I don’t talk about it much on the blog, but I’m a bit of a self proclaimed “crunchy granola.” My friends often laugh at me when they discover some of my hippie tendencies. I eat a plant based diet and treat my body well on the inside, but what about the outside?
Get in my belllaayy!
I stopped using store bought deodorants about four years ago, & my shampoo goes back and forth between minimal ingredient products and baking soda/ACV (I need to find a good DIY shampoo!)
I don’t use lotions much, but if I do they are very basic, or I just use coconut oil. I also use coconut oil to remove the small amount of vegan friendly mascara that I wear, and my soap is usually locally sourced and made with natural oils. Excuse me while I go hug a tree.
Basically I try to minimize any added “junk” to my outside body. It makes me feel good, so I roll with it. To each their own right? That’s not to say if my only option for shampoo is a bottle of Suave and my hair looks like a busted grease ball I won’t use it, because I will.
I’m not that extreme.
This is straight magic.
One thing I struggled to get away from was mainstream toothpaste. As an avid coffee drinker, I had a hard time letting go of my fluoride filled Arm and Hammer toothpaste. I was convinced the baking soda in this toothpaste was the only way to achieve a bright white smile.
I bounced between Arm and Hammer and Xyli-White.
I like Xyli-White, but it never really blew me away.
I’m a big believer in essential oils, and I have a nice collection that ranges from lavender and lemon, to “peace and calming” and thieves.
I recently started using a toothpaste/mouthwash made with thieves oil. Thieves Oil is a blend of five essential oils that are documented to be highly anti-infectious, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic. To learn more about this amazing oil click here. Or click here. Do it.
I’ve never been a fan of alcohol based mouthwashes, which are 90% of the mouthwashes on the market. The alcohol actually dries your mouth out, and can cause WORSE breath than what you started with.
Sure, the alcohol can kill bacteria, but a dry mouth can breed it.
OK enough science, how about some photographic evidence? This stuff gets my teeth brighter, whiter, smoother, and cleaner than any other product I’ve used. I’m hooked and beyond obsessed.
Sorry, I had to.
For the record, this post is all me. No compensation or products were received in exchange for my thoughts, I just love it! I also LOVE the flavor. It’s very unique, and I find myself excited to swish this stuff!
Yay teeth! Some of you know once upon a time I was going to school for dental hygiene, so I’ve always had a bit of a thing for teeth. This feeds not only my passion for teeth, but also my passion for a natural lifestyle. I just can’t hang with a lot of the ADA approved shit.
I can continue to drink my beloved black crack AND have a bright white smile. Along with the oral care I have thieves hand soap, house cleaner, and straight up oil. The therapeutic and holistic properties of essential oils are fantastic, and they fuel my inner granola.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some tree bark to go chew on.
Q: What are your thoughts on holistic approaches to health care? I’m a hugeeee fan of holistic errythang.
Blissfulbritt 
45 thoughts on “Holistic Oral Care”
thefaithfulrunner
This is awesome. I’ve tried getting rid of toxins outside my body as well and make my own laundry soap. I also do oil pulling in the mornings with coconut oil. I’ve noticed a great difference with it and will have to try your suggestions too! Thanks for sharing this!
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Great suggestions, I we have to look up the toothpaste. We use nature’s gate or honest co right now, and it does the job but I’m not wowed. Your teeth are nice and white!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
As I’m getting older I’m starting to research more natural solutions to things…so I would say I’m far from hippie (you wear that crown quite nicely haha) but I’m open to all natural/holistic options. I’m dying to try things like acupuncture, “scraping”, and I really like oil pulling and using foods for things like face scrubs and stuff. So I’m putting my toes in the water on that one I guess. Thanks for the suggestions!
katalysthealth
Girl if being a hippie means I get to be as hot as you, then I’m all aboard that train! I don’t do holistic on any beauty products, simply because I’m so sensitive to different things, that once I find something that works I just stick with it no matter what!! The toothpaste thing I could probably switch up though 🙂 Deodorant though? That’s a major no go. This girl sweats like a beast…
Brittany
No joke, I was such a sweater that I had to get this stuff when I was like 14 to rub on topically to stop the sweat. When I started making my own deodorant it was the best I had ever used!! I was amazed. Now I’m REALLLLYY lazy and just take baking soda and dab it on to eat up that odor! Long story short I totally get what you mean about the sweat.
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Your teeth are perfect! That company should hire you as a spokesperson. 🙂 You know I love coconut oil. And I’m fascinated by essential oils. But other than that, I’m not too holistic with my oral care. I would definitely try the toothpaste and mouthwash though.
kathy@vodka and soda
i’m all about holistic health care and beauty products and i need to get on this ASAP. thanks for the reco.
Hannah
Ha! I knew that link was going to be you dancing with the hippies! I straight up just added that mouthwash to my Amazon wishlist. I drink a ton of coffee and my teeth are nowhere near as white as yours. And they should be. Chewing on bark hasn’t been working like I thought it would.
happyappalachy
I am also a bit of a teeth freak. I drink coffee and tea regularly and relied on the whitening toothpastes. But six months ago, I went to the dentist and my hygienist was concerned the insides of my jaws were really irritated and peeling. I had barely noticed. She told me to stop using the whitening toothpaste and get some Tom’s (or any kind of “hippie” toothpaste, she said). I went back last month and although I knew my jaws felt better, she said she couldn’t believe the difference in just a few months. The “detergent” in the whitening products is a big irritant for many people. She said she had stopped using regular shampoo for the same reason because it was drying out her scalp. Something to think about!
Brittany
This makes me SO happy, too many hygienists and dentists are brainwashed by the ADA! I love that yours offered more holistic approaches!
Shawna
you’re so cute and i love your dedication to your granola-girl tendencies! i’ll have to try this mouthwash for sure. and i also love the Dr. Bronner’s soap!
How to Philosophize with Cake
Now that is some fancy soap! Your teeth do look very bright too good to know there are SOME products out there that work 🙂
Lauren
I should do better with this. I don’t treat my outside body very nice – it’s all normal hair, body, and teeth products. Now I feel bad. I need a trip to Whole Foods to stock up on legit shit.
Boo! Good for you for being soooo clean inside and out!
Ashley
I’ve never heard of thieves oil- I want to look into that mouthwash! I recently started oil pulling and taking cod liver pills because I hear both can help give you strong teeth and fewer cavities! I have the WORST teeth ever- I swear I have a filling in every single tooth.
Amy
I love, love, LOVE how you stay 100% true to you, even if that’s not what mainstream society goes with. It takes a strong, self-confident woman to do that. You’re my role model!! 🙂
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I’ve been trying to make the switch over to using more natural beauty products, but it can be hard since a lot of them just aren’t as effective. Ugh. I tried the no shampoo movement for a couple of months, and it wasn’t long before I was running back. I love essential oils, though, and I’ve been oil pulling for a little over two months with some pretty awesome results.
kristen
my teeth are horrible, i wish they were as awesome as yours. maybe i should check this stuff out, though i doubt anything can fix them now.
PNWRunner
You are too cute!! Beautiful smile!
Matt @ Runner Savvy
All natural hygiene products for me! I love everything from dessert essence.
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
Why didn’t you share this sooner?! I need this now!!!! YIPPEE! HOpe it works for me. 😛
Britta
Oh girrlllll you and I are the same (we know this, I know)! My parents are absolutely obsessed with Dr. Bronner stuff. From shampoo, conditioner, soaps.. you name it, they have it!
I usually just use coconut oil for my lotion or a natural one that is made right here in Van! Ugh, it’s funny that you mention toothpaste because I just recently (legit last week) made the switch to a natural toothpaste. I have tried swapping before but this time around I am COMMITTED. Only thing is, its made from clay and essential oils (among other things) and I have the weirdest taste in my mouth lately.. ugh. Gross. I dunno how I feel about it…maybe I picked the wrong one. Either way, I need to find a good one!
Brittany
This is why I just adore you, we are two peas in a pod I tell ya! However your clay paste sounds a little scary haha.
Change of Pace
Your freckles are beyond cute!
And I love that you are such a crunchy granola- it suits you so well! What kind of deodorant do you use? I hate the ingredients in ‘regular’ deodorants but am definitely a sweater!
Brittany
For a while I was just making my own deodorant like this:
3 tblsp coconut oil
2 tblsp baking soda
2 tblsp corn starch
10-15 drops of essential oil (for scent and totally optional)
I just mixed the two dry ingredients together, melted the oil, poured the oil into the dry mix, stirred well, and added lemon or lavender scent. You can pour into an empty deodorant container, or just into a dish. The coconut oil will melt at around 70F so it needs to be kept in a cool place. I just used my fingers to rub a little bit on each time.
I know it seems minimal, but I assure you this worked wonders! THEN, I got real lazy/realized I didn’t even need all that and these days I just pat some baking soda on my pits to eat any odor. HA!
Davida @The Healthy Maven
to each his own I say! I’ve tried the natural route and my skin broke out and my hair was not sexy so it’s not my thing but if it works for you, more power to ya! As long as you don’t smell…
Brittany
I don’t smell, I promise. I DO shower. If I start breaking out (which thankfully doesn’t happen much, its usually caused by something I eat) I will definitely use different soaps esp. for my face to help. I’m not super strict! I’d say we are the perfect balance of opposite to be best friends though, I can braid flowers into your long lovely hair and you can make me treats with all of natures candy. YES!
An Unrefined Vegan
Those are some bright and shiny choppers, girl! I had to jump in here because I’m getting more and more crunchy every day. I also wash my hair with ACV or BS (hehe); I use that crazy “natural” deodorant; I use only witch hazel on my face; I now make my own house cleaners and laundry detergent – – AND – – my own toothpaste!!! Which I LOVE. The only negative note here is that I tried oil-pulling for a week. It made me want to vomit and it started to turn me of off coconut oil, which I cannot have happen.
Brittany
This makes me love you so much more. I have daydreams of running on your amazing property (or walking/scavenging for flowers) and then making epic vegan food while talking about hippie shit. It sounds so magical. I never had the desire to try the oil pulling for some reason, it sounds really weird to me. HA.
allieksmith
This is so cool! I’m going to check this stuff out right after I post this comment. I like that you use natural products and that you actually do your research. I think that’s so important instead of blindly accepting/buying products that claim to be good for you. Aaaaand your teeth look amazing!
P
Very cool review! I’ve stayed away from make-up because of the very reason that many of the ingredients are unregulated and have the potential to be carcinogenic. I plan to switch to more holistic products for my toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste) when I do move out for that very reason.
Side question: what do you think of Tom’s toothpaste and natural products?
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen
So do you just swish this stuff?? And your teeth get that bright? If so I’ll give it a try, I’m a coffee addict as well and worry about side effects of those White Strips! Your smile is amazing:) Beautiful Britt!!
Nicole @ FruitnFitness
Have you tried oil pulling? I really like the way it makes my mouth feel and it has brightened my teeth. I would like to use more natural and holistic products but it seems hard to try new ones since they can be pretty expensive to try products. I’ll have to try this mouthwash!
Ashley
I always want to be more eco-friendly with my beauty products but some things are just too expensive for me and my ridiculous grocery budget! I do stick with Tom’s toothpaste and deodorant though because I can get them at Target and they actually work well. Plus I really hated putting all kinds of chemicals in my mouth when I’d brush my teeth. It just didn’t make sense if I wasn’t willing to eat them!
apartmentwife
jon works for a dental company, so we’re a bit teeth obsessed over here too, and i’m feeling like i need to try this — but i usually feel that way about anything you endorse…so… nothing new there. can you get this at whole foods, or do you have to go more organic? we have a tao foods that has natural oils and whatnot. and when you figure out the hair solution, let me know – i’m sick of the shampoo!
Amalia
I love this post soooo much. I love that you are a little bit of a crunchy granola – it makes me happy! I think you should teach me how to make my own deodorant. I cannot wait to start eliminating toxins from the outside. I’m working on the inside right now (one step at a time right?)
jessielovestorun
I want want teeth like yours…. guess I need to become a hippie 🙂 haha. Great post. Always lovely to learn about new products & about you more
GiGi Eats Celebrities
I love how we are HARDCORE TWINS however, if you came to my apartment you would probably cringe because I’m definitely not an all-natural granola when it comes to shower/toothpaste/deodorant products, etc! LOL!!!! But whatever, that’s where we just compliment each other, DUHH!
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
Nice grillzzzz, girl :-)! I love the idea of holistic health care. There is only so much our diet can help with if we are feeding our body toxins from other products. I switched over to an all-natural deodorant last year and plan to do the same with other products I use daily…I am thinking toothpaste will be my next swap!
kadeecramer
Ugh finding better toothpaste/deodorant is something I’ve been really struggling with!! I’ve been using Tom’s but I’m not thrilled with it. I’m also not a fan of the prices of the other “natural” kinds I have found, and most of the recipes for them I find on Pinterest will have crazy ingredients that I have no clue where to get. Boo! Coconut oil though.. best thing I’ve ever started doing for my skin, makeup, hair, nails, food.. I go through it like water. It’s a little out of hand. ;p
Missy
You just scream “so fresh and so clean!”
You make me want to get more granola-y because you legit GLOW.
Melanie
I think it’s awesome you’re a “tree hugger!” I probably need to do more of that. You have a gorgeous smile and your teeth are perfect too! Lucky. 🙂
The Vegan 8
You have the most perfect teeth ever girl! I use Lavanila deoderant and it is AMAZING and vegan and awesome ingredients and it behaves like regular deoderant…not pasty or nasty. I also have been using toothpaste by Jason which is sooo much better than the old crest crap I used to use. I love the sound of that Thieves though!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
I love, love, love your freckles.
Your teeth are pretty dang white too. I’m convinced.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Your teeth are fabulous! Glad you have found a natural, healthy, holistic way to care for your body! 🙂
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