I’ve been concerned about the risks vs benefits of fluoride for a very long time. Today, I am finally going to do something about it. Follow along with my eggshell toothpaste story:

We all know small children cannot use fluoride toothpaste because of the risk of toxic exposure. I learned about both the risks and the benefits of fluoride when I was a teenager working for a dentist who was interested in treating periodontal disease without antibiotics and other alternative ways of providing dental care. The dilemma is that we need strong teeth but we don’t want toxic fluoride exposure.

I’ve had an eye on this topic for about 30 years!

There is so much conflicting information out there, even among the experts. I want strong, not-sensitive teeth. I also don’t want toxic halide fluoride exposure. How about you?

Did you know: Flouride molecules compete with iodine molecules which is no good for our thyroid, or any other of our cells for that matter.

Baking soda will clean your teeth, and might help fight bacteria, but can damage your tooth enamel. It doesn’t remineralize teeth. Personally, I dislike the taste of toothpaste and the tooth polish they use at the dentist. I’d rather put up with the gritty weirdness of baking soda, BUT I really want my tooth enamel intact. What to do?

30 years later, the internet bloomed into beautiful thing! I jumped down the fluoride alternative rabbit hole and found an interesting study that compares eggshell paste, flaxseed paste and fluoride toothpaste. They all remineralized the teeth!

• Comparative Evaluation of the Demineralizing Potential of Flaxseed Paste, Chicken Eggshell Paste and Flouride Toothpaste on the Enamel of Primary Teeth Using Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis: An In-Vitro Study. May 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38854283

This weekend, I’m experimenting with making my own toothpaste from crushed eggshells. I have a fantastic supply of these since my entire diet currently consists of various types of meats, fish, eggs, salt, and water. No plants.

You read that right.

I don’t eat plants.

There. I said it. For all the world to see.

No plants anymore, that is. I used to be a near-vegetarian and ate the “perfect” Mediterranean diet.

But, it almost killed me.

Is it a restrictive and non-sustainable diet?

NO! It is liberating!! It is medical FREEDOM!

No more joint and muscle pain. No more rashes. I’m off all the horrible Rx drugs for severe auto-immune disease, and getting stronger every day. I’m in better shape now than I was 5 years ago! Most of my symptoms are now controlled and some have been eliminated with DIET ALONE. (No, I don’t think everyone has to or should be as extreme as I). But this is a topic for a different blog post.

Today. I start experimenting with my eggshell toothpaste recipe.

Here’s my first attempt:

Mix together:

2 Tablespoons powdered, oven-dried and sterilized, organic farm-raised eggshells. I have green, blue, brown, and white eggshells, which I crushed to a powder in a Vitamix blender. (I might sift it or grind it finer next time.)

1 Tablespoon beef tallow, melted

1 Tablespoon coconut oil, melted

A few drops of peppermint extract

Spoon some onto a toothbrush. Brush teeth.

Rinse. (Because it’s gritty, not because of toxic fluoride. Eggshells are 94-97% calcium carbonate)

My review: Gritty! Tastes better than baking soda. Minty. The teeth feel quite polished! For now, I feel the zero-fluoride tooth-strengthening peace of mind is worth the grit.

Will it improve my sensitive teeth? I don’t know. Experiment in progress. Stay tuned…

Zero-fluoride tooth-strengthening peace of mind is worth the grit.