What was really going in my mouth every morning and night?

After changing my diet, slowly changing cleaning products, then beauty products I suddenly thought, what the heck is in my toothpaste? I hadn’t even thought of that. I was putting toothpaste in my mouth and most ingesting some of it and not once did I think about what was in it.

Did toothpaste have gluten in it? Any dairy? Soy? Corn? yucky chemicals? I just never gave it any thought. Well folks, this is one investigation that made me sad and angry.

Sad because I had been putting some pretty damaging things into my system during a time I was trying to detoxify. Angry because I have continuously felt deceived by companies along this journey of cleaning up my life. I guess I was also angry with myself. Going about my daily life not thinking too much about what was actually going into my body. If you have any doubt regarding your dental health, you can consult an experienced dentist from Westinghouse Dental or you can also consult dentist Jericho turnpike who will listen to all your concerns. It is advised to visit the Westinghouse Dental site to know more about their services and book an appointment.

What the investigation turned up:

These are the ingredients of a common toothpaste.

Active Ingredients:
Sodium Fluoride 0.24% (0.15% w/v fluoride ion) – Anticavity, Triclosan 0.30% – Antigingivitis

Inactive Ingredients:
Hydrated Silica, Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, PVM/MA Copolymer, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cellulose Gum, Flavor, Sodium Hydroxide, Carrageenan, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Saccharin, Titanium Dioxide

Here are three of the above ingredients that I certainly don’t want in my mouth everyday.

Sodium Fluoride:

Fluoride is the most active element on the periodic table. It competes with Iodine-which your thyroid loves-it’s easy for your thyroid to take in Fluoride instead of Iodine, yikes!

Fluoride is suspected by many of being a carcinogen.

When taken systemically, it gathers in the bones causing fluorosis, a condition that actually calcifies the ligaments

Every dental health related weblink supports the fact that an overexposure to fluoride in the first 8 years of life can cause discoloration and mottling of teeth.

Triclosan:

It’s used as an antibacterial agent and can be absorbed through the skin and mouth. Research has shown it alters hormone regulations in animals, disrupts immune function, and contributes to antibiotic resistant germs.

Sodium Laurel Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS):

A known eye and skin irritant that’s also used as a pesticide and herbicide.
SLS was turned down for approval as an organic farming pesticide because of its known toxic and polluting properties.
Releases toxic fumes when heated (becomes volatile in heat released from mouth tissues)
The taste is unbearable so sweeteners and flavoring are needed to mask it.

I went on the hunt to find a toothpaste that actually worked, but didn’t have all the yucky ingredients.

I found Uncle Harry’s Natural Products Alkalizing Toothpaste, spearmint.

The ingredients:
Calcium carbonate, sea salt, mustard seed powder, peppermint, eucalyptus, clove, oregano, and wintergreen essential oils, bentonite clay, ionic minerals, and colloidal silver water.

It comes in a small jar and you just take your toothbrush and scoop some onto your brush. It’s says on the label. Yes, its okay to dip your brush directly into the jar! The essential oils in this toothpaste are incredibly antiseptic.

It has a very strong spearmint flavor mixed with salty bentonite clay flavor. It’s not a bad flavor, but you might need to get use to it. I love the strong mint flavor and the fact that I believe nothing damaging is going into my system each time I brush my teeth.

I’ve been using this toothpaste for months and feel it does a good job. It is a convenience because I do like my homemade toothpaste as well. It is four ingredients and I always have the ingredients on hand.

Uncle Harry’s is not my favorite toothpaste, but it is one to try. I can’t give it Sisters Certified because although convenient and not bad for me, the flavor doesn’t do it for me.

Stuart Nunnally DDS recommends Earthpaste as an alternative to the recipe below.