Toothpaste sucks!
Modern toothpaste belongs in a trash can and there is overwhelming evidence to support this.
Here are 7 things you should avoid when shopping for toothpaste.
Toothpaste is food & should be treated as such. So if you can't eat it why put it in your mouth?
1. Fluoride
Fluoride is present everywhere, from our water supply to your toothpaste. Everyone knows it's bad for you but why?
Fluoride has been linked to a number of health issues such as:
- brain damage and lowering the IQ
- cancer risk
- increasing bone fracture risk
- sexual development
- diabetes risk
- hormone disruption
There is a big push from the establishment to get fluoride into as many people as possible. And if we learned anything from the last several years - any substance treated in this way is generally not good for you.
Source: European Food Safety Authority
2. Titanium Dioxide
Also called Cl 77891 or E171 titanium dioxide is a known carcinogen.
European Food Safety Authority concluded in 2021 that titanium dioxide is "no longer considered safe when used as a food additive" due to genotoxicity (causing cancer). And considering toothpaste should be treated as food titanium dioxide is a big no!
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Would you wash your teeth with soap?
SLS is a detergent. The same thing is used in soap, body wash and dishwashing liquid. And toothpaste goes into your mouth, so why would you put this kind of stuff into your mouth?
There is a lot of discussion around SLS and its dangers but one thing's for sure - SLS does not belong in toothpaste!
4. Triclosan
This is a pesticide!
Triclosan kills bacteria and microbes and can cause antibiotic resistance. It's been linked to thyroid disruption & can accumulate in the body. It's especially dangerous for pregnant & breastfeeding mothers.
5. Carrageenan
This is a preservative & thickener linked to a number of issues:
- inflammation
- bloating
- irritable bowel syndrome
- glucose intolerance
- colon cancer
- food allergies
Companies are swiftly removing carrageenan from their products and regulators are catching up so it's only a matter if the time before carrageenan is cancelled.
6. Artificial sweeteners
This is a wide category but usually, the main culprits are things like aspartame, saccharin or sorbitol.
Aspartame has been linked to a number of health issues from migraines & memory loss to heart palpitations & brain tumours. It can cause Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, lymphoma, Parkinson’s, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.
Saccharine is a petroleum-based sugar made from crude oil. It has been repeatedly linked to cancer in clinical studies since the 1970s but it's cheap so brands use it abundantly. It can also disrupt the gut bacteria and increase the risk of diabetes.
Sorbitol is alcohol sugar - but contains no alcohol & no sugar. It's almost exclusively derived from corn syrup & breeding ground for S. Mutans bacteria which causes tooth decay. A perfect ingredient for big toothpaste.
7. Parabens
A typical toxic preservative that's very convenient & cheap so many brands use it. Parabens mimic estrogen in the body and can wreck your hormones.
Parabens have been linked to a lot of health issues such as:
- allergies
- reproductive toxicity
- breast cancer
- endocrine distruptors
+ Glycerin
Glycerin is found in every toothpaste to create that smooth & creamy texture. It's the "paste" in toothpaste.
But the problem with glycerin is that it coats the teeth & prevents remineralisation. According to Dr. Gerard F. Judd it takes 27 washes to remove the glycerin coating!
Glycerin is also a magnet for plaque, causes accelerated tooth decay and promotes the development of cavities. Another great big toothpaste ingredient!
And considering it's almost impossible to make toothpaste without glycerin what is the solution here?
Stop washing your teeth?
Of course not!
Enter tooth powder.
The original solution for washing teeth was not a paste, but powder.
Ancient Egyptians invented toothpowder made from crushed dried flowers, salt and eggshells more than 7000 years ago.
But good tooth powders are hard to find today, so I created my own.
Check it out below.
