Have you ever looked at the ingredients in your toothpaste? I know that’s probably not at the top of your “to do” list, but if you have a minute, I suggest you take a look. If you are using a conventional toothpaste like Crest or Colgate, I think you might be shocked to see what the ingredients are. And don’t forget to check out that warning label. It probably goes something like this…..”if accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.” Seriously?? Maintaining a healthy mouth is so important, but that tube of Crest is likely doing more harm than good.
The health of your mouth has a huge impact on the rest of your body. You can actually tell a lot about what is happening in the body simply by looking at your teeth, gums and tongue. In fact, in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, the tongue is often used as a diagnostic tool to help determine what is going on in the body. And it’s usually pretty accurate!
Within our mouth we have what’s called the oral microbiome. You’ve probably heard the term microbiome with regards to your gut, but you may not be familiar with the oral microbiome. The oral microbiome is a diverse community of microbes and these microbes, which consist of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, form little “communities” in your mouth. This is what makes up your oral microbiome.
The oral microbiome houses trillions of bacteria and these bacteria metabolize our nutrients, make vitamins and help detoxify harmful substances. The balance of good and bad bacteria is important because it affects every organ in the body. We can help keep a good balance by eating alkaline foods which feed the good bacteria, reducing stress, and taking probiotics. Not unlike what we need to do for our gut microbiome.
Within our oral microbiome, we have what’s called a biofilm. When bacteria adhere to a moist surface like your teeth, it creates a sticky substance and that is a biofilm. We’ve all experienced this….it’s that lovely feeling you have in your mouth when you wake up in the morning! Plaque is the term that is commonly used to describe the biofilm. When plaque builds up and becomes hard, that is tartar and that’s what your dental hygienist scraps off when you go for your cleanings. Another lovely feeling!
If the microbiome in your mouth is balanced, plaque can help trap pathogens and prevent them from leading to disease. When our microbiome is unbalanced, plaque can provide a safe haven for pathogens to grow. Gingivitis or gum disease occurs when the plaque gets too thick and the anaerobic bacteria take over causing irritation in the gums. Recent research has made a connection between gum disease and many chronic illnesses. What starts as low grade inflammation in the mouth can progress to systemic long term inflammation which can ultimately lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and even osteoporosis.
You can see how important it is to maintain a healthy mouth which is why choosing the right toothpaste is equally important. The early approach to toothpaste was to use detergents which were abrasive and ultimately stripped away the bad and the good bacteria. Then, in the 1970’s, antimicrobials were added to toothpaste. Remember the catch phrase “kills germs on contact?” Yep, once again we were destroying the good bacteria. Not only were we destroying the microbiome, we were also brushing with toxic ingredients that are not suitable for consumption (hence the warning label!). Sodium flouride, sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, artificial dyes, propylene glycol (this is used in antifreeze)…..these are just a few of the ingredients found in conventional toothpaste. It’s no wonder chronic diseases are on the rise!
I have known about these toxins for quite some time and I switched over to a natural toothpaste years ago. But recently my whole world was turned upside down when I attended a lecture by Dr. Gerry Curatola, a biological dentist. He is the author of The Mouth-Body Connection and the creator of Revitin toothpaste. What I discovered was that even though natural toothpaste does not have the toxic chemicals found in commercial toothpaste, some of the ingredients like tea tree oil, peppermint and cinnamon can have an antimicrobial effect. In other words, even a natural toothpaste can disrupt the balance. Now what????
Let me introduce you to Revitin! This is a toxin free, detergent free and antibacterial free toothpaste. It is a blend of antioxidants, prebiotics, herbal extracts and minerals which include CoQ10, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamins D3 and K2, MSM, tangerine oil, lemon oil, cranberry seed extract, and quillaja extract. The ingredients in Revitin work to support the microbiome in your mouth instead of stripping away the good bacteria. And, it is so healthy you can actually eat this toothpaste and you will not have to call poison control! I like to think of it as a multivitamin for my mouth!
I have been using Revitin for a couple weeks now and I have noticed a difference especially in the morning. I just had my teeth cleaned last week so I am conducting a little experiment. I usually have some tartar build up when I go for my cleanings so I want to see if there is any improvement at my next cleaning in 3 months. I’ll keep you posted on that.
Revitin is not available in stores yet, but you can order it here. It’s not cheap, but I hope after reading this article you will agree that it will be money well spent. There are two biological dentists in Tucson that sell it in their office for $15/tube. Luckily, I was able to place an order when I attended the lecture. If you live in Tucson and want to test drive a tube of Revitin, let me know. I am stocked up but I am happy to sell a few tubes at my cost which is $7 per tube.
Your mouth is the gateway to your body……let’s give it some love 😬😬😬
Make it a great day!
