What’s in your toothpaste?
Some common toothpaste ingredients: sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, synthetic colours.
Sodium monofluorophosphate, also known as fluoride, has a long list of possible health concerns. The chronic ingestion of fluoride can cause skeletal fluorosis, a crippling bone disease in which the bones are severely weakened.
Sodium lauryl sulfate can accumulate in eye tissue and some believe it is linked to cataracts. It has also been found to accumulate in the brain and liver as well as other tissue.
Parabens are chemical preservatives that can exert estrogenic activity on breast cells and are believed to be linked to breast cancer.
Synthetic colours may produce hyperactivity or worsen behavioural problems in children. Long-term use of some dyes is also believed to cause or aggravate allergies, asthma, hives and thyroid tumours.
Try to choose natural toothpaste without these harmful ingredients.
Most of the toothpastes available today contain glycerin (even ‘natural’ toothpastes).
The problem with glycerin is that it coats your teeth and interferes with the natural ongoing process of re-mineralization. Your teeth are constantly repairing and rebuilding. You can make your own tooth powder. Here’s a recipe for you to try.
1/2 cup baking soda
2 tbsp sea salt
15 drops pure peppermint oil
5 drops tea tree oil
5 drops clove oil (optional)
5 drops myrrh oil (optional)
Combine ingredients in blender or grinder and process to a fine powder. Store in a glass jar. To use, wet toothbrush, dip in a little powder and brush teeth.
Enjoy your clean and healthy teeth!
Natalie Petyashina is a holistic nutritionist practicing at Vibrant Lifestyle in Liberty Village. Her specialty is digestion, detoxification, lifestyle/diet improvement and weight management. She can be reached by email firstname.lastname@example.org or at 416-792-5500. Learn more at www.vibrantlifestyle.ca