The Oil in Your Toothpaste

The Oil in Your Toothpaste

Many of the most popular toothpastes available today are made with sodium lauryl sulfate, a product commonly made from petroleum. Sodium saccharin is another ingredient often found in toothpaste; it is a sweetener made from petroleum. As an environmentally-conscious consumer, you need to know alternative options. Growing up, my family used Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. They source their SLS from coconut oil instead of petroleum and do not use any other petroleum-based products in their toothpaste. You can find a full list of their toothpastes here: http://www.tomsofmaine.com/oral-care/toothpaste

Another way to avoid petroleum in your toothpaste is to make your own. There are several different ways to do this, but here is one very easy method.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of coconut oil

2 tablespoons of baking soda

2 packets of stevia powder

15 drops of peppermint oil

Instructions:

Melt the coconut oil and stir in the other ingredients. Pour into whatever container you would like to hold your toothpaste ( small mason jars work well). Place it on its side or at an angle and let it cool. When you are ready to brush, reach the toothbrush in and scrape some onto your brush. Congratulations! You have taken another step in replacing petroleum in your daily life.