Keep your mouth, gums, teeth, body, and environment happy with toxin-free, chemical-free and good-for-you dental-hygiene products.
Self-Care Books
47 Simple Wellness Tips for the Body, Mind, and Soul- Kendra Pennington
Let’s go over some wording and symbols we see on these packages
Triclosan: this chemical is used as an antibacterial agent. It has been linked to antibiotic resistance and endocrine disruption. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are a serious concern, they can cause a variety of health issues, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and testicular cancer, preterm and low birth weight babies, precocious puberty in girls, and undescended testicles and boys. Some animal studies showed that triclosan caused fetal bone malformations in mice and rats, which may hint at hormonal effects. Further triclosan may interfere with a type of cell signaling in brain, heart, and other cells, such that researchers noted ”it may not be worth the potential risks”. This chemical has also been linked to cancer, research finds triclosan may promote breast cancer progression. The state of Minnesota has band most uses of triclosan, but is still widely sold across the United States in toothpaste, hand soap, make up, and more.
Fluoride Free: fluoride is being questioned by many sources, one study done by the journal Langmuir states that you would need 10,000 of these fluorapatite layers to protect your enamel. It has been said that a naturally occurring cacao extract theobromine better repaired and remineralized exposed dentin that fluoride . Children also swallow a large amount of toothpaste that they put in their mouth. Research has shown that it is not uncommon for young children to swallow more fluoride from toothpaste alone than is recommended as an entire days in the ingestion from all sources. Swallowing fluoride ,especially in drinking water, is detrimental to your health. Fluoride is a toxic chemical that accumulates in your tissues over time which disrupts your natural enzymes, and produces a number of serious adverse health effects, including neurological and endocrine dysfunction.
No Foaming Agents: (i.e. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), or Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLES)). These chemicals are responsible for breaking up the phospholipids on your tongue. They have been linked to skin irritation and painful canker stores. This chemical is potentially contaminated with 1, 4 dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product. The manufacturing process (ethoxylation) also releases carcinogenic organic compounds into the environment. SLS is registered as an insecticide and may have toxic effects on marine life and insects.
No Artificial Sweeteners: the phenylalanine has a methyl group that easily breaks off and forms methanol. Mammals are not equipped with a protective biological mechanism that breaks down methanol into harmless formic acid. In humans, the methyl alcohol travels through your blood vessels into sensitive areas, such as your brain, where the methanol is converted to formaldehyde. Because there is no catalase present, the formaldehyde damages your tissues. Symptoms of methanol poisoning: headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, weakness, vertigo, chills, memory lapses, numbness, and shooting pains in the extremities, behavioral disturbances, and neuritis.
No Propylene Glycol: this is a type of mineral oil that, in industrial grade, is used in anti-freeze, paints, enamels, and airplane de-icers. The pharmaceutical-grade form is used in many personal care products, including toothpaste, as a surfactant. Research on the safety of propylene glycol in personal care products is lacking, although it is a known skin, eye, and lung irritant, and may also cause organ system toxicity.
Other ways to help your oral hygiene
Some great alternatives to toothpaste with flouride are toothpaste with xylitol or nano-hydroxyapatite (n-Ha), which can be found in products like Boka. Other toothpaste use cocount oil and charcoal to whiten and protect the teeth.
Other products besides toothpaste are mouthwashes. AVOID Listerene or anything brand along those lines. Instead opt for brands like Toms or other natural brands that could be found at Natural Grocers, or in a wellness section of the grocery store. Remember to read labels!
If you want to take your oral care to the next level, and also positively impact your gut, and even heart health ( YUP!) try these things:
-flossing with better flosses such as Radius
Where to find these products?
-Natural Grocers
-Market Street
-Sometimes at HEB, Marshall’s, Ross and TJMaxx
-Online