Hi Bryanna, PITA, that's for sure!

Well, now that I know that about the mouthwash, I will stick only to the brushing, flossing and warm water salt rinses. I guess I should look for a fluoride free toothpaste as well?

Thanks again for all your help! GMarie

GMarie,

Most people are taught that we need to use chemically derived toothpaste to wash our teeth and "freshen" our breath. The actual removal of food debris and fresh breath comes from the mechanical act of brushing, flossing and tongue scraping. Most toothpastes contain harsh chemicals that kill both good and bad bacteria, tooth abrasives that wear down the enamel, fluoride that has no honest value in the prevention of tooth decay and strong whitening agents that also wear down the enamel. All of which are actually harmful if swallowed.... read the label. Irrelevant of whether it is intentionally swallowed or not, our oral and gum tissue absorbs these ingredients on a daily basis at least once or twice a day. So if the intention is to clean our teeth and mouth to keep everything healthy, then it makes sense to avoid those things and either use nothing on the toothbrush or use something that is harmless but therapeutic.

I make my own toothpaste from coconut oil, baking soda and essential oils.
I vary the oils depending on what I have on hand.

My current recipe is:

6 TBS of coconut oil (unrefined and organic)
3+ TBS of baking soda (non aluminum)
20 drops of essential oil (peppermint or grapefruit or myrrh... I buy online from Mountain Rose Herbs)

Mix all together in a bowl. The more you mix it the creamier it becomes.
I put mine in a small mason jar and keep the lid on it. I use a disposable tongue depressor to remove some from the jar and place it on my electric toothbrush to avoid contaminating the mixture. **You can also use a Smart Stick hand blender to mix it.

Those ingredients are non toxic, gently and naturally abrasive, and therapeutic to the oral tissue. Grape seed Oil and Myrrh are excellent for gum health.

Hope you find this information helpful!
BTW.... how is the lump today?

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna, After reading your initial post about fluoride being so bad, I looked up ones without fluoride and ordered one. It's called Natural Dentist Fluoride Free Peppermint Sage. It sounds pretty good and got all good comments about the taste, consistency and natural ingredients. So, if I'm not satisfied with it, I may try making my own, similar to yours.

Is it okay for children and teenagers to also use the fluoride free toothpaste? I guess I'm still in the mind frame that it's a necessary ingredient at least for the young.

I have recently read that fluoride was not good for your thyroid and I do have hypothyroidism. I drink bottled spring water....Deer Park, which I don't think has fluoride, but I should check into that more thoroughly.

The lump is still pretty much the same. It has gone down somewhat from the size it was initially when the tooth was first extracted. It is painless and really looks to be raised gum tissue, if that makes any sense.

Thanks for this interesting and valuable discussion!
GMarie

Hi GMarie,

Just to give you an example of what's really in toothpaste, even the so called "natural" ones. Here is a list of the ingredients in the ND toothpaste that you bought.

Ingredients: Active Ingredients: Peppermint oil (0.10%), Salvia officinalis (sage) oil (0.2%).

<<Inactive Ingredients>>: Vegetable glycerin, hydrated silica, water, sorbitol, xylitol, cocamidopropyl betaine, aloe bardabensis leaf juice, cellulose gum, calendula officinalis extract, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, echinacea angustifolia extract, hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal) extract, titanium dioxide, xanthan gum, flavor, citric acid,.

This product also comes with a much heeded warning...
If more than used for brushing is swallowed, get medical help or contact a poison control center right away.

It is best to use nothing or something with only ingredients that you can pronounce and know to be non toxic. That is why I make my own.

Regarding toothpaste and babies, toddlers, children.... it is best that they avoid all means of fluoride and other chemically laden products. Any toxic substance that is used or ingested over a period of time is going to weaken the areas that it comes in contact with and burden the immune system.

Fluoride has a major negative affect on our thyroid gland. Again it is the cumulative affect (repeated exposure or usage) that causes us the most damage.

Regarding bottled water... there are many issues with water that comes in a plastic bottle. But speaking of fluoride... here is a list of some of the ones that are known to contain it..
http://www.realfarmacy.com/printable...ning-fluoride/

If you can.... and you are comfortable .... attach a photo of the lump on your gum. Just photograph that area and nothing else.

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna, I read a list that had Deer Park spring water as not containing fluoride, so you don't know what to believe anymore! Same with the so called "natural toothpastes". Thanks for bringing that to my attention! At least it won't have fluoride in it.

I tried to attach a copy of the picture I took of the "lump", but it was not working on my end. I will try taking another photo and sending it. If I can't get it to work again: the raised gum makes like a pocket at the end of the gum socket. The OS said it would eventually fill in. I hope he's right!

Thanks for all the information you provided!!