I just got back from the dentist and they had to do very little scraping. Yea! The main thing I attributed this change to is the homemade toothpaste I have been using. Yep, homemade, organic, and works! It is even whitening my teeth.
On top of all that, it is cheap and easy to make! Score!
I found a recipe on Pinterest that took me to JJ Begonia's site. The toothpaste recipe she had looked good, and I had all the ingredients on hand.
A little warning before you run off and make this. It does not taste like normal toothpaste. You will be brushing with baking soda, which has a very salty flavor--not something most of us are used to in our toothpaste. However, it also doesn't include any of that junk that the national brands have in them so it is much better for you.
Here is the recipe for easy reference. I made minor modifications to the original:
Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
Ingredients (Makes 2 Ounces)
3 Tablespoons organic Baking Soda
(find it HERE)
3 Tablespoons organic Coconut Oil
--I always use Nutiva (find it HERE)
2 Teaspoons Hydrogen Peroxide
(find it HERE)
1/4 packet Stevia
(find it HERE)
5 or 6 drops Organic Peppermint Oil
to taste (find it HERE)
Directions
Mix the baking soda and coconut oil until smooth. Add peroxide and stevia and mix. Put in 5-6 drops of peppermint essential oil and do a final mix. Store in an airtight container.
I have read where some people caution against using baking soda to brush the teeth every day, saying it will damage the enamel. My dentist didn't state that baking soda would harm my teeth at all.
I have also seen similar things about hydrogen peroxide. There is so little of it in this mixture, and I use the 3%, so it has been fine for me to use. My teeth are definitely whiter than they have been in a while.
Happy brushing!
Laureen
I went to a large beauty store the other day. You know the kind, the ones with all sorts of brands of products in one place.
I was surprised and amazed to see claims like "gluten-free" and really
high-priced products that include plant stem cells.
Gluten?
Well, I don't know about you, but I don't expect flour to be in my beauty products. Unless you are buying an oatmeal mask, "gluten-free" labeling has no place in beauty products.
Gluten is a protein that makes dough elastic. I never expect that any lotion I purchase would include in it's ingredients wheat flour, rye flour, or anything else that naturally has gluten in it. Would you?
Gluten is only bad for your gut, and only in certain people. Since you aren't eating your beauty products, don't worry about gluten in them!
I suppose these same products could be labelled sugar free and dairy free too, right? I doubt there are a lot of beauty products, other than sugar scrubs, that have added sugar. I also doubt they put a lot of dairy products in there that will expire.
So please don't pay more for a product just because it has a fad label. Save your money for things that really work.
Plant Stem Cells?
My second shock came when I saw really high priced products that included plant stem cells. For a stem cell to work, it has to match other cells. And no matter how hard you try, a vegetable or fruit stem cell will never match a human cell. I found additional information here, Lifeline. The most important part of the article states:
"Apple stem cells clearly work for apples. Watermelon stem cells are
perfect for watermelons. But they don’t have any benefits to humans
unless, as InStyle wrote, “you want to look like a tree”. One plant
stem cell skincare brand claims to produce more collagen and elastin. There’s no scientific evidence of that, and their ability to
proliferate skin cells, repair wounds or stimulate collagen and elastin
in people is limited, at best."
Products with stem cells included are expen$ive!! Don't pay for something that will never work and provide no benefit to you.
Save your money and use clean, non-toxic products. Look at the labels and find the ones where you can read most of the ingredients.
I hope I saved you some hard-earned money today. Feel free to comment and ask questions.
Laureen
