I started my toothsoap quest by making milk & honey. My research led me to believe that the combination of ingredients I used in my self-made recipe was the best for my mouth care. I just wish I’d started on this years earlier. But, as the saying goes, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to mass-produced modern toothpastes, please read on.

Why use it?

Our Mouth is a Microbiome

The flora of our mouth has approximately 700 species of bacteria, and its own microbiome, just like our gut. The harmful ones include Staphylococcus auresus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, E-coli and the cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans, which converts sugar and other carbohydrates into the acids which eat away at our teeth. New research shows that the environment of the gut and the mouth are closely related. According to Doctor Steven Lin, ‘The mouth is a part of your gut microbiome and home to your oral microbiome …  Oral health can have a direct impact on your gut health and vice versa.’

We all know that a healthy diet is best for us, including our dental care. Yet, brushing our teeth with regular toothpastes may destroy our mouth’s microbiome, ultimately leading to tooth decay. We need to look after our oral microbiome, and the saliva that supports it, since saliva naturally contains its own fluoride!  Furthermore, the enamel on our teeth can be eroded from toothpaste and toothbrush abrasiveness and incorrect brushing technique! We might think we are doing our teeth a favour by scrubbing them vigorously to clean them, only to find on our next trip to the dentist that we have done irreparable damage. 

What’s in it?

100% Tasmanian, 100% Natural Ingredients

Tasmanian Soap Farm milk & honey toothsoap is made from 100% Tasmanian, natural ingredients (with no abrasives, making it also ideal for denture cleaning):

virgin olive oil, grass fed beef tallow, goats’ milk, filtered rainwater, lye, hemp seed oil, poppy seed oil, non-GM canola oil, unsweetened full-cream dairy yoghurt, unrefined honey, unrefined beeswax, wild dandelion flowers, peppermint essential oil and dissolved sea salt. It also contains pure glycerine, self-made naturally from the chemistry of the ingredients during the soap creation process.

What are the ingredients’ oral health attributes?

Botanicals (plant-derived)

Natural oils:  The inclusion of olive oil, hemp seed oil, poppy seed oil  and canola seed oil can be likened to the ancient Ayurveda practice of oil pulling (swishing oil around in the mouth). This method is reported to ‘pull ’ harmful bacteria from the mouth. (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-benefits-of-oil-pulling, 2017) 

So, as well as being cleansing and moisturising, these oils have some great additional properties, including the ability to make the lather we expect from toothpaste.

Herbs: 

Dandelion has numerous health benefits and is one of the richest natural sources of inulin. This is a potent prebiotic✽. Laboratory research found that it stimulated the growth of fourteen different strains of bifidobacteria. Bifidobacteria are important components of the immune system that inhibit pathogenic bacteria, such as those in the mouth. (https://plantmedicines.org/dandelion-benefits-14-medical-conditions/2019)

✽ Prebiotics are non-living, nondigestible fibres that work as a fertilizer for probiotics. They have the potential to fight against tooth decay as they can favour the growth of lactic acid bacteria at the expense of the bacterial strains that cause caries. (https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Article/2010/08/11/Prebiotics-can-help-fight-tooth-decay-by-favouring-good-bacteria-over-bad)

Peppermint essential oil is known to have antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, and biofilm-inhibiting properties in the oral cavity. It can also inhibit periodontitis, gingivitis, and halitosis, or bad breath. (https://www.dentistryiq.com/dental-hygiene/patient-education/article/16366392/essential-oils-the-multiple-role-of-the-oils-in-dental-treatment, 2017)

Animal Products

Goats’ milk is full of capric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that has been shown to possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also, along with dairy yoghurt, contains calcium and phosphate, which can neutralize the acids in plaque that cause damage and decay. (https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health, 2019)

Beef tallow contains an abundance of naturally occurring fat soluble vitamins (A,D,K and E), Omega 3 fatty acids, and anti-inflammatory conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It is uniquely compatible with the biology of our cells and assists with cell membrane integrity. (https://mommypotamus.com/tallow-for-skin-care/2019). So, it’s great for the ‘skin’ surfaces inside our mouths as well as providing minerals for remineralisation.

Honey and beeswax have healing, disinfectant and anti-bacterial properties. The antioxidant power of honey is mainly attributed to its polyphenol content. Honey also has potential for treatment of periodontal disease, mouth ulcers, and other problems of oral health. (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223957207_Honey_and_a_Mixture_of_Honey_Beeswax_and_Olive_Oil-Propolis_Extract_in_Treatment_of_Chemotherapy-induced_Oral_Mucositis_A_Randomized)Controlled_Pilot_Study,2012)

Dairy yoghurt contains prebiotics which can also break up biofilm (the slime you may sometimes feel on your teeth). (https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a34515/probiotics, 2019)

Dairy yoghurt - lactose in milk is converted to lactic acid via live bacteria strains. These cultures can’t survive at temperatures over 55 degrees C (130 degrees F). Our soap isn’t made at such high temperatures. Therefore, the probiotics✽ remain suspended in the soap, until they are activated with water, and the heat of your mouth when you brush.

✽ Probiotics: The term 'probiotic' is a relatively new word meaning 'for life' . Probiotics are live bacteria strains that have been linked with various health benefits, including for the mouth. They lower the pH so that microorganisms cannot form dental plaque and calculus that cause oral inflammation. 

Goats’ milk -  contains more medium chain fatty acids (such as capric and caprylic) that help inhibit infections, as well as enhancing the immune system.

Minerals: Dairy yoghurt and goats’ milk - contain minerals like calcium, B-6, Vitamin A and D, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, niacin, copper and selenium. These may play a role in tooth remineralisation.

Glycerine - a natural by-product of the lye and oils soap chemistry, is water-soluble (it dissolves easily) and bacteriostatic (it prevents bacteria from reproducing). (https://biologicaldentalhealth.com/no-glycerin-isnt-a-problem-for-tooth-remineralization, 2018)

Salt - the inclusion of the salt helps to alkalize the mouth, which is great for balancing the pH of the mouth, and for the overall health of your oral microbiome. (https://www.drstevenlin.com/salt-good-for-you, 2018)

Water: Filtered rainwater, from our farm, is accredited by the Tasmanian Government’s Analytical Services, accredited by NATA (the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) as low in Total Dissolvable Solids (TDS): 68 mg/L with a pH of 7.4, plus naturally occurring minerals calcium and magnesium. 

 

While I personally follow a plant-based diet for what I eat, I’m not a vegan. Even though I love this product, it obviously isn’t plant-based. To cater for vegans, I needed to make another toothsoap -  that’s the topic of my next sharing.

GENERAL DISCLAIMER

The contents of this sharing are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment . . . Read More →