23rd November 2023
By Sharmini Jayawardena
It is a well known fact that commercial toothpaste has Fluoride added to it.
Fluoride is explained away by health professionals as a mineral, which when added to toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay. It is also stated as aiding in building strong bones.
This element which is found in commercial toothpaste that we use daily, is actually harmful to us as it hinders brain development. Fluoride was introduced to toothpaste in the belief that it helped strengthen teeth.
Certain medical professionals found out that the addition of fluoride to toothpaste was detrimental in that it caused this defect in human brain development. However, their findings were not broadly and widely disseminated amongst the general populace which continue to use toothpaste that is laced with fluoride. It is not advisable to use any of the brands of toothpaste available out there, in the market.
How to make your own toothpaste:
Ingredients
7 tsp baking soda
5 tsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 tsp mint extract
Some folks make alcohol-free extracts using vegetable glycerin,
You could scale it up as you wish.
Method
1.Add all the ingredients into a small, clean and dry air tight container..
2.Mix the ingredients into a paste with a clean dry spoon.
3.Cover and keep.
This is how it looks:
Homemade toothpaste
Usage:
1.Take about a quarter teaspoon of the toothpaste on to your clean toothbrush.
2. Cover the container shut and keep it in a secure place.
3. Go about brushing your teeth in up and down strokes along the outer and inner rows of your teeth. Brush the base of your teeth as well. Rinse your mouth well.
4. Once you’re done brushing your teeth, wash your toothbrush thoroughly with soap and water. Rinse and place in a clean and secure container.
How to make mint extract:
I grow my own mint. You can do the same very easily as mint is an invasive plant and doesn’t need much attention.
Pick the healthy leaves with the stems. Wash and dry them on a kitchen towel.
Once it is dry, pick the leaves and discard the stems. Break each leaf into two or three parts.
Add to an airtight glass jar.
Top it up with vodka. Cover tightly and leave in a cool dark place for about two months or less, depending on the potency of the extract. Strain the leaves and save the extract for use, later.
Add to your toothpaste as given above.
Mint extract to be place in a cool dark place.
