Toothpaste is Poison!

Have you ever picked up your tube of toothpaste in the morning and noticed the huge warning label on the back? The one that says something along the lines of "Contact Poison Control immediately if more than recommended amount is ingested." Yeah...it says it right on the label...toothpaste is poisonous.
But it's not just one poison, it's several poisons. Several chemicals combined to make a brightly colored concoction that supposedly improves dental health and prevents cavities.

Most people do not have immediate reactions to the poisons contained in toothpaste (I do), but the long term effects of the chemicals are much more serious. It's scary and confusing to discover, but the truth is, there are five seriously hazardous chemicals in toothpaste.

Fluoride

You will likely be shocked (as I was) to discover that fluoride has never been approved by the FDA. It has also never been proven to prevent cavities or improve dental health. A 1990 study of fluoride indicated that it does not help reduce cavities and that it is actually linked to dental deformity, allergic reactions, arthritis, and approximately 10,000 deaths per year from cancer.

The truth is that fluoride is a poison. It is used in many rat poisons and pesticides and humans can die from fluoride over-exposure.

Keep in mind, fluoride is already added to our water. Not only does it not prevent cavities, but it's a poison. A poison U.S. citizens are ingesting (with the exception of a handful of cities) every time we pour a glass of water, make a cup of coffee or boil spaghetti. The United States is the only country who has not acknowledged the health risks of fluoridated water. All other countries ended this practice in the 1970's.

Blue Dye #1 and #2
Many people are allergic to food dyes. My personal intolerance is for blue dyes found in things like toothpaste (even ones that aren't blue), candies like M&M's and Skittles, KoolAid, Gatorade, and pretty much any other food that's blue.

Recent studies indicate that these blue dyes are linked to behavioral, learning, and health problems. The dyes may also cause severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness, lack of concentration, and cancer.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a toxic substance that's only purpose in toothpaste is to create a foaming effect. This foaming effect does not improve the cleanliness of teeth, it simply provides the illusion of a more thorough cleaning.

The Journal of American College of Toxicology reports that the toxin can penetrate and be retained in the heart, brain, eyes, and liver with potentially severe long-term effects. It can prevent children's eyes from developing properly, can cause cataracts in adults, can retard healing, and impair hair growth.

Triclosan

Triclosan is a chlorophenol which is a class of chemicals that has been suspected of causing cancer in humans. Even small amounts of ingested phenol can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, convulsions, coma, and death.

Long term exposure or repeated use can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs, suppress the immune system, and cause hormonal disruption, paralysis, sterility and brain hemorrhages.

Hydrated Silica

Hydrated Silica is an abrasive used to clean teeth. While effective in the short term, the repeated scatching of the tooth surface impairs its ability to re-mineralize daily and can cause long-term damage.

It can also upset the acidic balance of the mouth, tongue, and gums.

Alternatives to Toothpaste

Now that you are thoroughly afraid of your toothpaste you may be wondering what you can possibly do. While toothpaste is seriously harmful, the fact of the matter is, we all still want the squeeky clean feeling of freshly brushed teeth and nice smelling breath.

Luckily, there is a cheap and easy way to get all the benefits of toothpaste without the risks.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is the easiest alternative to toothpaste. All you have to do is dampen your toothbrush, dip it into a baggy of baking soda and brush as usual. Most people think this will not be as effective as toothpaste, but it's actually just as effective and wildly healthier.

Tips:

Mix 3 parts baking soda with 1 part salt if you want a more abrasive toothpaste.

Toothpaste is no more effective at eliminating bad breath, but it does contain powerful minty flavors to mask what's left-over after brushing, suck on a mint if your breath doesn't seem fresh enough.

Add peppermint or spearmint oil for extra flavor.

The taste, moreso if you add salt, is not very good. So try a small amount on your brush at a time and don't apply directly to your tongue. The taste is not horrible, but it's not pleasant, it's very similar to gargling salt water.

Learn More

If you are interested in any of these topics than I urge you to read more about them. Here are some great links about the toxicity of toothpaste and healthy alternatives.

Fluoride:

http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/fluoride_facts.htm
http://www.fluoridealert.org/50-reasons.htm

Toothpaste:

http://www.microscopiccolitis.org/articles/The-5-Hidden-Dangers-In-Toothpaste.html
http://www.oradr.com/dangers-in-toothpaste.htm

Alternatives:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4464852_brush-teeth-baking-soda.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2222514_brush-teeth-toothpaste.html