TESTIMONY OF THE DAY
Testimony on Type 1 Diabetes: “Your Keto book is absolutely amazing. Your work is literally saving my sons life (type 1) and making him happy ta boot. And my wife and I lost weight on top of it. We’re even gargling with coconut oil.” – RD
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Oil Pulling
I know that oil pulling is great and has a lot of benefits, but there are days that I just forget to do it. One thing I try to always do is make a new health goal and make it such a habit that it becomes part of my daily routine. My new goal is to remember to oil pull daily. I also wanted to get myself, as well as my kids, off conventional store-bought toothpaste. Especially after I read a book on how detrimental those toothpastes are for our health and the fact that I often brush my teeth A LOT! I taught myself to always brush after meals to put an end to eating (nothing tastes good with a minty mouth!). So as much as I was brushing and the fact that Kai just likes to swallow the tasty kid-flavored toothpastes, I needed to get that junk out of my house.
Anyway, I threw those toothpastes out and I made my own; andI have to say, I feel so good using my own products. And guess what? I haven’t forgot to oil pull in weeks!
HOW TO OIL PULL
It is extremely easy too; place a tablespoon of coconut oil into yourmouth and swish it around as if it were mouthwash (if it is solid, it will melt in your mouth). Just like brushing your teeth, when you do something 16 days in a row it becomes a habit! My suggestion is to toss your mouthwash filled with chemicals and replace it with a jar of coconut oil.
Here are some of the reasons why you should start oil pulling today:
1. Removes bacteria, parasites, and toxins that live in your lymph system. Coconut oil in particular have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and enzymatic properties which is why I suggest pulling with coconut oil over other oils. It helps kill Streptococcus mutans, an acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay. It also clears up Candida, which can cause thrush.
2. It relieves congestion and mucus in your sinuses and throat.
3. Re-mineralizes teeth and strengthen gums.
4. It clears up skin issues like psoriasis because the pulling detoxes toxins which boosts the immune system.
Coconut oil serves several purposes. Its butyric acid is known to increase T3 uptake by glial cells. It has a general pro-thyroid action, for example by diluting and displacing antithyroid unsaturated oils, its short-and medium-chain fatty acids sustain blood 
sugar and have anti-allergic actions, and it protects mitochondria against stress injury.
So if you are like me, get yourself a gallon since you will be using it so much, it helps save money.
Read more on Oil Pulling and other ways to increase your health in Keto-Adapted.
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You can make this toothpaste whatever flavor profile you want. I made a blueberry toothpaste for my boys and I have to admit, I loved that flavor!
Click HERE to find the toothpaste ingredients I suggest.
If you prefer not make your own toothpaste, click HERE to find the brands I prefer.
Toothpaste
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 2-4 tablespoons Natural Sweetener depending on desired sweetness
- 8 drops peppermint oil or other like cinnamon
- 8 drops spearmint oil or other
Instructions
- Heat coconut oil until soft and stir-able. Add in xylitol (or Swerve) and flavor profile of your choice. Stir until well combined. Place into cute jars and keep by your sink to replace your store bought toothpaste!
Yay. I’ve been wanting to make our own toothpaste. Thanks!
One question, how long will this stay good on the counter? Indefinitely?
Yep! I make a huge batch and store in jars in my pantry!
;)))
Perfect! My kids haven’t used fluoride toothpaste in at least a year and their teeth were all good at the dentist.
Even the natural toothpastes, like Tom’s, have ” interesting-looking” ingredients.
Thanks!
I can’t use coconut oil because of an allergy, what would be a 2nd choice?
I’m not totally sure but organic Palm shortening could possibly work;)
Can you spot this down your sink?
No, don’t spit this into anything with pipes, (sink, toilet) because if the fat solidifies with the cold, you could have blockages and you don’t want to have to dig up the driveway.
I do. I run hot water down with it. I put more grease down the drain when I wash dishes;)
Whoa, you can just EAT this toothpaste!
I can’t get over how grossed out I am by swishing coconut oil in my mouth, maybe I’ll start oil pulling someday.
Do you just scoop out the paste with your toothbrush? I’m afraid that process would spread germs in my 3 teenager household. Our bathroom/sink is very small, so I’m wondering what would be a good option, other than leaving a spoon or knife on the counter with the jar (and then that would get kind of dirty too).
You could have a tiny dessert spoon or Popsicle stick to spread it on.
Thanks Maria!
I’ve been using this (or a version of it ) for a couple of years now. I prefer it to conventional toothpaste. Your teeth and mouth feel sooo much cleaner!!!
Annette, there are empty toothpaste tubes you can buy online (can’t remember the exact website but several companies sell them). It’s an additional cost for the convenience but might work for you. I just have a glass covered jar that stays on my counter. I figured perhaps the anti-bacterial properties of the oil takes care of the germ factor…..Any thoughts on this Maria?
B.
I agree but I’m not afraid of germs. I feel they boost immunity.
I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. I’d been using baking soda alone, but you never get that fresh breath experience. This is now on my weekend to-do list. Thanks Maria!
Thanks!
Maria, I have been using Xylitol for years in my mouthwash, it is super healing for gum tissue. My husband had gingivitis and it cleared up when we starting using that. I notice my gums are healthier too. I will be making this toothpaste with xylitol and will see how it turns out. It’s not as sweet as Swerve, I think, for the same amount, so the mint will have more oomph! 🙂
Something to consider about baking soda: it kills the bad bacteria, but also the good. The key to a healthy mouth is is encourage a health biofilm on teeth. Baking soda interferes with this.
Do you have any studies to show me?
biofilm(pellicle formation) will be disrupted by the baking soda initially but will develop right away again. it is no different than when brushing your teeth which also kills the good and bad bacteria because you are removing them from your teeth. however, baking soda is a bit abrasive and using this all day long may be too harsh and unnecessary especially when eating a ketogenic lifestyle with such limited carbs. too much of a good thing is also not good, right! baking soda is like a very, very, very light sandpaper and using that all the time may not be necessary.
Been making my own toothpaste for years and years. I do make one very similar to this one, but I also make a toothsoap with Dr. Bronners castile soap and coconut oil and EO’s so that I’m not overdoing with the abrasive qualities of the baking soda. I put my toothsoap in an old pump style hand soap container and pump out some on toothbrush for use. Works great.
sorry…”healthy biofilm….”
Maria, this posting on oral care is very timely for me. My dentist says that I am getting too much tartar in my teeth and I am losing the calcium in my teeth as well. She is recommending that I take a supplement called bio-dent by a company called Standard Process. There are quite a few ingredients listed in it: defatted wheat, sweet potato, rice bran, bovine bone, etc. Is there something else you can recommend, perhaps a calcium supplement?
Never calcium! Vitamin k2: http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20/detail/B009A6KFDC
Maria, for the best results how long should you swish the oil around before spitting?
At least a minute. Some recommend 10 minutes;)
what are your thoughts on bentonite clay and calcium powder? My recipe is like yours but also has bentonite clay and calcium powder in it? Am I waisting money on those things? Will it work just as well without them? Thanks!
I wouldn’t worry about adding that.
Wow! I made this tonight and just brushed my teeth. I don’t think my teeth have been this clean since the last time I had my teeth cleaned. Thank You Maria!
Awesome!!!!
Hi Maria-which glucose/ketone metre do you recommend, please?
This one: http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20/detail/B008UZVLM8
My dentist said baking soda is too abrasive. Any thoughts?
You cN eliminate from the recipe;)
in dental hygiene school we learned that we need to mechanically remove the plaque. that means brushing and flossing. toothpaste is a novelty to provide application of fluoride and give you a clean feeling, but really not necessary. as a hygienist I have experienced no plaque (you know that fuzzy feeling on your teeth) because I am not eating sugars (carbs). i was delighted at the reduction of this fuzzy feeling between brushing (plaque which is not the same as tartar buildup)I also learned in hygiene school that carbohydrates feed the bacteria that produce caries. so just think about that statement in relation to what we are learning from a ketogenic lifestyle. i also learned in hygiene school that the biofilm that develops on your teeth is free and clear of bacteria initially to protect your teeth. bacteria, good and bad attach to this biofilm (pellicle formation) and can create health or disease. the dental bacteria that cause disease attach to the biofilm and produce waste products which form a plaque buildup (that fuzzy feeling). this plaque buildup attracts other unhealthy bacteria that attaches to the plaque. either gingivitis, periodontitis or caries can occur depending on the bacteria. caries (cavity) bacteria produce an acid and this acid sits on your teeth and over time produces decay which is like holes in your teeth. it is also very interesting to note that there are different cavity producing bacteria for different areas of your teeth. some bacteria work between your teeth (flossing areas), some of the top of your tooth etc, etc… it is also interesting to note that cavity producing bacteria produce about 15 minutes of acid and this acid is what produces the cavity. (the acid is the bacteria’s excrement)so think about your habits. i use this example for my clients. if you eat one bag of potato chips within 15 minutes, you get about 15 to 30 minutes of acid production assuming you don’t eat anything else or don’t cleanse your mouth. (chips are after all sugar, i would tell them, even if they taste salty and this was before my keto days) so it would be better to eat the chips all at once than to nibble all day long on a small bag of chips, because all you are doing is introducing sugar into your mouth for acid production on a constant basis. (i am not endorsing eating chips, but i had to relate to what someone could understand so they could make their own decision based on facts) we also learned that fat was good for the teeth and we learned that toothpaste and 6 month check ups came into play with a simple recommendation from the ADA. think about that. also Weston price a dentist circled the globe and found very interesting facts about decay and disease. study this information for yourselves and decide. fluoride was discovered because of mottled enamel (overfluoridation)from natural water sources and then studied. currently fluoride is there to fill the micro holes in your enamel produced from decay and is there to strengthen your teeth (enamel). i wonder what all the people in the world did when they didn’t have fluoride or sugar? aren’t bears the animals that get decay because of the honey they consume?? something to think about. i think that multiple times daily brushing with baking soda may be a bit too harsh. how about just using your toothbrush and brushing your teeth for 2 minutes thoroughly on all sides and not consuming carbs. that would be my recommendation. supplements because of poor food quality are necessary, restoring gut health with probiotics and fermented foods will all help create a balanced environment. Dental bacteria can be swapped between mouths, also something else to think about.
I think little jars of this could make cute and practical Christmas gifts. At the very least, my kids would love getting their own little jars in their stockings. I definitely have a few friends that would appreciate the thought. Good timing!
I do make my own toothpaste at home. I have a question about oil pulling. I have lots of dental work and have read that the repeated use of coconut oil will loosen the glue associated with this. Do you have any thoughts, comments or knowledge of such? I’m not in a hurry to do this daily if I may literally lose my ‘teeth’ because of it…..
From what I understand if you have a filling that is loose or compromised it can make it worse. But fillings that are good it doesn’t effect them.
Thank you for sharing this ”recipe” It is very important to brush our teeth with the healthiest of ingredients. I also agree with Amanda, this is a great and original idea for a gift
Thank you Maria for this recipe! A friend of mine and I were just discussing this the other night.
You are welcome!
Are all essential oils created equal? The marketplace has been saturated with companies and I am wondering if there is anything I need to be aware of?