Motherhood is the start of many things—it’s the beginning of unlimited laughter and sleepless nights, realizing too late that you are indeed turning into your own mother, and messier homes but fuller priorities. For my husband and I, parenthood was also the start of RiseWell, our passion project.

When my husband and co-founder, John, and I first began planning for a family, I was diagnosed with a hormonal disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which can cause infertility, among other symptoms. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, diet and lifestyle changes weren’t enough, and we turned to in vitro fertilization (IVF).

My doctor advised me to maximize my healthy choices, cutting out as many toxins as possible, in order to do everything I could to make the process a success. At this point, John and I were already eating very healthily—and thought we were living naturally. But after turning our apartment upside down, we realized that there are many scary chemicals in everyday products, like toothpaste.

Here’s what you can find in the commercial toothpaste on your bathroom counter: propylene glycol (the main ingredient in antifreeze), detergent (an unnecessary canker sore-causing ingredient with the sole purpose of creating foam), and triclosan (an antibacterial agent banned from hand soaps by the FDA). Your floss isn’t safe either! Conventional floss contains Teflon, a likely human carcinogen. And yet, those of us who follow proper oral care are putting these products into our mouths at least twice a day!

A Natural Alternative

John and I tried to find a natural, safe replacement for our oral care products. We wanted products that we enjoyed using, and more important, actually worked.

But my brother and co-founder, Dr. Derek Gatta, a practicing dentist, informed me that when you take the fluoride away from the formula, you take away the active ingredient that protects your teeth. That’s what you get in most natural toothpastes: zero active ingredients that prevent cavities from forming. So, four years ago, we started formulating RiseWell with a team of leading dentists to create oral care products that are backed by science and safe enough to eat. Toothpaste shouldn’t have to carry a “Call Poison Control” warning if swallowed! As Dr. Derek tells his patients, your gums are highly absorbent, and even if you aren’t swallowing your toothpaste, your gums are absorbing everything put into your mouth. I know this is a big relief for fellow moms out there!

Discovery of Hydroxyapatite 

We found our hero ingredient, hydroxyapatite (HA), in Japan, where it is the gold standard for toothpastes and has been used for over 40 years. Research shows that HA works just as well—if not better!—than traditional fluoride, without any of the toxicity issues.

And with that discovery, RiseWell was born, along with my 19-month-old son, Leo. Last May, the three of us—John, my brother Dr. Derek, and I—launched RiseWell to bring the safest and most effective oral care products to market. One year later, I’m so grateful for the big impact we’ve made in the lives of families like ours. Motherhood not only brought me my life’s biggest joy, my son Leo, but also gave me a true passion and dedication to clean ingredients. 

See our Mama Features highlight on our Instagram to learn more!