Oral hygiene and the types of toothpaste that are ‘fasting safe’ are a hurdle many intermittent fasters come across early on into their new diet plan. The Keto and Atkins diets are infamous for causing bad breath but as both diets do not involving fasting, breath aids such as chewing gum and breath mints are permitted to digest while following these dietary plans.
During the fasting window it is important to keep blood sugar levels down, but a common mistake made by newbies to intermittent fasting is believing food and drink advertised as zero calories is safe to devour, including sugar free gum (more on this later). Well this is WRONG! In fact, anything that causes a sensation to your taste buds, other than black coffee, tea leaves or water, will trigger an insulin reaction therefore provoking a hormone balance, thus breaking your fast.
So, how do you keep a clean fast without compromising basic breath etiquette? With so many products on the market with an ingredients list as long as your arm and including artificial flavours, sweeteners or a highly potent menthol flavour strong enough to knock your socks off it can be tiresome finding a suitable bad breathe killer.
Here are some kind to teeth products with low taste but high impact to keep your breath tasting fresh throughout the day.
Aloe Vera Toothpaste
In a similar way to mints and mint tea (check The Tea Time Edit for lists of fast friendly teas) peppermint and spearmint flavours in toothpastes could compromise a clean fast.
Aloe Dent is free from harsh chemicals and while there may be similar toothpastes on the market advertised as ‘natural’, Aloe Vera appears to be one of few first rate toothpastes, as it has only a handful of ingredients listed. I personally use this toothpaste morning and night and can’t recommend it highly enough. I usually pick mine up from a Holland & Barrett store or online Here
Fluoride Free
Suitable for vegans
Ecodenta Extra Black Whiting Toothpaste with Black Charcoal & Teavigo
Author of ‘What When Wine’ and co presenter of The Intermittent Fasting Podcast, Melanie Avalon, is a dedicated intermittent faster and what she doesn’t know about IF isn’t worth knowing. Melanie has talked about the using toothpaste during a fast window and has revolved she uses a charcoal toothpaste. Charcoal toothpastes are known for their natural whitening effects and is one of the few toothpastes that doesn’t have a minty fresh tang to the tastebuds. Ecodenta Extra Black Whiting Toothpaste with Black Charcoal & Teavigo promotes cleanliness, a fresh breath and made from 96% from natural ingredient
Free from SLS, paragonsMicro beads and fluoride
Suitable for vegans
Bicarbonate Soda
Bicarbonate soda is a favourite of mine for taste and the natural whiting effects. Although it is not suitable to use solely as an everyday cleaning agent due the abrasiveness of the product, I see no problem with sprinkling a light layer onto a drugstore toothpaste to counteract the minty or sweet taste. Although, if keeping bicarbonate soda, toothpaste AND a toothbrush on standby is you too much to think about try just swishing bicarbonate soda with warm water around your mouth for a few seconds.
Suitable for vegans
Not recommended for anyone with dental fixtures as the abrasive products can weaken glue
DIY Mouthwash
A safe and simple solution is a often a quick swish and spit of warm water and salt. Salt water, aka saline solution has been used as a home remedy to prevent the build up of bad bacteria since day dot and as long as it’s not swallowed it’s a friend to your fasting period.
Happy Gargling
Now, let’s talk about bad breathe baby, let’s talk about chew and mint.
Chewing gum (including sugar free) and mints including tic tacs, mentho and polos
Gum and mints are a big NO NO for me whilst fasting for two reasons. The first is because the actual chewing motion of gum triggers hunger pangs and leads to an unbearable acidic feeling in the stomach. The second is because gum and mints contain sugar and increases blood sugar levels. It’s basically like scoffing down a packet of starburst. So this being said, some may argue sugar free gum and mints are acceptable. Wrong again, unfortunately the same rule applies as the fizzy pop drinks which are 0 calories but advertised as diet! So to put it frankly, anything which tastes sweet and makes you doubt if you are fasting clean is probably triggering a blood sugar spike and raising your insulin.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient dental hygiene regime that involves swishing a table spoon of oil around your mouth for 10 – 20 minutes. Coconut oil has become a popular choice to pull with because of it’s an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant qualities. Oil pulling has been said to draw out impurity’s from the gums, reduce plaque buildup, help to prevent tooth decay and a natural whitener. And while this technique of dental care is 100% natural, it’s undeniably difficult not to swallow as the oil mixes with saliva and turns into a much thinner consistency. I recommended saving this one for a feeding period.
Suitable for vegans
Top Tip – Remember that the bad breathe stage of a diet os usually short lived, yet the duration of health benefits live on for a very long time.
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