically take a small scoop of coconut oil into my mouth and swish it around my teeth for a few minutes. The oil works to soften any plaque build up on your teeth, and is a FABULOUS healthy fat for your body so the more your oral mucosa absorbs, the better!
Yes, I know you can read a million protocols on the internet that say you have to do this first thing in the morning before eating breakfast, that it has to be for 20 minutes long, etc… but you know what?
Doing it at ALL, even if its only for a minute or two… it is all perfectly fine.
Any tarter build up will get softer and easier to remove, your teeth will definitely get whiter and your body will be happy happy happy with the extra coconut oil exposure.
2. Swish with 3% Hydrogen Peroxide.
I use this as a pre-rinse before brushing — I just use a little bit (be sure not to swallow!!! It will burn!) and swish all around, letting it foam all over my teeth and my tongue.
As someone is prone to getting a coated tongue, this has been an amazing way of deep cleaning my tongue and preventing it from occurring.
I spit out the hydrogen peroxide but leave the foaming bubbles in my mouth… and follow with this:
3. Brush with baking soda.
I don’t use toothpaste… just baking soda.
Although there are lots of great all natural toothpastes, I just have found that for teeth whitening, the combo of hydrogen peroxide with baking soda is AH-MAZ-ING.
And the added bonus of not having to worry about any additional fluoride exposure is liberating.
If you are using a fluoridated toothpaste, and you are a female, please think again.
Fluoride is thinning to your bones and whether you are 20 or 70 you really want to protect the strength and long-term density of your bones… more on this below.
And honestly, medical studies show it’s not that great for your heart either… as I blog about here.
Want to simplify even further?
You can combine steps 1 and 3 by making your own toothpaste out of coconut oil and baking soda.
Natural Toothpaste Recipe:
Simply mix softened coconut oil with baking soda in an equal measure 1:1 to create a paste. You can store this in a little car or canister and use a pea sized amount on your toothbrush to brush with daily.
Is it possible to have healthy teeth even if you hate toothpaste entirely? Yes!
In fact, in my family, I have a child who brushes sparingly and never uses any toothpaste at all. My son uses only a toothbrush and water, no toothpaste. Interestingly, the child who absolutely never uses toothpaste is the ONLY ONE OF US who has had absolutely zero cavities.
Nada. None. Zilch.
So I’ve started seeing toothpaste as just a simple, yet optional, way to add some enjoyment to the tooth brushing process.
And I’m glad about that, because I want my kids to avoid fluoride exposure as much as possible.
Fluoride is toxic in large quantities, absolutely no doubt about it. You can check your fluoride toothpaste label… right on the tube will be a warning not to swallow fluoride toothpaste, and to call poison control if any more than a pea sized amount is ingested.
In fact, fluoride is not recommended in children under 2 years old because of the swallowing risk… and this is by folks (like the ADA) who are huge supporters of fluoride in general.
- Fluoride is known to disrupt bone, hormone, brain, thyroid, kidney and reproductive health.
- And the truth is, even if you feel that you *need* fluoride to help reduce the incidence of cavities… you are getting plenty of fluoride through your foods.
- Plants store fluoride found naturally in the earth AND from the water used to irrigate crops.
- Yep, even organic crops have fluoride in them from the irrigation water.
- Statements from reps of the National Institutes of Health recommend that people who drink large quantities of water should not drink tap water, but instead switch to bottled water.
- And your skin absorbs fluoride as well, so even when you are showering or taking a bath… you are absorbing fluoride.
We are just getting so much exposure to fluoride on a daily basis… to intentionally consume extra fluoride (whether through drinking water or toothpaste) is too much.
New studies show that about 40% of children today have discolored or pitted teeth from the extreme levels of fluoride we are now exposed to… both topically in toothpaste and internally through food and water.
This tooth deformation is called dental fluorosis, and is caused by abnormal enamel (and even completely absent enamel) formation.
If you have white spots, brown spots, or pitting in your teeth or your children’s teeth, you might look into eliminating fluoride exposure completely. I think investing in a really great toothbrush and changing the head of it often makes more sense then stressing out about if you should use a fluoride toothpaste or not, and which one to try.
So that’s it, folks!
Oil pull, swish with hydrogen peroxide
and brush with baking soda.
Do this as often as you like… at least once a week.
I do the peroxide/baking soda thing daily, and add-on a super cleansing oil pull session once a week.
Give it a try for a month and I guarantee you will see noticeable results!!!
It’s natural to want to revamp your body
inside and out as spring approaches.
Doing this all natural tooth whitening routine is one way to freshen your outer appearance…
…and for your inner health, I’ve got you covered with my:
Spring Gentle Detox Online Class!
5 days to completely release any winter baggage and toxicity and welcome the spring transition with a fresh energy, inside and out!
And it couldn’t be any easier! In fact, I ship you everything you need for the course in your own Detox Goodie Bag before the class even starts!
Take the live bootcamp with me and wake up to a new, easy, fun, uplifting layer of detox each day for 5 days straight — each day building progressively on the previous detox day. NO diets, fasting or harsh supplements. A 100% gentle, effective, fresh start for you!!!
This course is designed to be gentle and safe while still being maximally effective.
No feeling deprived, no fasting, no radical changes, this is a safe and natural re-aligning with health, while gently allowing toxins to flush out of our system.
Ready to let go of what your body does not need and welcome in the new?
Let’s go! Class starts in 3 weeks!
Click here to join in and let me ship you your limited edition detox goodie bag today!
xoxo, Laura