Health Starts from the Mouth

And bad health too!

Before we begin, we'd like to share a little story from our founder.

Since we became the sole distributor of Jack N' Jill in Indonesia since 2016 (Time really flies, huh?), there is one question we receive most often:
"Why don't you sell other imported products, Ci?"

Not to brag, but in the past few years, many brands from Australia, Europe, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, and even Russia have contacted us to be their representatives in Indonesia. The products offered range from vitamins and breast milk supplements, mosquito repellent, lice medicine, pawpaw ointment, baby feeding equipment, eco-nappies, sun-tan products (because they want to enter the expat market in Bali and Eastern Indonesia), to healthy snacks. Those are just a few that we can remember!

Why We Say No?
The main reason is simple:
We won't sell products we wouldn't use on our own children (including our fur-kids!).

But actually, there is a second reason: many brands eventually back out because they do not want to face licensing in Indonesia, such as BPOM or medical devices, which are very different from trade regulations in their home countries.

Some Case Examples That Make Us Say “No”:

1. Natural Anti-Mosquito Products

   • In Australia it is effective, but when brought to Indonesia? No effect. Conclusion: Indonesian mosquitoes are much more "mutated" or "evolved"? Ask a biologist.

2. Head Lice Medicine

   • The brand withdrew because it did not want to "spill the tea" regarding trade secrets to BPOM.

3. Vitamins and Breast Milk Supplements

   • This product is super natural and very effective. However, the brand requires us to bring 90% of all its products to Indonesia, and the BPOM fee for each SKU is very expensive. What a shame.

4. Eco Nappies

   • After calculating, the price is too expensive for Indonesian consumers, and it turns out, this is a UAE product made in China. So, after being imported and distributed, the eco is no longer felt (imagine, shipping sea freight and local delivery using Gosend—the carbon footprint is huge!).

5. Baby Feeding Equipment

   • This is the most frequently offered, usually directly from the factory in China. But after further investigation, many only claim BPA-Free or EN-Tested without proof. There are some factories that are open with their certification, but most are not. If we are not sure about the validity of the evidence and certification, we do not want to take risks that endanger the future of the baby.

6. Oral Care and Skin Care Products

   • There are even local factories that offer to make Indonesian dupes of Jack N' Jill for the export market. However, many are just "label-stamping" without any real proof of organic ingredients. For example, they claim their toothpaste is organic because 65% of the ingredients are water—since when did water become organic?

7. Snacks and Ready Meals

   • We immediately said "no" because ultra-processed food is the enemy of health. Although the return on investment is tempting, we still believe: evil is evil.

This is why we are very selective. In principle, we only want to sell products that we truly believe are safe and of high quality for Indonesian children and families. Because in the end, consumer trust is far more valuable than just money! 😊

So why is it that most of the hero products in the Mummasphere are toothpastes?

Okay, here’s why. We often focus on exercising, eating healthy, managing stress, and monitoring our sleep, but we sometimes forget that small habits also play a big role in our health . One of those habits is maintaining oral health, especially choosing the right toothpaste . Oral health and body health are interconnected, and the toothpaste we use can have a big impact.

Why is Toothpaste Important?

You may think it doesn't matter if toothpaste contains harmful ingredients because of 3 wrong perceptions:

1. After all, toothpaste will be spat out when rinsing. But the reality is not like that. Our mouths are one of the most absorbent parts of the body , so even though toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed, the chemicals in it can still be absorbed into the body.
2. The chemicals contained in the toothpaste will not affect the microbiome in the large intestine because it is not swallowed. This is a big mistake! Many artificial chemicals have been found to kill the good microbiome in our mouths. This can be dangerous for oral health and the body as a whole.
3. Most toddlers still cannot dissolve toothpaste completely. The 2 reasons are the development of different oral motor movements in the growth and development of each child, and the sweet taste of children's toothpaste so that children like it.

Dangerous Ingredients in Conventional Toothpaste

Have you ever heard of the term Dirty Dozens ? First published by the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org), there are 12 ingredients that are said to be endocrine disruptors. 7 of these ingredients are among the ingredients commonly found in conventional toothpaste.

1. Triclosan
   Triclosan is a bio-persistent pesticide found in fish, breast milk, and wastewater. It is an endocrine disruptor and can cause thyroid problems, cancer, antibiotic resistance, and heart dysfunction.

2. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
   SLS is a foaming agent that can irritate the skin, eyes, and cause hormonal imbalances . In addition, SLS can damage the function of the tongue by breaking down phospholipids on the surface of the tongue.

3. Paraben
   Parabens are used as preservatives, but can disrupt hormones and increase the risk of cancer .

4. Fluoride
   Fluoride or non-fluoride toothpaste is currently in the spotlight among dental influencers in Indonesia who must comply with the Indonesian Dental Association's code of ethics in accepting endorsements from toothpaste brands: it must contain fluoride. In European countries, America, Australia and China, fluoride toothpaste is not recommended for anyone to swallow, let alone toddlers. Even in the new Trump administration in 2025, Senator Robert F Kennedy, the Health & Human Services Secretary-elect, promised to issue new regulations to remove fluoride from drinking water sources in America. The reason? Although often debated, fluoride is a neurotoxin that can damage the nervous system, thyroid, and digestive tract , and is associated with various types of cancer and inflammation.
   
   "If patients have a clear risk of developing cavities, fluoride is a valuable option, but it should not be swallowed. I also recognize that fluoride-free options to fortify teeth are available now," advises Dr. Jessica Lenderhausen, MPH author of Oral.

5. Diethanolamine (DEA)
   DEA is used to adjust pH and produce foam, but it is banned in the European Union because it is carcinogenic and disrupts the hormone system.

6. Artificial Colors and Flavors
   Artificial colors and flavors come from toxic coal tar and have been linked to health problems like allergies, ADHD, and cancer .

7. Artificial sweeteners
   Many toothpastes contain sweeteners such as Sorbitol or Saccharin, or even both, which are 300 times sweeter than sugar and can cause health problems such as headaches, memory problems, and sweet tooth addiction. Check out these tips to identify toothpaste brands that contain artificial sweeteners .

What are the alternatives?

You still need to brush your teeth twice a day and floss, but you don't have to use toothpaste that contains harmful ingredients. Natural toothpaste options are a safe alternative. In addition, maintaining oral health can be done by scraping your tongue every day to remove bacteria.

Your health starts with your mouth, and choosing safe products is a small step but has a big impact. By avoiding toothpaste that contains endocrine disruptors and replacing it with natural products, you can maintain your oral and overall health from an early age.

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