Sexy White Smile, DIY Style

February 21, 2016 | 8 Comments

Lets talk about your toothpaste. Have you ever read the caution on the back of the toothpaste tube. Here’s what mine says:

“CAUTION: Do not swallow. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE. If more than used for brushing is accidently swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Centre right away.”

Yikes!

Why subject yourself and your family to that when you can make your own toothpaste in minutes with simple ingredients. And you probably already have some of them in your kitchen. This DIY version is super effective, and can even help whiten your teeth naturally with a secret ingredient that you probably would never guess would whiten your teeth…

Activated Charcoal

Charcoal1

Activated charcoal can whiten teeth? Sounds counterintuitive doesn’t it? But yes, yes, it really can!

Activated charcoal is pretty awesome! Let me start off with a little story. I first learned about it’s beneficial properties when I started researching and making homemade cookies for my puppy Bailey (who’s 11 years old now, time flies!). I discovered that activated charcoal is used in dog cookies to help freshen doggie breath.

It’s also used therapeutically to eliminate toxins from the body. A good example of this is food poisoning. I learned this in one of my nutrition courses. It’s a good idea to take a bottle of activated charcoal with you when you travel in case of food poisoning. Take 2 or 3 capsules three to four times daily away from food to help recover from food poisoning quickly. I can’t say I’ve tried this myself, but I’ve heard that it really works!

But How Does it Work?

Good question! I’m glad you asked :). My science engineer brain needs to understand how it works, so now I can share that with you.

The term “activated” means that it’s treated with oxygen to open up millions of pores in the carbon atom. This creates highly porous charcoal with a LOT more surface area. So what? What that means is that it increases the amount of particles that can attach themselves to the charcoal. That’s how it works. The huge surface area has countless bonding sites where certain materials or carbon based impurities chemically bond or attach to.

Substances like particles from red wine and coffee attach themselves to the charcoal, and are removed when you spit out the toothpaste. Pretty cool!

In the case of food poisoning, the charcoal itself is not absorbed by the body. The toxic substances attach to the charcoal and are removed when you have a bowel movement.

Make sense? Maybe thinking about the activated charcoal in carbon water filters will help. In this case, certain chemicals like chlorine bind to the charcoal. And once all the bonding sites are filled up the filter stops working and needs to be replaced.

(Reference: http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/question209.htm)

Wondering where to buy activated charcoal? You can get it at a health food store in the supplements section. For my Canadian friends, you can even get it at the Bulk Barn.

Charcoal2

DIY Toothpaste

So now back to the subject at hand, DIY toothpaste!

As with all my recipes, treat it as a guideline, and if you don’t have all the ingredients, just use what you have!

I use some fancy essential oils because I’m an essential oil addict and already have these on hand. But don’t let that scare you off. If you don’t have any and don’t want to buy any, no problem! Use peppermint extract. All good.

You can also make this toothpaste without the activated charcoal. It’s still really awesome! I don’t use the charcoal version all the time. I usually make a batch of charcoal and a batch of non charcoal at the same time and switch it up.

So if you’re into essential oils, here’s what I like to use and why.

Toothpaste Essential Oils

Essential mint oil

Peppermint

Helps with digestion, is antibacterial and adds a nice minty taste!

Clove

Cloves are known for their ability to ease toothaches. And they also have benefits to the digestive system. What does that have to do with toothpaste you may be wondering? Well, by reducing fermentation in the stomach it helps sweeten bad breath.

Myrrh

One of the best remedies for healing mouth ulcers, gum infections, gingivitis and sore throats. I used it on a canker sore recently and it really works! I also discovered in my research that it helps treat chapped skin on lips, hands or rough cracked skin on heels. I think I will add some to my next batch of lip balm!

DIY Whitening Toothpaste

RB Toothpaste

Ingredients

1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup baking soda
1 tsp pink himalayan salt or sea salt
3 capsules of activated charcoal
15-20 drops peppermint essential oil (or peppermint extract)
8-10 drops clove essential oil (optional)
8-10 drops myrrh essential oil (optional)

Directions

Mix coconut oil, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
Break open charcoal capsules and add to mixture
Add essential oils or peppermint extract
Stir to a smooth consistency
Store in an airtight container and scoop a small amount onto your toothbrush for brushing. Fills a 120ml jar right to the top.

Enjoy fresh breath and a sexy white smile, then show off your smile and feel beautiful for the rest of the day!

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With lots of love and Gratitude,

Leanne

xox

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