Something I don’t talk about often out of embarrassment is the state of my teeth. My teeth have a weak enamel and are very cavity prone. Unfortunately, no amount of brushing can change that. There was a point where at every visit to the dentist, I had at least two new cavities. No matter what I did, the cavities would keep coming. The dentists said that my teeth were calcified and the enamel was pretty much gone. They had no solutions they could offer besides continuing to brush and floss and drilling more holes in my mouth. It was frustrating to say the least.
A year and a half ago, I quit drinking soda. At the time I was working at a restaurant, so I had unlimited amounts of soda at my disposal. One day, I just got sick of it. I knew it was bad for me and after years of chugging cup after cup of the sugary drink of death something in me just clicked. I didn’t even have to think about it. I just stopped. Since then, I’ve only drank soda when it came in a mixed drink (which I don’t drink often) and a small glass once at a meeting. In addition, exactly a year ago, I became a pesciterian, meaning I don’t eat poultry, red meat, or pork. Only seafood. Since these two changes in my diet, the amount of cavities I get decreased immensely.
Last Fall I went to the dentist, and for the first time in years I didn’t have any new cavities. This is just a testament to how much diet has an affect on your dental health. It was around this time that I began searching the internet for information on holistic approaches to dental health and came across this book on Amazon called The Natural Cure for Tooth Decay by Bate Evans Scott. It offered different approaches to caring for your teeth besides the standard brushing and flossing and put emphasis on what you put inside your body. The book included an alternative recipe for toothpaste, explaining that most store bought toothpastes can actually damage your teeth. My aunt read the book as well and made the toothpaste for herself. Although she personally didn’t notice much of a change within her teeth, she did say she started receiving a lot of compliments on the whiteness of her teeth. So I figured, why not? I might as well give this toothpaste a try and see if it works for me.
To make the toothpaste you’ll need:
– 4 tbsp calcium betonite clay powder
– 4 tbsp filtered water
– 2-4 drops mint extract or other essential oil (optional)
– 2-4 tbsp birch xylitol to taste or stevia
– empty glass container
Mix all the ingredients until a smooth paste forms. To use, scoop up a small amount with your wet toothbrush and brush in small, gentle, circular motions, just like regular toothpaste.
According to the book, the toothpaste should be stored in a glass container with a tight fitting lid as the clay can absorb the toxins in plastic containers.
Don’t let the grey color, lumpy texture, or the use of clay fool you! I tried out the toothpaste and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. The xylitol definitely gives the toothpaste its flavor making it almost indistinguishable from store bought toothpaste. I didn’t add the mint extract because I didn’t have any on me (only an empty bottle of lavender essential oil for photo purposes) but I imagine if I did, it would have only enhanced the flavor even more.
I’m going to start using the toothpaste and track the whiteness of my teeth week after week. I’ll check back in a couple of weeks to share my results. Here’s the whiteness of my teeth as of May 30, 2015.
