I'm interested to know the difference and the advantages of a home made toothpaste. I've been raw for 3 months now and starting to worry about teeth problems. My gum line was already very low even before starting raw to the point where I have to brush with a toothpaste especially for that, sensodine. It works fine and since I use this paste my teeth and gum don't hurt anymore (but it just masks the problem for now, I don't know if it will get worst).

However, since raw, I have to put smaller and smaller amounts on my toothbrush because the taste of it is so strong now that my taste buds are more sensible. Putting the amount I was used to would put my mouth in the same type of pain as an over acidic Pineapple.

So, I would be interested to know if there is any known benefits of a home made paste.

The best case scenario would be having my gum grow back so I wouldn't have to worry about that at all. I'll try oil pulling, seem to be a good practice. Any other things that could help will be taken in consideration. I have a past of hard brushing that didn't help and my mother had the same problem a couple of years ago and it was to the point where she had to have an operation for it. However, her problems started to pop out much latter in her life than mine.

Thanks a lot

Wheatgrass!

I recently had a bloody gum nightmare where I could barely stand to brush at all, and the sink would look like a massacre... Three days of 2-3 oz. of fresh wheatgrass (and some serious swishing it around in my mouth) cleared the problem up to perfection. I still take a shot every day for good measure. It works wonders for the mouth and gums. So does letting the pulp just rest on your gums for a while, but I haven't tried that part.

I also just brush with water now. I was scared to make the transition at first, but it gets me just as clean. I rinse my toothbrush several times throughout the brushing and take care to brush my tongue.

Warm salt water rinses are nice and antiseptic for the mouth, if you feel like you need a little something extra.

We really don't need as many products and chemicals as we've been lead to believe. =)

I don't know about making toothpaste, but essential oil of tea tree is fantastic for the mouth. You could find a natural one with tea tree, or make your own toothpaste/rinse.

I've recently started making my own. I'm mixing green clay with wheatgrass powder and adding a drop or two of tea tree and peppermint essential oils. My teeth do feel better from switching from a "natural" toothpaste.

Rob

--
Rob Hull - Funky Raw
My blog: [www.rawrob.com]

^Would you care to post your exact process and recipe?

I don't follow exact recipes! More clay than wheatgrass. Add the essential oils and mix. Don't add water, just store it dry like that. Then when I want to brush my teeth I dip my dry toothbrush into the mixture and kind of brush with that and saliva in my mouth to form a paste. I tried adding water to the mixture which worked for the first time but by the next day it was dry and stuck to the glass dish I made it in. Maybe I could store it wet as a paste in an airtight container, that might work a little better.

Rob

--
Rob Hull - Funky Raw
My blog: [www.rawrob.com]

ahhhhh...my teeth started to hurt one week ago, i never had cavities, so im afraid i have like 20 now, cause i really have a weird feeling!! I heard fruit can be bad to teeth, true?

i use auromere
its an indian herbal toothpaste
has lots of herbs in it
works nice

Baking powder! I've been using it for awhile now and my teeth feel and look great!

Here's a report that I think you'll find SUPER helpful...I know I did. After trying a couple of the toothpastes recommended I settled on "Nature's Answer Periobrite," which can easily be ordered from the internet if you can't find it in stores. Their mouthwash is really good too. I know this is kinda long, but well worth the read:

Vegan and Healthy Toothpastes
Report by Art Konrad: November 11, 2007

Toothpaste is highly controversial and confusing. In the past there have been lawsuits regarding ingredients like beef soup or pork fat which vegetarians and some religious people object to. Years ago people were absolutely flabbergasted when they learned that popular brands often use sugar. Today, they more often use sugar substitutes some of which are far worse. There are other seriously harmful ingredients found in even so called healthy toothpastes. In fact, the majority of products that are only available in natural foods stores are actually bad for your gums. This just shows the state of ignorance and confusion in the market place today and that is why this report is necessary.

Finding a truly healthy toothpaste is difficult, but even after finding ones with only good ingredients, they are often too drying and that encourages the bad bacteria. The real solution to dental and gum problems is to brush with the essential oil products I mention in my other reports. Toothpaste is just an added help, but I believe they should not be expected to actually reverse gum disease like the oil based products can. My success in reversing gum disease, bleeding gums, loose teeth and avoiding gum surgery is based entirely on those oil based products.

However, since everyone seems to have the toothpaste habit, I felt we should try to find products that can help. At least we should be able to avoid products which actually aggravate and worsen the problem. While we look for ingredients that are actually helpful, please remember even helpful ingredients don’t have a chance to do much good unless they are allowed to linger. A toothpaste designed for cleansing is likely to be much too drying and likely to be efficient in removing those good ingredients along with the food particles. Also, a toothpaste designed for taste may not address all the 22 bacteria that cause gum disease and all the other dental problems. It may have good ingredients but not the right combination or amount of ingredients for effectively fighting gum and teeth problems. So the bottom line: toothpaste is not the answer. In fact Toothpaste is often working against you, but certain products carefully chosen can be helpers.

This report was first compiled for the San Francisco Vegetarian Society and my product reviews endeavor to meet their standards as well. My research tells me that the best ingredients for your teeth and gums are going to be vegan (meaning no animal products or derivatives like milk or eggs).

I am continually updating this report as people inform me of lesser known brands and other dental-related products that I can review. You are welcome to contact me with your comments or suggestions at artkonrad@yahoo.com. Also feel free to contact me for my other free report:

No More Gum Disease - Stop this Barbaric Practice. My personal experience reversing severe Gum Disease, the Scientific Logic behind Essential Oil based products, my exclusive directions which I got from interviewing company insiders, how to order the best way that saves you money. (it is far far less expensive than gum surgery.)

Good Products - Enjoy!!!

Ayurdent Toothpaste by Maharishi Ayurveda All Vegan, no bad ingredients and uses herbs known to the ancients to help teeth and gums as recorded in Ayurveda texts. This product is rarely found in Stores. Can order online at: [www.mapi.com]
Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Wheatgrass, Gum Tragacanth, Sodium Chloride, Oxytoxyglycerin Sorbital, Water, Albizzia Lebbick, Barleria Prionitis, Mimusops Elengi, Ingian Gallnut, Beleric Myrobalans, Indian Gooseberry, Oak Galls, Licorice, Black Catechu, Small Bark Tree, Walnut, Long Pepper, Ginger, Neem, Tooth Brush Tree, Peppermint, Cloves, Camphor

Bioforce USA Echinacea Toothpaste: Excellent ingredient list: no bad chemicals, all Vegan, uses Seven Essential oils. Info@BioforceUSA.com, [www.bioforceusa.com]
Echinacea toothpaste ingredients: Extracts of Echinacea, peppermint, liquorish, tormentil, bilberry, rosemary and eucalyptus in a base of pure water, tragacanth, clay, sorbitol, gum arabic and calcium carbonate.

Heritage Products Ipsab Tooth Powder Peppermint: Suitable for Vegans. No harmful chemicals.
804-428-0100 Fax: 804-428-3632, PO Box 444, Virginia Beach, VA 23458
“Product based on the readings of Edgar Cayce. Prickly ash bark was traditionally used by Native Americans for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Ingredients: A finely milled combination of pure salt, baking soda, and prickly ash bark, flavored with peppermint oil. Not tested on animals. Certified by periodic laboratory test to be free of pesticide residues.”

Nature's Answer Periobrite Toothpaste - 4 oz. “All products in the dental line are VEGAN”
Uses lots of herbs and essential oils. [www.naturesanswer.com]
Ingredients: Phytoplenolin (Centipeda Cunninghamii Extract), Bio-Chelated Extracts of Echinacea Purpurea Tops (Echinacea Purpurea), Calendula Flower (Calendula Officinalis), Olive Leaf (Olea Europaea), Black Walnut Green Hulls (Juglans nigra), Gotu Kola Herb (Centella Asiatica), Chamomile Flower (Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Green Tea Leaf (Camellia Sinensis), Prickly Ash Bark (Zanthoxylum Americanum) and Grapefruit Seed (Citrus Grandis), Essential Oils of Peppermint,(Mentha Piperita) Oregano (Origanum Vulgare), Clove (Eugenia Caryophyllus), Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris), Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum (Zeylanicum) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus (Globulus), Bio-Saponin (Saponins), Folic Acid, Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone), Aloe Vera Phytogel (Aloe Barbadensis), Sodium Bicarbonate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, XanthanGum, and Chlorophyll Base Ingredients: U.S.P. Purified Water, Vegetable Glycerin.
Supplement Facts: Periorub for Periodontal Health is a natural gel that offers fast, effective, long-lasting relief from tooth and gum discomfort. Our propietary vegetarian formula contains soothing organic and responsibly wildcrafted herbs plus essential oils. These ingredients work together to calm tooth and gum distress. PerioRub also freshens breath while promoting healthy gum tissue. It is further enhanced with Phytoplenolin, a Holistically Balanced patented herbal extract that has been shown in independent laboratory studies to promote cell vitality. Use for the temporary relief of tooth and gum discomfort. May also be used as an abrasive-free toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Peelu: All Vegan, Ayurvedic, no bad ingredients. Peelu tree Fibers have a resin known to help teeth, similar to essential oil action against bacteria. Peelu has been used for thousands of years in South Asia and is known as the “toothbrush tree.” info@peelu.com, 1.800.457.3358 x1 www.peelu.com
“The dental fibers and toothpaste are Vegan. However, the chewing gum uses an insect by-product (resinous glaze) to protect the gum from moisture.” Ingredients: Sorbitol, purified water, Peelu fiber, vegetable Glycerine, Titanium dioxide, xanthan gum, coco clucoside and Glycerol Cleate (derived from natural sources), natural oil of peppermint, tea tree oil.

Sumudu: All Vegan, no bad ingredients, uses essential oils to fight bacteria: This simple oil combination is recognized in ancient Ayurvedic texts as good for the gums. Not generally available in the United States YET. Ingredients: Cinnamon oil, Eucalyptus oil, Clove oil, Velmee (liquorish).

Trimedica - MSM Toothpaste: All Vegan, uses either MSM or Homeopathic formulations.
customerservice@TriMedica.com, [www.trimedica.com]
“Thank you for your interest in TriMedica’s MSM and Silver toothpastes. Below are the ingredients for each of the toothpastes. I’ve added source information marked with an asterisk for the ingredients that are usually questioned. Please let me know if you need anything else!”
Pure MSM toothpaste: Dicalcium phosphate, water, sorbitol, glycerin (*from coconut oil), MSM 5%, carageenan (*from seaweed), natural flavor, xylitol, sodium benzoate, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (*from licorice root), tocopheryl acetate.
SilvaFresh toothpaste: Homeopathics – argentums metallicum, calendula, plantain, ferrum phosphate, belladonna, strawberry leaves, sage leaves, myrrh, mercurius vivus. Other ingredients: aloe vera distillate, peppermint oil, glycerin USP (*from coconut oil), calcium carbonate, eucalyptus oil, xylitol, vitamin K, deionized water, guar gum (*from guar seeds), sodium bicarbonate.

~lanie

"Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing lies a field. I'll meet you there." ~Rumi

Personally, I'd never use baking POWDER on my teeth (it has added acid); I use baking SODA, which is very alkaline. Lanie, do you have any info on Tom's of Maine? Funky Rob, I love your idea.

Do you blog? Add your blog to the thread on blogging: [www.rawfoodsupport.com]!!

^Interesting the article says oils are great. Makes me think about the merits of oil pulling! (I'm too lazy to do that much in the morning. :O )

Thanks a lot for the info

Yes Seabucktho. Here's a list of both "borderline" and "never ever use" toothpaste, which were part of the original report. Tom's of Maine is included.

I read this guy's other reports...also very helpful and interesting. Don't have them handy anymore but I'm sure he'd be happy to send them to you if you email him.

Borderline Products:
In some stores, these may be the only choices for avoiding Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
while staying Vegan or Vegetarian. However, they use some other harmful chemicals.

Vita-Myr Zinc-Plus Herbal Toothpaste This is one of my favorite tasting products and I like the fact
that the oils seem to linger on the teeth longer than other toothpastes I have tried. Their website is all about gum care, but I have to put them in the borderline section because they use Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate in place of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. They feel it is a mild foaming agent. Others feel differently – remember OSHA calls Sarcosinate a dangerous chemical. In the ingredients list, the chemical is listed as Hamposyl L-95 which their website explains is Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate. Here is the response from the company to my inquiry about being vegetarian or vegan: “Our oral care products, mouthwash and toothpaste do NOT have any ingredient that is meat, milk, eggs, honey, or animal derived ingredients. The equipment used to make our oral care products is not used for any food processing. Cleaning products used to clean the equipment used in manufacture of our products is non-toxic and not of animal origin. While our products are vet approved and have found to be useful when used for dogs and cats, they are never tested on animals.”

Ingredients: Purified water, Di-Calcium Phosphate, Glycerine (Vege source) Silica, Hamposyl L-95, Carrageenan, Myrrh Tincture, Clove Oil, Folic Acid, Grapefruit seed extract, and Zinc Piccolinate

Jason: Did not reply to my inquiry. Product info states that Sea Fresh formula is vegetarian.
Other formulations may not be. They use Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, to replace Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Both are detergents, but SCG is supposed to be less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. [www.jason-natural.com] 1.877.6601, 7am-5pm Mountain Time

Weleda: Uses some bad ingredients like Hydrated Silica (too abrasive) and Alcohol (too drying and thus encouraging bad bacteria to grow). According to the company: “All Weleda toothpastes are suitable for vegans and are free from added fluoride, detergents, bleaches, foam boosters, optical brighteners plus synthetic colours, fragrances, flavourings, sweeteners, deodorants, emulsifiers, disinfectants and preservatives. info@weleda.com [www.usa.weleda.com]

Water (Aqua), Calcium Carbonate (Chalk), Glycerin, Magnesium Alumnium Silicate (Smectite Clay), Marigold, Alcohol, Commiphora Myrrah (Myrrh) Extract, Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) Seed, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Limonene*

Glycerin, Water (Aqua), Hydrated Silica, Chamomile Recrutita (Matricaria), Krameria Triandra, Commiphora Myrrha, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint), Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel), Algin, Alcohol, Esculin, Limonene*.

Seriously Bad - Do Not Use
These products use harmful chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
and in some cases are not Vegetarian or Vegan.
A few of these products are very close to being good, having a lot of very good ingredients,
but due to one or two harmful ingredients, must be rejected. If these are among your favorites, write to them and ask them to improve their ingredients.

Auromere (even the “non-foaming” one) Says they are Vegan. Uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Even their so called Non-Foaming Cardamom-Fennel flavor still shows Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) in their list of ingredients. I am staying away from them until they recognize how serious SLS is and properly fix their labels. newinfo@auromere.com

Biotene Dental Oral Balance Mouth Moisturizing Toothpaste. Confirmed Vegetarian but not Vegan – They use Calcium Lactate (from milk). Important: They use two Harmful ingredients: Hydrated Silica and Floride....[www.biotene.com] Corporate Office: 2103 East University Drive, Rancho Dominguez, CA 90220. 310-605-4280, Customer Service: 800-922-5856 Fax Us: 1-310-605-4288
Business hours: 8am-5pm (PST) Monday-Friday.

Boiron Homeodent Anise Toothpaste - 3.3 Oz. Vegan but uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
“There are no animal products or animal by-products used in either the Anise or Lemon Homeodent Toothpaste. Both should be considered Vegan.” [www.boironusahcp.com]

Burt's Bees Doctor Burt's Toothpaste fluoride free! Discontinued all Toothpaste products.
[www.burtsbees.com]

Desert Essence Tea Tree oil Toothpaste: Uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Otherwise looks good - Vegan. infoDE@desertessence.com, [www.desertessence.com]

Dr Ken’s “all vegan” but has sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
info@drkens.net [www.drkens.net]

Kiss My face: Although Vegan, they unfortunately use two harmful ingredients: Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, and Hydrated Silica. heather@kissmyface.com [www.kissmyface.com]
“All of our toothpastes are appropriate for vegans except the Women’s Toothpaste. It contains chitosan, which is comes from crustacean shells. We are also launching 3 new toothpastes in the fall that are appropriate for vegans. They include Anticavity, Tartar Control and Sensitive. Ingredients: Glycerin (Vegetable Source), Sorbitol (Plant Origin), Hydrated Silica (Mineral Origin), Certified Organic Aloe Vera, Aqua, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Peppermint Oil, Horse Chestnut, Hydroxyethylcellulose (Plant Origin), Menthol (Natural Origin), Ubiquinone (Co-enzyme Q10), Tea Tree Oil, Xylitol (Plant Origin), Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex (Natural Coloring).

Life Extension, Toothpaste, Natural Mint Flavor, NOT vegetarian: uses Shark liver Oil, possibly others as well. [www.lef.org] Customer Service 800-678-8989 Advisors 800.226.2370, Life Extension Foundation, PO Box 407189, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33340

Natural Dentist - Herbal Toothpaste & Gum Therapy Mint . No Sodium Lauryl Sulfate but uses “Natural fluoride” Did not respond to my inquiry regarding Vegetarian/Vegan. info@thenaturaldentist.com [www.thenaturaldentist.com]

Nature's Gate Whitening Gel Toothpaste - 5 oz. Uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. customerservice@levlad.com

NOW Foods - XyliWhite Uses Hydrated Silica. “Vegan formula. On our products that are labeled Vegetarian we mean Vegan.” Bloomingdale, IL 60108 Telephone: 888-669-3663
www.nowfoods.com/index.php?action=itemdetail&item_id=42843

NutriBiotic Dental Gel, Vegetarian but has sodium lauroyl sarcosinate
sales@nutribiotic.com [www.nutribiotic.com] 1-800-225-4345

Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Toothpaste. They use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Otherwise looks good. No response to my inquiry. info@tphealth.com:

Toms of Maine: They use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in all their current products. They told me that they are coming out with a new line without SLS, however others have told me that they have been saying that for 3 or 4 years now. “All of our products would be considered vegetarian. We use absolutely no meat ingredients in any of our products. Most of our products are vegan. However, if they contain beeswax (present in our flossing products) or propolis (in some of toothpaste products), they are not considered vegan, because these ingredients are sourced from bees.” [tomsofmaine.custhelp.com]

Xylichew Xylibrush Peppermint Toothpaste - 2.5 oz. Uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. dmcwatters@tundratrading.com [www.tundratrading.com]

Herbal-Vedic, Herbal Toothpaste, (so-called Vedic) Uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. auroma@lotuspress.com, [www.herbalvedic.com]

Vicco, (so-called Ayurvedic) gk@viccolabs.com Uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

Xlear Spry Toothpaste Cool Mint -- 4 oz [www.xlear.com] Has sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. “Thank you for your interest in Xlear inc. and our Spry™ Dental products.  We are happy to inform you that all of our products are made with vegetable glycerin and the gum base is from vegetables as well.  All of our products are vegetarian. They’re not vegan however, because of the beeswax.” 

~lanie

"Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing lies a field. I'll meet you there." ~Rumi

Oups, I bought the Desert Essence's natural toothpaste today before reading it and it does in fact contain sodium Lauryl sulfate.

I think I'll have to discard it. I can't mess with my gum anymore.

Lanie, in the beginning of the study, he talks about treatment with essential oils explained in an other study that can not just prevent disease but also heal the gum. That could be the answer I'm looking for. I would be very interested in reading this study, to you know where to find it?

I also bought Desert Essence's mouthwash with Tea tree oil. Is it actually a good thing to use this or could this harm even more? How does this compare to just mixing sea salt with water and mouth washing?

Thanks

No prob sebzzz. I may still have the other two reports floating around my hard drive somewhere (one on gum disease and the other, a more detailed explanation of the 5 deadliest toothpaste ingredients).

I'll run a search to see what surfaces. If they do turn up it might be better to just send them to your private mailbox as attachments. If I remember correctly, they're WAY too long to post here.

Stay tuned...

~lanie

"Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing lies a field. I'll meet you there." ~Rumi

sebzzz: I notice that your email's hidden. Mine is lanie@ecoisp.com.

I'm sure they're tucked away somewhere on disc, just have to look a little. If you shoot me a quick email so I have your address, I'll be happy to send them on when I find them. Sometime later tonight for sure.

~lanie

"Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing lies a field. I'll meet you there." ~Rumi