Oral Care
Did you know that fluoride is a toxic chemical? It is literally a waste byproduct from the production of fertilizer! You’ll even notice that on the back of toothpaste tubes, they tell you to call poison control if it’s ingested, which is why using a pea size dollop is recommended, but in my opinion, something this toxic doesn’t belong in our mouth where it can be swallowed, by little ones especially. Also, the mucus membranes tend to absorb faster than our external skin, so two minutes of exposure 2-3 times a day doesn’t really appeal to me.
The other dark side of fluoride is that it displaces iodine in our bodies, instigating conditions like hypothyroidism, infertility, reproductive organ problems and cancer. Our nation is already horribly iodine deficient, according to Dr. Brownstein. It’s depleted in our soils and you couldn’t eat enough seafood to fulfill your iodine needs without overdosing in mercury from the ocean. Before you go adding iodine into your daily routine, be sure to check out my section on nutraceuticals first.
Let’s get back to oral care. This section will offer some options that are fluoride-free and non-toxic for you and your kiddos.
Toothpaste
Let’s talk about the toxic ingredients commonly found in toothpastes. The first and most misunderstood is fluoride. Studies have shown that it doesn’t even help prevent cavities! Another doozy found in toothpaste, which just baffles me is Triclosan. This is an antibacterial agent (it’s technically a pesticide) that was banned from hand products in 2016, yet it’s still allowed in toothpaste, so you can’t put it on your hands, but you can put it into your mouth, that makes complete sense. Parabens aren’t just found in your lotions and hair care products, it’s also found in toothpaste! Parabens are endocrine disruptors that have been linked with cancer. You might have heard of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate, also known as SLS. It is used to create foam, but you don’t need foam to clean your teeth effectively. SLS causes mouth sores, stomach problems and can lead to cancer. Propylene Glycol is used to smooth out the texture and is yet another ingredient connected with cancer. This is really ramping up to be consider cancer in a tube! An ingredient you may see in a lot of products, including many foods, is carageenan. This ingredient derived from seaweed is a thickening agent. This is another ingredient regularly popping up in studies linking it to cancer, in particular colon tumors. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin are often used in toothpastes and have a slew of side effects ranging from brain cell death to migraines, seizures, and anxiety to name a few. Does your toothpaste really need to taste like candy? We don’t really want our children EATING it after all. They make it taste like candy, add a bunch of toxins to it, and then the FDA slaps a warning on the back to protect themselves for approving these nasty ingredients.
There are so many better choices available. Whole Foods has a packed isle with all kinds of choices. We however, also like to avoid glycerin because I’ve read that it can actually prevent remineralization of the teeth and that’s a hard ingredient to avoid, so we’ve dug a little deeper than the Whole Foods isle. We currently use a few different brands, each with it’s own purpose. Our younger son has to use a toothpaste without coconut oil in it and our older son and I prefer remineralizing toothpaste.
PurO3 Oil Pulling Solution
My older son and I use this religiously. It makes the teeth so white and clean while pulling out the toxins from between the teeth and in all the nooks and crannies of the mouth. It is an Ayurvedic dental technique that involves swishing a spoon full of oil on an empty stomach. This is like oil pulling steroids! The oil is ozonated.
Oil pulling is the practice of vigorously pushing and pulling the oil around your mouth, gums, teeth and upper throat for five to twenty minutes. The oil may start out watery but can thicken as it picks up debris in the mouth. When you're done, spit it out into a trash can and rinse your mouth with clean water. You can follow up by brushing your teeth. Starting the day with oil pulling can help jump start your morning. You can do it more often if you have a specific concern or your health practitioner recommends it.
**Not recommended for this with salicylate sensitivities. You can use organic sunflower oil for oil pulling or Pure O3 has an ozonated organic sunflower oil that you could use to oil pull.
Probiotic Mouthwash, Toothbrush & Retainer Rinse
Toothbrushes, retainers, mouthguard, even dentures, build up germs, viruses and microscopic plaque that only P2 probiotics can eliminate. i Clean Your Teeth is a unique mouthwash packed with probiotics that safely clean away the microscopic plaque (biofilm) that causes teeth and gum issues, while providing a barrier of protection to keep plaque from returning. P2 mouthwash has been reported by customers to remineralize teeth, remove stains, reduce gingivitis, dental carries and halitosis. It even works to microscopicly clean dentures without residue.
I love this description on their website about removing biofilm with probiotics.
