We all do things mindlessly, but it’s time to wake up
My last post dealt with one way to live a more chemical free life, so I thought I would follow that up with another post that will hopefully get you thinking about something you use every day — toothpaste. For many years, I mindlessly picked up my favorite brand off the shelf and never gave it another thought. Why did I need to think about something that should be perfectly safe? I mean, it’s for sale everywhere and the American Dental Association has their official stamp on it, right? But I was listening to Coast to Coast AM one day (just in case you haven’t seen my post on Coast to Coast, click HERE to read it) and the guest was talking about fluoride and how toxic it is. That is when I decided I needed to learn more and do some research.
What the research shows
- There have been no studies that prove that adding fluoride to toothpaste is beneficial and helps eliminate cavities. The problem is fluoride is also added to our drinking water. The US is only one of a few developed countries that add fluoride to water. When you compare the US to countries that don’t add fluoride to water, their dental health is just as good, if not better, than people in the US. Click HERE for more information. In my opinion, it’s not the fluoride that helps reduce cavities, it’s regular brushing and reducing what causes cavities — sugar — in the diet.
- Fluoride is a poison. It has been used as a toxic industrial waste product. Have you ever read the toothpaste box? It clearly contains a warning. I highlighted this text in the picture above. Ingest too much and you have to call the Poison Control Center. Is that REALLY something you want to put in your mouth?
- Fluoride reduces IQ. According to Mercola.com there have been numerous studies on both adults and animals that show a reduced IQ and brain damage which correlates with fluoride exposure. Click HERE for the article.
AND THERE’S MORE…
Fluoride is just one reason why you want to stop using standard toothpaste. Take a look at the inactive ingredients on the box in the picture above. First, look at the ingredients. If you can’t pronounce it and have no idea what it is, then it is best to avoid it. This works with food labels too. Here is a little of what I discovered about a few of the ingredients:
- Sorbitol: This is added to keep the toothpaste from hardening. It is a sugar alcohol. Apparently, very little research has been done on this, but it has been known to cause diarrhea when added to chewing gum.
- Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS): This is added to thicken the toothpaste and helps with the foaming action. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, SLS may be carcinogenic and cause kidney and liver problems. By the way, this is an ingredient in many things that foam such as body washes, shampoos, and soaps. If you see SLS on the ingredient list, it’s best to find a more healthy alternative.
- Sodium saccharine: This little ingredient gives the toothpaste its sweet taste. A 1997 report written by the Center for the Science in Public Interest showed a correlation between sodium saccharine and cancer, although more studies are needed.
I could go on, but this list is reason enough to ponder the use of a more natural toothpaste, don’t you think?
There are alternatives!
There are toothpastes out there that don’t contain fluoride or other nasty ingredients, but you have to read the labels. Don’t bother picking up the regular toothpastes (Colgate, Crest, AIM, etc.) because those are all going to contain the bad stuff. Here are a few recommendations:
You can also make your own toothpaste. Click HERE for an easy recipe using Young Living Oils. While I have never made my own toothpaste, I think I will give it a try. Coincidentally, toothpaste is on my grocery list, so it might be the time to give it a try. Be ready for a blog post on that soon.
One more thing….if you are interested in purchasing Young Living oils I will be happy to assist you. Just send me an email: myenergyshift@gmail.com. Click HERE to get started with Young Living today! The Starter Kit has both peppermint and Thieves oil so you would have the oils you need for the recipe.
I had no idea! How scary. I think I am going to switch to baking soda, but there’s no way to get around the water. I only drink bottled water, but I wonder if a filter would remove it from the water.
If you have municipal water, call them and ask if fluoride is in it. Not all communities put fluoride in. I lived one place that allowed the voters to decide and they decided NO! A filter will help. Check with the manufacturer about how much is removed. Happy brushing!