Could this misunderstood ‘seed trick’ TUNE UP your oral health?
You might have celebrated enough birthdays by now to remember brushing your teeth with just plain ol’ baking soda and water.
Heck, some might say it’s STILL the best way to maintain your winning smile.
But have you noticed how your toothpaste choices have gotten a lot more complicated lately?
If they’re not CRAMMING harmful detergents and chemicals into those pastes, gels, and mouthwashes, too…
They’re peddling some new gimmick without giving you the skinny on what it’ll actually DO to your mouth!
The latest fad taps into one of the most talked-about ingredients to emerge in personal care products in a long time.
Makers who’ve included it in oral care products say it could help you FRESHEN… PURIFY… and even HYDRATE your mouth.
Are you about to be SWINDLED? I’ve got the scoop on this trendy ingredient.
Setting the story straight
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is one of the earliest plants to be cultivated by humans… dating back to Asia more than 10,000 years ago.
Hindu scripture refers to hemp as “sacred grass.”
Chinese emperors began to use it as medicine over 3,000 years ago, as mentioned in ancient manuscripts. Millennia later, the most famous Arab and Greek physicians followed suit.
But for the last century, “hemp” and “marijuana” have been used interchangeably to refer to the Cannabis plant.
The truth is, they’re NOT the same…
There are NO psychoactive effects of hemp, because it’s NOT a narcotic! It’s a safe and medicinal herb.
While there may be teeny-tiny amounts of THC (the psychoactive chemical in “pot”) found in hemp leaves, it’s the benefits of hemp seeds I want to share with you today.
And scientists have FAILED at detecting any significant amount of THC in hemp seed kernels (the soft part inside the crunchy shell).
Cold pressing hemp seeds produces an oil that’s safe… drug-free… and GOOD FOR YOU!
As I’ve shared with you before right here in eAlert, hemp carries anti-inflammatory and painkilling benefits.
But what else is there?
You see, hemp seed oil has started showing up on the shelves of the toothpaste aisle. Some oral care companies have begun including this healthy oil in their products, and not just toothpastes – but mouthwashes and even floss!
Even the fat cats at Colgate-Palmolive have gotten into the game.
So, what’s the story here? Are companies just jumping on the bandwagon to sell you more STUFF?
What’s behind the hemp hype?
The companies SAY they include hemp seed oil for its moisturizing power. But does it do anything more than actually keep the toothpaste itself from drying out?
I did some digging for more information. And I was encouraged by what I found.
Turns out, hemp seed oil does have the unique ability to noticeably LOCK IN moisture… in your mouth!
Hemp seed oil is PACKED with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) – which, according to research, can relieve dry mouth
And that means if your mouth is drier than you’d like it to be, hemp seed oil could relieve some discomfort.
The hydrating quality of this healthy oil can also soothe your gums…
And if your gumline is irritated for any reason, the anti-inflammatory properties of hemp seed oil can cool things off.
Hemp seed oil is also an ideal candidate for the ancient practice of “oil pulling.”
Basically, you swish an oil… like hemp seed or coconut oil… around your mouth and between your teeth to purify your oral cavity of food particles and plaque-forming bacteria.
Hemp seed oil in particular doesn’t just SWEEP bacteria away when you spit it out – but also other microbes, like fungi!
And that could help support healthy breath… and help keep your mouth tasting fresh.
In the end, there’s no harm in trying hemp seed oil-based oral products – but they might be a little pricier than you’re used to paying.
Choose a version that’s ideally fluoride-free.
To exposing the science behind the sales push,
Melissa Young
