What's in your toothpaste?

Have you thought much about your toothpaste? Does it matter? Your mouth is one of the most absorbent parts of your body. That means everything that goes in it can get absorbed. There are some questionable ingredients that can be in a toothpaste. 
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) makes your toothpaste foamy so you think it scrubs better. Well it actually irritates your mucousal tissue in your mouth and contributes to canker sores. OUCH! Watch out for irritants like tri sodiumor tetra sodium phosphate, FD&C colors, DEA and fake flavors or sweeteners. Do you have sensitive teeth? Watch out for microbeads too. They are small enough to go thru most water treatment facility plants and out into the waters where our marine friends live. Don't hurt the dolphins! 
What is good? Xylitol, water, aloe, glycerin, calcium and oils. Stick with something natural for your family. This photo is really mine. These are all my toothpastes. I have a small hoarding problem with natural toothpastes. I LOVE to have clean and healthy teeth and gums. Same for my kiddos. It is super easy to get affordable and readily available non toxic toothpaste choices. 
You can even make your own if you want! Baking soda works awesome. Just add water to about 1 teaspoon and mix into a paste. Add essential oil to kick it up a notch. Peppermint, orange or lemon are all lovely for teeth. You can also add coconut oil and make more of a paste. Yes, the texture will be gritty unlike your smooth toothpaste you currently use. If you need it sweeter, add xylitol.
Natural whitening options? Both orange and lemon essential oil are amazing! Add one drop to your toothpaste every time you brush! It also elevates your toothpaste flavor to YUM! I personally open one tab of activated charcoal and pop that on my brush every few weeks to really scrub and whiten my teeth.