That Darn Cavity

I know my posts and few and far between at times. My apologizes.

This past month has been an eye opener in SO many different ways. Having had to start actual mediation to help control some of my Lupus symptoms. I've also ramped up my running recently since I have created the insane goal of running a marathon at the end of this year.

More so I have been paying more attention to the things I put on my body and on my family.

Recently a trip to the dentist for my son ended with us finding out he has a cavity. I was devastated to say the least and very annoyed since his previous appointment six months ago didn't even have a stain or trouble spots pointed out. We also have not changed his diet or our brushing habits. The only thing that changed was his toothpaste. We had started using the Crest for kids that the dentist gave us a sample of. Call me crazy, but it just seemed to coincidental for him to suddenly develop a bad cavity. That and upon finding the cavity, the use of a fluoride rinse as well did nothing to strengthen it, yet he did get two more discolored spots on his lower canines. So, unless it's just the fact that he got a cavity and something is amiss else where, which seems hardly the case after doing some studying. I have completely changed my mind about store bought toothpastes, mouthwashes and even the organic ones.

 I found a great website  that not only offered information but a recipe on how to make your own tooth-soap. This other site offers a re-mineralizing tooth soap recipe that I am eager to try out.

This did come with some anxiety of course. I've been brainwashed by the world that you need to brush with the dentist recommended toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Going against this caused brief lapses of insanity and strange looks from my husband.

The Verdict of using the tooth-soap so far is: it is completely different than the store stuff. It doesn't suds up AT ALL. You are basically scrubbing your teeth for the 2 mins with what seems like spit and more spit. It also makes you more aware of your brushing habits. The teeth that you spent more time scrubbing feel clean, a really nice clean too. But you are very aware of the teeth you missed or didn't get so well, since there were no extra bubbles to "wash" those for you.
I made mine using wild orange oil to make it more kid friendly, so far there are no complaints except for how long we HAVE to brush for now. But, really, we should all be brushing for 2 mins anyway because that's what has been recommended for decades and I have no trouble with more brushing time (just the toothpaste).

Tooth soap recipe taken from Mommypotomus:

Homemade Tooth Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild
• 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon water
• 20-40 drops essential oil (cinnamon, peppermint, spearmint, anise, fennel, sweet orange – or whatever you like. Number of drops varies based on the strength of the essential oil)
• 1 -1½ tablespoons raw honey or a few drops stevia extract – for more info on what type of stevia to use check out this article

Note: If you us honey some will settle at the bottom. Just stir a bit with the dropper before using.

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix water, 1 tablespoon honey and olive oil until well blended.
2. Add remaining ingredients and whisk thoroughly. Add remaining ½ tablespoon (½ teaspoon) honey if needed.
3. Pour mixture into a vial with dropper or soap dispenser (be sure to label it!) and use!

Basic Re-materializing toothpaste:

I used parts instead of tsp or tbsp so depending on the batch size use what is needed. You can add xylitol to this formula to help sweeten it, but since the jury still seems out on it, I just omitted it. *Note this can be a bit bitter and salty tasting but it really makes your teeth feel clean.

-5 parts calcium powder or cal-mag powder (I bought vitamin capsules and just emptied them into a bowl until I had what I needed)
-2 parts baking soda
-2-5 parts coconut oil (until you get the consistency you like)
-10-20 drops essential oils (I used peppermint)

-Mix powders together in a small bowl. Add coconut oil until you are happy with the consistency.
-Put into a small airtight jar. Use a spoon or popsicle stick to spread onto toothbrush.