Everything is a poison and nothing is a poison: it all depends on the dose. The human mouth is very heavily vascularised. That’s why placing any medicine right under the tongue will result in quick onset as the chemical is absorbed and distributed rapidly throughout all body systems.This is good if we are talking about a life-saving drug like nitroglycerin. Not so good when we place a dab of what we call toothpaste on your tongue and gums and you give it a few minutes to absorb while you brush.
Poisons in Your Toothpaste You Should Know About
It’s smart to know what you’re putting in your body as multiple daily exposures add up fast resulting in potential health problems. Contemporary toothpaste is bad news because they contain at least 7 ingredients which have been proven to cause chronic inflammation, allergies, and cancer.
1) Fluoride.
Fluoride has questionable effectiveness when it comes to topical pastes and gels. It’s meant to prevent cavities from forming but its efficacy has not been demonstrated. In fact, the presence of fluoride in a human body creates rough porous enamel which is more prone to decay. (Go to IAOMT for more info.) Actually a thin layer of fluoride foam wouldn’t hurt freshly polished teeth. But would it help? Fluoride is undoubtedly a neurotoxin which is why its consumption should be avoided. Fluoride particles are so small it’s almost impossible to filter out of city water. That’s why most civilized cities throughout the world are making an effort to abandon water fluoridation.
2) Artificial sweeteners.
By now we all know how poisonous aspartame and saccharin are.They damage kidneys and cause cancers even at low doses.
3) Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS).
SLS is a common soap. Unfortunately, when placed in the mouth it can create aphthous ulcers and make gums slough off leading to gum recessions. It can also bring on an allergic reaction.
4) Triclosan.
Triclosan is a main active ingredient in antibacterial soap. Unfortunately, this chemical is likely to cause sloughing of the gums leading to recessions and has also been identified as a carcinogen.
5) MEA, DEA, TEA.
The trinity of poisons- MEA, DEA,TEA are additives which are supposed to make the toothpaste consistency more creamy. Unfortunately, these methylating compounds can do a lot of damage in our bodies such weakening our liver and kidneys and leading to cancer.
6) Microplastics.
These unusual additives contribute to dentifrice abrasiveness. The small sandy chunks of plastics when swallowed accumulate in our muscles leading to fatigue, systemic inflammation, and cancer.
7) Propylene Glycol.
Propylene Glycol is a common industrial preservative. For toothpastes, it acts as a thickener. The effects of this unfortunate compound are currently being studied intensively, as it is also included in e-cigarettes. Propylene glycol is a strong carcinogen.
So what are we to use?
The appropriate motion of a brush is actually enough to clean teeth and gums. For centuries in Asia, the chewed up twig of Nimh tree has kept millions of mouths healthy. But we live in a complex 21st century where we like to complicate just about everything. Let’s walk through what is it in your toothpaste that you should love:
1) Abrasiveness.
It is helpful if the paste is abrasive enough to remove sticky plaque but not coarse to prevent wearing down of enamel. Kosher salt can do that.
2) Basic (alkaline) chemistry.
This is essential to reduce salivary acids. Baking soda can do that.
3) Minty fresh smell.
This can be accomplished with a drizzle of peppermint essential oil.
4) Anti-inflammatory oils.
This helps heal mouth sores: COPAIBA oil and coconut oil can do that.
Brush Smarter
As you can see, the toothpaste you may be using isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The poisons in your toothpaste could have serious ramifications for your health. You may wonder about alternative products you could start using instead. Laraway Family Dentistry encourages you to consider making your own with the above tips, but if that seems too time consuming, we recommend Arbonne toothpaste.
For more great natural health tips or to schedule your next dental appointment, Contact Us.