Don’t look for actress Julia Roberts to be pitching toothpaste on TV anytime soon.
In a surprising tidbit of information about her personal care routine, the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she does not use toothpaste to maintain the beautiful smile that made her famous.
What’s more, she doesn’t use any of the natural brands of toothpaste that many consumers are switching to as they discover the many dangerous chemicals and other additives contained in conventional toothpaste.
In an interview with InStyle magazine, Ms. Roberts shocked the house by revealing that she uses a humble dollop of baking soda to brush her teeth.
Her reasons?
I brush [my teeth] with baking soda. [My grandfather] would put a big heaping mound of it on his toothbrush. He had only one cavity in his entire life.
What Ms. Roberts may not realize is that her grandfather was onto something. Many top holistic dentists recommend baking soda mixed with a bit of sea salt as the best way to keep those pearly whites as well as the gums happy and healthy for life.
My own family uses a baking soda, sea salt, hydrogen peroxide mixture, called “The Secret” recommended by a well known holistic dentist who discussed it at a seminar on nontoxic dentistry that I attended some years ago. We’ve used it for years with wonderful results!
Natural toothpaste, while nontoxic, frequently contain glycerin which sticks to teeth and inhibits remineralization and therefore actually contributes to cavity formation!
Another option for those who don’t tolerate baking soda and want to avoid toothpaste is a no glycerin, no fluoride tooth gel complete with teeth and gum strengthening herbs. This type of gel (find it here) is also safe for those with mercury-based amalgam fillings.
Source
(1) How Baking Soda Fits into Julia Roberts Beauty Routine
Sarah I have another question. What would your recommendation be for cleaning the baby teeth of my baby (when her teeth do erupt)? Even with this recipe I am a bit uneasy and worried that she might swallow a bit…
By the way!, I started feeling pain in one of my upper teeth and tried what you recommeded in your posts (plus Ramiel Nagel’s book). I went off grains + had more egg yolks + raw avocado + raw garlic + unrefined coconut oil + raw liver (it’s a bit hard but I don’t want to loose my teeth) + FCLO (2 TB/day) + BO and butter… at night I brush my teeth with Welleda toothpaste (I’ll do this recipe!) and do some oil pulling afterwards (a bit of olive oil + 2 drops of clove essential oil). The pain is *almost* gone (and I write almost because I stopped eating raw liver for 2 days or so but will start again). Two days after I did this and the pain was gone, yes!
So, thank you for your insights on this! Sure they helped me and my husband too!
Most gum disease, gingivitus etc starts from within the body. It is not a topical dynamic. A cavaity can be a topical issue but most times dental matters are due to malnutrition. You are spot on to now include in your diet the raw elements you mentioned – some may find the liver thing questionable, but it is how the other species eats their liver as well.
The raw nutrients will help to provide the body with the real ammo you need. Also you should use the softesrt old brush you can find, so as not to aggravate the wound so to speak. Then just maintain a steady easy cleansing as you do.
Maria,
Not sure what Sarah will recommend, but I just used water for the first 2 years of brushing my daughter’s teeth because I didn’t know what else to do – then started using Earthpaste for myself and realized since it could be swallowed, it would be perfect to use for her teeth!
I love the Earthpaste, but have made my own since we don’t go to Utah anymore.
Just use water and a washcloth or toothbrush… that’s what the conventional wisdom says even. Toothpaste is not recommended until 2 or 3 when they can keep themselves from swallowing it. A touch of coconut oil would probably not hurt too… coconut oil contains antibacterial agents in it which are good for oral health! Makes a great diaper rash cream too…
Thank you CP. I only use coconut oil as a diaper rash cream or simply to moisturize her skin. Works wonderfully well. I think that coconut oil is one of Nature’s best inventions!, works for nearly everything.
I will try that on her baby teeth when they erupt 🙂
Right on about not using commercial toothpastes. I use coconut soap.
i use one part baking soda and 2 parts tumeric with a coconut oil swish to follow. done with tampons,deoderant and now toothpaste.
That horseface eats raw oats right out of the feedbag and neighbor children stop by and hand feed her carrots and apples thru the fence.
Just like people who go on pinterest and say to use baking soda mixed with say a lemon – acidic & abrasive = can erode your teeth, not something to use daily.
I have to wonder how people can brush with this stuff?! I was concerned about using toothpaste on my baby (before all this toothpaste and glycerin talk was going on and wanted to avoid the fluoride, sls, etc. So, I tried baking soda and within 6 mos. of this he had patches on his 2 front teeth that looked like the enamel was wearing off…I quit the baking soda. He is now 5 and we use bentonite toothpaste and his teeth look so much better 🙂
That is awesome to hear! I use that too ….rinse with Peppemint oil and water…. Maybe more will listen up as stars reveal what they do …..don’t like that she endorses soy though 🙁
Soy should be completely taken off of anyones food group list. They have to steam heat the soy beans to do away with the toxic elements, but this does away with the good elements, and still renders toxic trace remnants. Most people think soy milk is some pure, raw liquid with all manner of nutrients – this just isn’t so.
Sorry if I have abandoned the thread again 🙁 😀
i’m going to suggest that her diet has changed over the years as her acting abilities and her comfort in the public eye. it would be lovely if you could pull back the opinionator from time to time. we need to applaud one another a little more often. especially woman to woman.
I’m sorry but, regular toothpaste does not contribute to cavities. (My father in law is a dentist). You have acids and base and baking soda is a base. It still can erode tooth enamel. I’m sure it’s not as bad for your teeth as say something acidic like soda but, it can still be a negative thing on your teeth, think about it, it’s very abrasive. One reason they clean things like kitchen / bathroom sinks with it.
We’ve been making our own toothpaste lately with Baking Soda, Real Salt, Coconut Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil (going to try some additional EO’s next time). I also found a recipe that adds in Calcium Carbonate that is supposed to help remineralize the teeth too.
Here is an article that lists the abrasiveness of common toothpastes. You’ll notice that Baking Soda is very low on the list:
Thanks Sarah!
I enjoyed the article up until the point Julie was slammed for her diet preferences. And while diet can play a role in fertility, it is not the only key factor.
It is not up to anyone to pass judgement upon others~ are there not enough issues in the world? (Considering the recent up-rise in mass shootings lately (Another big one today in New York), I think some focus on acceptance is overdue instead of putting them down for what you don’t agree with.)
I use tooth soap (without glycerin) and am very happy with it. Baking soda can be hard on the dental enamel.