May Be Harmful If Swallowed: 14 Most Toxic Toothpaste Ingredients (Part 1 of 2)

May Be Harmful If Swallowed: 14 Most Toxic Toothpaste Ingredients (Part 1 of 2)

by Nadine Artemis

Our gums and teeth are living tissue, and we should approach cleaning them a little differently than we would scrub a counter top. As a child, you were probably advised to brush with toothpaste twice a day. If toothpaste is the magic cleaner for our teeth, then why are cavities at an all-time high, and why does toothpaste come with a big warning label, “May Be Harmful if Swallowed?”

Your Teeth Are Alive!

“The blood that runs through your tooth will run through your toe in one minute.”  

Timothy A. Kersten DDS

The chemicals used in most toothpaste and rinses, including many of the “natural toothpaste” and “natural mouthwash” brands sold in health food stores, use chemical and synthetic ingredients that are more appropriate for industrial purposes than for cleaning the delicate tissue of the body or cultivating oral health. Brushing with these chemicals may be harmful to your health. Absorbing through the mouth’s mucous membrane into the blood stream, these synthetic substances may, lead to decomposing collagen, hinder hormones, damage the delicate epithelium, disturb microflora in the digestive tract and, in the end, encourage poor health.

Some toothpaste, rinses and mouthwashes are better than others. To help you make a wise decision about what you brush into your body, I have made a list of chemicals that may be Harmful if Swallowed.

The following is a list of possible toxic ingredients found in toothpaste:

1. fluoride
2. propylene glycol
3. FD&C color pigments
4. triclosan
5. artificial sweeteners
6. alcohols and ethanol
7. surfactants
8. calcium
9. glycerin
10. flavor (menthol, cinnamaldehyde)
11. carrageenan
12. carbomer
13. hydrated silica
14. trisodium phosphate

1. Fluoride

1. Contrary to marketing madness, tooth decay is not caused by fluoride deficiency! The United States’ EPA has fluoride on its “substantial evidence of neurotoxicity” list. Fluoride appears to interfere with critical, bodily chemistry; damaging gums, disrupting collagen production and reducing enzyme activity. Fluoride, accumulates in the body, especially in the pineal gland, lowers IQ, forms deposits in the brain related to Alzheimer’s, promotes early-onset puberty, and the list goes on and on.

 2. Propylene Glycol

2. Some toothpaste contains propylene glycol, which is frequently used as anti-freeze and to de-ice planes. Propylene is produced from fossil fuels during the oil refining process. Though  less dangerous than its cousin ethylene glycol, PG can irritate the skin and mucous membranes and increase the overall acidity of the body leading to metabolic acidosis. Though the amount of PG in toothpaste may be small, the widespread, daily use makes it potentially harmful.

 3. FD&C color pigments

3. FD&C color pigments serve no health purpose in dental products, and they may have adverse effects. Coal tar, carbon deposit and laboratory derived colors are recognized as potential allergens and have a 20-year anecdotal history of causing hyperactivity in children. Many of the FD&C colors are tainted with heavy metals that can accumulate in the body.

4. Triclosan

4. Triclosan is a registered pesticide (a bio-persistent chemical that destroys fragile aquatic ecosystems), and it is an anti-bacterial agent FDA approved to be used in toothpaste to prevent gingivitis. Due to recent studies showing that it may alter hormone regulation^[ii], it is now under further review from the FDA. The National Academy of Sciences published a study that states that “triclosan potently impairs muscle functions.” ^[iii]The CDC found triclosan in the urine of 75% of the 2,517 participants of a survey. ^[iv]

The anti-bacterial property of triclosan is starting to concern biologists; laboratory data suggests that there is a link between exposure and anti-microbial drug resistance.[v]Also, the trickle down environmental effects of triclosan are less than encouraging; it attaches to solids in streams, lakes and rivers and accumulates over time posing a problem for aquatic life.

 5. Artificial Sweetener

5. Artificial sweeteners like saccharin, sorbitol and xylitol are generally added to improve the flavor of toothpaste. Saccharin is a petroleum based sugar substitute that was linked to cancer back in the 1970’s.  Sorbitol is manufactured by reducing glucose, and it has no nutritional value. Xylitol is found in many fruits and veggies, and for industrial uses, it is manufactured from hardwood trees and corn cobs. Neither sorbitol nor xylitol is completely absorbable, so if it is swallowed they can cause a range of gastrointestinal problems, especially in children, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating.  Some toothpaste manufacturers claim that xylitol is beneficial for the teeth and gums, killing bacteria, alkalinizing the saliva and encouraging remineralization of the teeth. These claims are misleading; two clinical trials found no conclusive evidence of this.[vi] [vii]

6. Ethanol

6. When people find that they have breath or gum problems, one of the first things they do is go out and get a big bottle of mouthwash.  Known to cause oral cancer, you may be surprised to learn that ethanol is the primary ingredient in most mouthwashes. Isopropyl alcohols and ethanol (grain alcohol) are very drying and irritating solvents made from propylene, a petroleum derivative.

For More Information on How to Naturally Heal Teeth and Gums:

Click here to see Part 2 of this series on 14 Most Toxic Toothpaste Ingredients!

Nadine Artemis is the author of Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth & Gums. Her resources for oral health can be found at her website, Living Libations, where her botanical creations have been created to uplift and improve all aspects of health and beauty. She’s also the hostess of www.toothsummit.com where she interviewed the world’s leading dentists, doctors and health care renegades to find out the TOOTH TRUTH!

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