Over the years I've tried to lessen my ecological footprint in any way that I can. I'm constantly thinking about what items I can rid from my life completely, make myself using natural ingredients or replace said items with more sustainable/eco-friendly options. TOOTHBRUSH
I don't normally like to endorse products because they have been processed and manufactured and are still well a product at the end of the day but when something I consider to be a daily necessity is replaced with a lesser evil I just have to share.
Brush Naked toothbrushes are 100% biodegradable bamboo brushes. Even the bristles are made of wood fibres too vs. the traditional nylon bristles which need to be plucked before disposal. The brushes work really well and when it is time to throw them away it's such a piece of mind to know that you are disposing of one less piece of non-recyclable plastic back into the environment. Every little bit counts right.
TOOTHPASTE
I set out to make my own toothpaste shortly after moving to Nicaragua after realizing there were no natural options available in the country. I came to the decision that I no longer wanted to be dependent on any product. I wanted to be able to find all of the ingredients I needed for my daily routine no matter where I was in the world and of course they all needed to be natural.
I've been using a simple mix of local coconut oil and baking soda for the past four years and my teeth have never felt better or looked whiter (keep in mind I also follow a plant based diet that excludes all refined sugars).
Why these two ingredients?
Coconut oil is natural. It contains no harmful chemicals or unnecessary foaming agents. It’s inexpensive and very easy to make. It also contains anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
Baking soda acts to brighten and whiten the teeth naturally.
RECIPE
There is no real recipe. Just mix equal parts coconut oil (cold pressed is always best) with baking soda until the consistency of toothpaste is reached. I do this in my kitchen often and it takes about 2 minutes to whip up. If the flavor is too much to get used to, adding one or two drops of liquid stevia or mint extract (or any other extract of choice) is always a nice option too.