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Every morning and every night we brush our teeth
- riding them of plaque and nasty "sugar bugs" but
we could also be exposing our teeth and gums to unnecessary
chemicals.
Why do you care?
- Canadian Dental Association suggests brushing teeth and
tongue at least twice a day and flossing once a day.
- Like many ingredients in other personal care products, those
found in toothpastes can be absorbed through the tissues of
the mouth and into the bloodstream and may adversely affect
our health due to carcinogenic, tumor enhancing and skin damaging
properties.2
- Look out for these Ingredients
to Avoid:
- Artificial sweeteners (like saccharin) & other synthetic
flavours
- Synthetic colours - some are carcinogenic. See Colourants
101
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate(SLS) - cleansing agent, a potential
irritant to skin and gums
- Polysorbate 80 - may be contaminated with 1,4-doxane,
a carcinogen.
- Triclosan - preservative and germicide, linked to endocrine
disruption.3
- Fluoride is added to almost all conventional brands and
some "natural brands" contain fluoride.
- Health
Canada supports the use of fluoride amongst children
aged 2 and older.
- But many advocacy groups have suggested links with cancer
and its cause of problems in sensitive people.4
The Environmental Working Group has identified sodium
flouride as a high hazard ingredient in personal care
products including toothpaste, tooth whitening, mouthwashes
and breath fresheners.
The Know How
- First decide if you want to choose a toothpaste with fluoride
or fluoride-free.
- Choose products with natural flavourings - essential oil
from the mint family, cinnamon, fruit
- Look for toothpaste with natural antiseptic and anti-microbial
ingredients like tea tree oil, neem oil or green tea.
- Careful - many "natural" toothpaste may contain
ingredients you are trying to avoid like fluoride or sodium
lauryl sulfate.
- See Guide
to Less Toxic Products for a list of Best and Good toothpaste
choices.
- Check out how your favourite brand rates on the "toxic
ingredients" scale from the Skin
Deep cosmetic database.
Know and Tell
- Patti's family has 3-5 different toothpastes on the go
on any given day - the adults prefer a natural minty taste,
the youngest a fruity flavour and the preteen and teen want
the most neutral tasting toothpaste out there. A challenge
for sure - check out her product
reviews.
- Tamey like Patti's family generally have multiple toothpastes
on the go. Tamey and the two of the kids enjoy Green Beaver.
Pure Know How
Kids
- Kid's toothpastes are made to appeal to the young ones with
familiar flavours and packaging.
- Check out the cosmetics database for ratings of baby
toothpaste.
1/4 5 Steps To Good Oral Health.
Canadian Dental Association, 2008.
2/3 Take Care of Your Teeth Without Chemicals. Danielle Masterson,
The Green Guide, 2005.
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