Imagine brushing your teeth without exposing yourself to hormone disruptors, pesticides, and hidden sugars. That's the revolutionary approach Karen Tan brings to oral care with her tooth powder company OhGiGi.
Karen's journey began through personal necessity when multiple chemical sensitivities and fibromyalgia forced her to examine everything in her environment—including her toothpaste. What she discovered was shocking: even "healthy" toothpaste brands contained ingredients that were potentially compromising her wellbeing. This revelation, coupled with learning about the critical importance of oral microbiome health, led her to create a simpler, cleaner alternative.
We dive deep into the concerning ingredients lurking in conventional toothpaste, from sodium lauryl sulfate to triclosan and fluoride, exploring their potential impacts on hormonal balance, brain function, and overall health. Karen explains how these chemicals accumulate in our bodies over time, potentially contributing to chronic health issues that many people never connect to their daily oral care routine. Most fascinating is her discussion of how the sweeteners in toothpaste might be triggering dopamine responses and affecting everything from focus to sleep quality.
The environmental impact of oral care products also takes centre stage as Karen shares her audacious goal of preventing one million toothpaste tubes from entering landfill. With each jar of OhGiGi tooth powder replacing approximately 2.5 tubes of conventional toothpaste, she's already saved over 50,000 plastic tubes from waste streams—making customers active participants in this sustainability mission.
Whether you're concerned about chemical exposures, interested in optimising your oral and gut microbiome, or simply looking to reduce your environmental footprint, this conversation will forever change how you think about that twice-daily ritual of brushing your teeth. Subscribe now to stay updated on our upcoming episodes exploring holistic approaches to health and wellbeing.
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