'Moving to a natural dental hygiene routine can feel risky but my oral health is now the best it has ever been'
Author: Josie Shillabeer
Moving to a natural dental hygiene routine was something I was very worried about doing initially. Our teeth are very precious and we do not want to end up with fillings, losing teeth or gum disease. Therefore, opting for a bamboo toothbrush, a mineral based toothpaste and flossing less regularly can feel like a big risk.
However, two years after switching to a natural dental hygiene routine my teeth are the best they have ever been and during my last dental check up I was told by Dr Tyler 'you have the best teeth that I have seen all week!'.
In this blog post I am going to share with you the best natural dental hygiene products that I use and recommend as a Nutritionist.
Plus, don't forget to check out our last blog post 'Natural Dental Hygiene Routine: Safe, Simple & Effective' to learn about my dental hygiene routine that I do each day to optimise my oral health.
The Best Natural Toothpaste
Georganics Fluoride Free Mineral Toothpaste
My top recommended toothpaste is the Georganics Mineral Toothpaste. I have personally used it for the past two years and my teeth are the best they have ever been. I have also got all of my friends and family onboard. We love this toothpaste for a number of reasons:
It does not contain glycerine - Most toothpastes contain glycerine which is used to create a barrier over your teeth that stops the minerals within your teeth escaping. However, it also stops minerals entering your teeth that can help them to become stronger.
It does not contain foaming agents - These can irritate your gums, reduce saliva production and disrupt the balance of bacteria within your mouth.
It does not contain fluoride - Your teeth do not naturally contain the mineral fluoride and it therefore isn't something you need so long as you are getting the minerals that they do require. Long-term teeth made up a mix of fluoride and other minerals are weaker than those that are not. Fluoride is also linked to other health problems, including skeletal, neurological and endocrine (thyroid) conditions.
It contains lots of minerals - The Georganics mineral toothpaste contains a number of important minerals, including calcium, silica and magnesium that your teeth need to remain strong. It is even thought that by using a mineral rich toothpaste that these minerals may help to repair damaged teeth when used longterm.
It contain oral health supportive ingredients - Not only does it contain important minerals, the Georganics toothpaste also contains other oral health supportive ingredients, such as, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil that is packed with Vitamin E, helping to support gum health and Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil that can help to reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth, preventing cavities and bad breath.
Lots of flavour options - You can choose between peppermint, spearmint, tea tree, activated charcoal, orange and strawberry (children's option).
Subscribe and save - 1, 3, 6 month and yearly delivery options that give you additional savings and mean that you never go without.
The only thing to note about mineral based toothpastes are that they can clog your sink. To avoid this we pour a kettle of almost boiling water down the drain each week, or you can do this when needed.
Click the button below to get 20% off at Georganics
Georganics Natural Fluoride Mineral Toothpaste
Switching to a fluoride free toothpaste can be too big a leap for many people, so I wanted to share with you the Fluoride Mineral Toothpaste by Georganics. This toothpaste contains naturally occurring fluoride (calcium fluoride).
Natural fluoride - The fluoride ions are released slowly compared to other types of fluoride generally used within dental care products. This reduces the risk of toxicity to both your health and the environment.
Lots of flavour options - You can choose between peppermint, activated charcoal, orange and strawberry (children's option).
Subscribe and save - 1, 3, 6 month and yearly delivery options that give you additional savings and mean that you never go without.
Click the button below to get 20% off at Georganics
The Best Natural Toothbrush
Truthbrush Manual Bamboo Toothbrush
I have tried lots of 'natural' toothbrushes and my favourite is the bamboo toothbrush by Truthbrush. I love this toothbrush because:
The wood feels smooth - Many bamboo toothbrushes have a texture that does not feel particualy nice on your lips, tounge and gums. The Truthbrush is smooth and does not feel alot different to a plastic toothbrush you may be used to.
The handle does not rot - Truthbrush has a coated handle that stops the end from rotting and going mouldy.
Coloured handle - The Truthbrush has lots of different colour handle options. This not only allows you to personalise your toothbrush (I love the pink option) but it also stops you from mixing it up with other people in your household.
Shaped bristles - I really like a toothbrush head that is not flat. The bristles are shaped to wrap around your teeth and enable you to use the edges to brush into all the grooves.
Medium/small head - I have a small mouth and like a toothbrush that does not have a huge brush head. A smaller brush head no matter the size of your mouth is great as it will enable you to reach every tooth.
Subscribe and save - 1, 2 and 3 month delivery options that give you additional savings and mean that you never go without.
Company ethics - 1% profits to environmental nonprofits and B-Corp.
The only thing to note is that the bristles can come lose over time as the wood natrually shrinks. I have had a few times when a small patch of bristles have come away leaving a bare spot.
Get 10% OFF Truthbrush using the discount code 'NUTRITION10'
The Best Electric Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrush
There are so many electric toothbrushes on the market and at The Health Puzzle we really like the Philips Sonicare Range.
They do not have a hole in the toothbrush head - Many electric toothbrushes have a small hole in the toothbrush head where toothpaste and bacteria collect. Not having this hole not only makes it feel better in your mouth but it makes it easier to clean and reduces the amount of unwanted microbes entering your mouth.
Built in timer - When brushing your teeth sometimes 30 seconds feels like 2 minutes and therefore having a built in timer guarantees you brush for the right amount of time.
Pulses - Unlike other toothbrushes that rotate it uses pulses and brush strokes to clean your teeth and gums. Pulsing is much faster than rotating which can help to break down plaque and clean more thoroughly. The Philips Sonicare toothbrushes vibrate water molecules with ultrasonic frequencies to micro-clean.
Gum health mode - Your gums are super important. When you put your Philips Sonicare toothbrush into gum health mode it gives you an extra 30 seconds of cleaning time. You can use this extra time to gently brush your gums, increasing blood flow which encourages extra nutrients to circulate your gums.
Pressure sensor - If you brush your teeth too hard it can damage the enable and inflame the gums. It can be hard to work out the right level of pressure when brushing and that is where the Philips Sonicare pressure sensor comes in. It will let you know when you are pressing too hard or too soft.
Very effective at cleaning wisdom teeth - Due to the size, shape and firmness of the Philips Sonicare brush heads they do a brilliant job at cleaning hard to reach wisdom teeth.
Interchangeable heads - If you are looking to save money or space then you can share the base of the Philips Sonicare electric toothbrushes and switch out heads. That means you can buy just one electric toothbrush for the whole family.
The only thing that you will want to avoid is choosing an electric toothbrush that has bluetooth capabilities. While devices that send data to your phone from your toothbrush can be very useful educational devices it is only something I would recommend to use for a week. Longterm it is best to avoid using a toothbrush that sends signals via bluetooth.
Click on the button below to check out Philips Sonicare Electric Toothbrushes.
The Best Natural Dental Floss
Georganics Dental Floss (Silk or Vegan Bionylon)
My go to dental floss is the one by Georganics. I have been using this now for over five years and I love it for a number of reasons:
Refillable glass jar - I love how this little glass jar looks in our bathroom, being able to see through the glass means I always know how much I have left. The floss comes out through the metal lid and there is a handy little cutting tool on top that I personally find quite satisfying to use.
Natural ingredients - No nasty chemicals used in the making of this dental floss that could impact your health with long-term use.
Plastic free - There are two options, the English peppermint flavoured floss is made from Ahimsa silk (not vegan) a natural and biodegradable fibre. The spearmint flavoured floss is made of Bionylon a vegan castor oil based option. This helps to reduce the amount of plastic that comes into contact with your body, which is a big win for sustainability and your health.
Subscribe and save - 1, 3, 6 month and yearly delivery options that give you additional savings and mean that you never go without.
Click the button below to get 20% off at Georganics
The Best Natural Interdental Brushes
Truthbrush Bamboo Interdental Brushes
This is not something that I have used myself but a few members of The Health Puzzle recommend Truthbrush who do a lovely range of bamboo interdental brushes.
Different sizes available - Brushes available in 2 sizes, 0.4mm and 0.5mm.
Ergonomic handle - Tiny interdental brushes can be really difficult to hold and get at the right angle. Truthbrush have created an easy to grip handle that makes them easier to hold.
Bamboo handle - We love everything plastic free at The Health Puzzle and that is just one of the many reasons why we love these interdental brushes. These are made from bamboo and coated in a natural plant oil to make them water resistant.
BPA free bristles
Reusable - These brushes are made to be reused helping to save the plant and your money.
Subscribe and save - 1, 2 and 3 month delivery options that give you additional savings and mean that you never go without.
Company ethics - 1% profits to environmental nonprofits and B-Corp.
Get 10% OFF Truthbrush using the discount code 'NUTRITION10'
The Best Water Flosser
Philips Cordless Power Water Flosser
One way to floss your teeth and avoid cutting/inflamming your gums is to use a water flosser. At The Health Puzzle we like the Cordless Power Flosser by Philips. Simply fill the water tank with water from your tap, place the head between your teeth and turn the water flosser on. We love this water flosser because:
Safe to use daily - When you use dental floss it can cut your gums and cause inflammation. When you use a water flosser you avoid this happening, leading to better health overall.
Gets into tiny spaces - When you use floss or interdental brushes you cannot always get in between every tooth due to their thickness. With this water flosser you can get into really small spaces and the biggest win for me is that I no longer end up with dental floss stuck between my teeth.
More likely to use it - With dental floss I can get temped to avoid using it because it feels like a little extra effort at the end of the day. This water flosser however is so quick to set up and use that you can do it without thinking.
Changable heads - Use for whole family
The only thing to note with this water flosser is that you need to regullarly clean the water tank. Check the manual for cleaning recommendations. One natural cleaning option is to mix 1-2 tbsp of white vinegar in 500ml of water water in the tank and run it through the flosser until the tank is empty.
Click the button below to view the Philips Sonicare water flosser we would recommend.
The Best Natural Mouthwash
Geoganics Oil Pulling Mouthwash
Please read what I wrote about using mouthwash in our last blog post 'Natural Dental Hygine Routine' before you use mouth wash. If you are looking for a great natural mouthwash I can highly recommend those by Georganics.
Does not contain nasty ingredients - Many mouthwashes contains some really nasty ingredients that can impact the health of your whole body when used long-term. The oil-pulling mouthwashes from Georganics do not contain any nasty ingredients.
Helps to balance your oral microbiome - For optimal oral health as well as whole body health you want to have a healthy and balanced oral microbiome (bacteria and other microbes). Many mouthwashes blast away all of the bad bacteria as well as all of the good bacteria, which can have some pretty negative effects when used daily. Good bacteria in your mouth is important for lots of reasons, including digestion, immune support and keeping the bad bacteria in check.
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory - Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil is naturally anti-bacterial helping to kill off unwanted microbes, while allowing the good bacteria within your mouth to thrive. Coconut oil is also naturally anti-inflammatory helping to look after your gums.
Won't stain your teeth - Some big brand mouthwashes despite cleaning your mouth will actually stain your teeth when used long-term. With the Georganics mouthwash you can use it long-term with no risk of teeth staining.
Different flavour/therapeutic options - You can choose your mouthwash based on flavour or the therapeutic effect that you are looking for. Take a look at benefits of peppermint, spearmint, orange, activated charcoal and tea tree (melaleuca) oils to see how each one could support you. Alternatively, just choose the flavour your prefer.
Subscribe and save - 1, 3, 6 month and yearly delivery options that give you additional savings and mean that you never go without.
Click the button below to get 20% off at Georganics
UV Toothbrush Sanitiser
Philips UV Sanitiser Box & Charger
Studies show that a large percentage of toothbrushes have traces of poo on them. This occurs when you leave your toothbrush out and do not close the lid on your toilet when flushing. It is therefore a really great idea to store your toothbrush in a cupboard or best of all use a sanitiser box like this one from Philips.
UV light - A natural way to sanitiser your toothbrush is by using UV light. UV stops bacteria and other microbes from being able to reproduce.
Space for two heads - There are two spaces for cleaning your toothbrush heads, this makes it a great product for couples or families who share a Philips Sonicare toothbrush but have their own toothbrush heads.
Toothbrush head storage - Never have a poo covered toothbrush ever again. The UV sanitiser cycle last 10 minutes and then automatically switches itself off. You can leave your toothbrush head in the device until you are ready to use it again, keeping it protected.
Built in charger - Keep your electric toothbrush charged with the built in charger.
Click on the link below to view the Philips Sonicare UV Sanitiser and Charger
More Product Recommendations
Check out more of our favourite nutrition & lifestyle medicine product recommendations over at THP Recommends our product, service and practitioner directory.
Don't forget to check out our last blog post 'Natural Dental Hygiene Routine: Safe, Simple & Effective' to learn about my dental hygiene routine that I do each day and recommend as a Nutritionist.
To be able to run this service free of charge we rely on donations and the use of affiliated links. Affiliated links have been used for many of the products within this directory. There will be no additional charge or noticeable differences for you, by clicking on some of the links within this directory and making a purchase we may receive commission. All donations and commission goes towards the growth and development of our free services. Josie is a seed founder of Georganics and has a very small amount of money invested. Josie became a seed founder a year and a half after using their products and deciding she wanted to support their company. Please contact us for further information. Thank you for your support.
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