Tooth Powder with... CHARCOAL??

Oh yes, CHARCOAL!  Activated charcoal is a great whitener and also helps with remineralizing teeth and removing toxins, right there along with bentonite clay.  Awesome!  And what's more fun, is that it turns your teeth BLACK while you're brushing!  So cool!

The kids LOVED the black teeth!

But why do this, you ask?  Why not toothpaste like normal people use... from the store?  Even those that are approved by the ADA?  Well, have you read the ingredients?  CAN you read the ingredients?  That's point number one.  The other point is that commercial toothpaste contains glycerin, which is awesome when added (in small doses) to things like lotion or conditioner, but creates a barrier on your teeth that prevents your teeth from being able to absorb vitamins and minerals.  Our teeth are meant to absorb vitamins and minerals, so why would we want to prevent that?  Our teeth are BONES and bones need to be nourished!

Okay, let's talk about the ingredients of this super nourishing and whitening tooth powder and each of their benefits:

• 1 Tbsp Activated Charcoal:  This extremely porous ingredient attracts and traps toxins and nastiness, and hangs onto them until you spit them out.

• 3 Tbsp Bentonite Clay:  Bentonite produces an electrical charge when it becomes wet, and is able to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities, and chemicals.  It also provides minerals to the body...something our teeth can't get enough of!  Benefit?  No more sensitivity!!!

• 1 tsp Baking Soda:  Toothpastes (or powders) with baking soda have better whitening power and are better at removing plaque than those without.  It is rather abrasive, so this is optional, but it is kind of awesome, in my opinion. :)

• 1/2 to 1 tsp Natural Stevia:  An all natural sweetener that is many times sweeter than sugar, and also comes with many other health benefits, such as treating diabetes and high blood pressure.

• 45-50 drops Peppermint Essential Oil:  GREAT for freshening your breath and adding a nice flavor to your tooth powder.  It's also reduces any inflammation in the mouth and helps with toothaches if you happen to have one.

Directions: 

• Mix all of the dry ingredients in a glass or plastic container.  
• Be sure to use a plastic or wooden spoon to do this. You do NOT want to use metal with the charcoal or clay, because they will both absorb impurities from metal, making them less effective.
• Wet your toothbrush and shake or tap off excess water.
• Dip the tips your toothbrush in the powder, and brush as you normally would.
• For extra mineralization and whitening power, leave on your teeth for a few minutes before rinsing with water or mouthwash.
• Rinse well.

And VIOLA!!  Pearly white teeth!

Please give this one a try, it's totally worth it!  It'll save you money, and your teeth, in the long run.  

Thanks for reading!  I'm having a blast trying these new "tricks" to clean up and green up, and I'd love to hear from others out there who are doing the same thing.  :)

Till next time!

DIY Toothpaste.. Yes or No?

A resounding yes, and let me explain why by sharing my experience.

I have very sensitive teeth, and have been using toothpaste for sensitive teeth for years. I notice a difference when I try to go back to regular toothpaste, but even with the "sensitive teeth" toothpaste, my teeth are still very, very...well, sensitive.

When I began reading about Bentonite clay, and its ability to remineralize teeth, it caught my attention. So far, I've only tried one DIY toothpaste, and it took some getting used to, but let me tell ya! I noticed a huge improvement in my teeth within the first two weeks!!  And now, I prefer the flavor over store-bought toothpaste.

Why did it take some getting used to, you ask? Well, it isn't as sweet as store-bought toothpaste, and it has baking soda in it, which has a distinct flavor.

Yep, folks, it's GREEN!

Looks yummy, doesn't it?

KEEP READING, I promise this has a happy ending! :)

Now, I have an issue with all of the chemicals being added into our daily necessities, and I don't know about you, but I can't read or pronounce the ingredients in the typical tube of toothpaste (and it's not because of my less-than-perfect eyesight).  :)

So, being excited about this journey to make some changes in my personal care, this seemed a natural (ha, no pun intended!) next step.

I'm not creative enough to come up with the recipe on my own, so with the help of Pinterest, I found this blog and bless the woman who wrote it and provided her wisdom to the rest of us! It has changed my mouth! THANK YOU!!  Below are the directions she has provided for making this tooth paste yourself.  Be sure to visit her site for much better pictures of this DIY process. :)

MAKE YOUR OWN TOOTH PASTE:

• 4 Tablespoons Coconut oil, whipped or melted

• 2 Tablespoons Bentonite Clay

• 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda

• 1/2 Teaspoon Natural Green Stevia

• 10-15 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil

DirectionsCombine all ingredients until smooth and blended (I used my food processor to mix them up and it helped to create a smoother texture). You may add more coconut oil or dry ingredients to create a paste with a texture you prefer.
To use, just spread a small amount of tooth scrub on your tooth-brush and brush your teeth like you would with tooth paste. Store in an airtight container.

Green teeth, from the natural Stevia in the paste...  the kids think this is hilarious!

Alllllll clean!  Quite the transformation, if I do say so myself! 

Thanks for reading. I'd love to hear about your experiences with toothpaste, homemade or otherwise, and/or tooth powder. Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email. Testimonials are always nice as well!

Till next time...