By Dr. Mercola
Over the course of a lifetime, the average American uses about 20 gallons of toothpaste,1 and even though you don't swallow it, chemicals in the toothpaste
can make their way into your bloodstream, courtesy of the fact that
your mouth has an absorption efficiency rate of more than 90 percent.2
With this in mind, it's well worth considering what you're brushing
your teeth with on a daily basis. Many popular brands contain highly
questionable ingredients that are best avoided for long-term health.
A recent report by The Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry
watchdog, highlights many of the problems in the regulation of cosmetic
ingredients. Contrary to popular belief, the industry is allowed to
largely regulate itself, which has allowed many hazardous ingredients to
be introduced.
Is Your Toothpaste Loaded With Toxins?
The Cornucopia report, "Behind the Dazzling Smile: Toxic Ingredients in Your Toothpaste"3 and accompanying scorecard,4
reveals the potential risks associated with a number of common
toothpaste ingredients — chemicals known to have endocrine disrupting,
inflammatory and/or carcinogenic activity, for example.
This is true even for brands marketed as "natural;" a definition that
has no legal or regulatory meaning whatsoever, even though most people
believe it does.
In the U.S., a mere 11 synthetic ingredients are prohibited for use
in cosmetics. In comparison, the European Union (EU) has banned more
than 1,300 ingredients and restricts another 250 compounds from being
used in cosmetics, including:
Sodium benzoate (synthetic preservative)
Potassium sorbate (synthetic preservative)
Sodium laureth sulfate (surfactant)
Artificial flavors and colors linked to behavioral problems in children
As noted by Jerome Rigot, Ph.D., a policy analyst at The Cornucopia Institute and the lead author of the report:5
"The FDA does not require impurities, including several potential
contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane or ethylene oxide, both carcinogens,
to be listed as ingredients on the labels of personal care products
because these toxic chemicals are produced during manufacturing.
Even though technology … to remove them exists, many companies don't use it, because regulators do not force them to do so! …
The cosmetics industry is no different, and may be worse, than
leading food companies when it comes to gimmicky ingredients and
misleading health claims.
However, we have created a useful web-based tool to help
discriminating consumers see through marketing hype and make the best
decision for their family when buying toothpaste."
Do You Need Fluoridated Toothpaste?
Fluoride — which carries a poison warning6
and is a major risk factor for disfiguring dental fluorosis — has long
been heralded as the answer to decaying teeth, but groundbreaking
research has cast serious doubt on its usefulness.
A 2010 study7 found that the supposedly beneficial fluorapatite layer formed on your teeth from fluoride is a mere 6 nanometers thick.
To understand just how thin this is, you'd need 10,000 of these
layers to get the width of a strand of your hair. This ultra-thin layer
is quickly eliminated simply by chewing on something. According to the
authors:
"[I]t has to be asked whether such narrow … layers really can act as protective layers for the enamel."
Other research8 has shown that toothpaste containing the naturally occurring cacao extract theobromine
more effectively repairs and re-mineralizes dentin (the tissue that
makes up the bulk of your teeth below the enamel) than fluoride
toothpaste.
The Case for Fluoride-Free Toothpaste
A more important concern than being ineffective is the toxic nature
of fluoride. It's common for young children to swallow more fluoride
from toothpaste than is recommended as an entire day's ingestion from
all sources,9 and ingesting fluoride is particularly detrimental to health.
The science clearly demonstrates that fluoride is a toxic chemical
that accumulates in your tissues over time, wreaks havoc with enzymes
and produces a number of serious adverse health effects, including
neurological and endocrine dysfunction.
Children are particularly at risk for adverse effects of
overexposure. Therefore, if you have a young child, it's recommended
that you use a non-fluoride toothpaste, although I recommend
fluoride-free toothpaste for adults as well.
While many are now familiar with the hazards associated with
fluoride, this is by no means the only ingredient that can pose a health
risk when used day in and day out for years on end. Following — in no
particular order — are 10 other toothpaste ingredients to beware of.
Triclosan
Triclosan
is an antibacterial chemical added to toothpaste to help fight plaque
and gingivitis. However, while it has been shown to be effective for
this purpose, triclosan has also been linked to concerns over antibiotic resistance, endocrine disruption and thyroid dysfunction.
The chemical structure of triclosan is similar to thyroid hormones
and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). This similarity allows it to
attach to hormone receptors.10
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as triclosan can promote a wide
variety of health problems, including breast, ovarian, prostate and
testicular cancer, preterm and low birth weight babies, precocious
puberty in girls, and undescended testicles in boys.
Some animal studies found triclosan caused fetal bone malformations
in mice and rats, which may hint at hormonal effects. Triclosan may also
interfere with a type of cell signaling in brain, heart and other
cells, such that researchers noted it "may not be worth potential
risks."11
Toothpaste appears to be one of the most potent delivery vehicles for
the chemical, as research found people who brushed their teeth with
Colgate Total had more than five times as much triclosan in their urine
as those who did not.12
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl
ether sulfate (SLES) are surfactants responsible for the foaming action
of the toothpaste. However, these chemicals also interfere with the
functioning of your taste buds by breaking up the phospholipids on your
tongue. This enhances bitter tastes and is thought to be the reason why
everything tastes so bad right after you've brushed your teeth.
SLS has also been linked to skin irritation and painful canker sores, with research13 suggesting an SLS-free toothpaste should be used by people with recurring sores.
Moreover, SLS has a high potential of being contaminated with 1,4
dioxane, a carcinogenic byproduct of the manufacturing process.14
Interestingly, SLS is actually registered as an insecticide. The
manufacturers sought approval to market SLS as a pesticide for organic
farmers, but the application was denied because of its potential for
environmental damage.15 Studies have shown it may have toxic effects to marine life, including fish, insects and crustaceans.16
Artificial Colors, Flavors and Sweeteners
According to the Cornucopia report: "Toothpastes specifically targeted
to children often contain artificial colors (food dyes), which have been
linked to hyperactivity and related behavioral problems in children.
Some such ingredients also pose a risk of cancer and allergic
reactions."
FD&C and D&C dyes are typically made from petroleum. The term
"lake" in the names of dyes refer to colorants made by combining the
pigment with metal salts such as aluminum, calcium, zirconium, barium
and others, which turns them insoluble. Toothpastes contain a rather
long list of color additives, listed on page 7 in the report.17
In addition to the potential health hazards associated with many
artificial colors — most notably behavioral problems in children — they
may also contain "upwards of 10 percent impurities, either from the
initial manufacturing chemicals or by-products of the manufacturing
process," the report states. Contaminants include synthetic chemicals
and heavy metals, including lead, mercury and arsenic. Red 40, Yellow 5
and Yellow 6 are also commonly contaminated with carcinogenic
substances. Aspartame
and other artificial sweeteners are also often added to commercial
toothpastes. Aspartame is metabolized inside your body into both wood
alcohol (a poison) and formaldehyde (which is a carcinogen used as
embalming fluid and is not eliminated from your body through the normal
waste filtering done by your liver and kidneys). It's been linked to
birth defects, cancers, brain tumors and weight gain.
Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives
Certain preservatives may also release dangerous formaldehyde. While not
commonly known, some preservatives work by continuously releasing a
small amount of formaldehyde — a known carcinogen. This is what kills
microbes that might otherwise grow in the product.
These preservatives can be absorbed into your bloodstream via the
mucosal lining in your mouth. Besides cancer, they've also been linked
to allergic skin reactions. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives to
avoid include:
DMDM hydantoin
Diazolidinyl urea
Imidazolidinyl urea
Polyoxymethylene urea
Methenamine
Quaternium-15
Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate
2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bromopol)
5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3 dioxane (Bronidox)
Glyoxal
Parabens
Parabens
are yet another type of preservatives linked to harmful health effects.
Parabens are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that mimic the hormone
estrogen, and exposure has been linked to cancer and developmental and
reproductive toxicity. These chemicals can be listed on the label under a
number of different names, including but not limited to:
Methylparaben
Ethylparaben
Isobutylparaben
Propylparaben
Butylparaben
Isopropylparaben
Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a thickening agent suspected of having carcinogenic
activity. According to the featured report, food-grade carrageenan is
associated with intestinal inflammation that can lead to cancer, even in
small doses. Two decades' worth of independent research has also linked
it to:
Increased free radical formation
Inflammation (a precursor to cancer)
Disrupted insulin metabolism
Insulin resistance
Glucose intolerance
Moreover:
"Low-molecular-weight carrageenan, known as poligeenan, is
classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a
'possible human carcinogen' (Group 2B) … While poligeenan has
well-documented inflammatory and carcinogenic properties, food-grade
carrageenan was thought to be 'high molecular weight' and safe to eat.
However, the viscosity requirement to qualify carrageenan as food-grade
does not exclude the presence of low-molecular-weight poligeenan.
In fact, the carcinogenic molecular-weight poligeenan is found
naturally, in varying percentages, in all food-grade carrageenan, and
exposure to heat, acid (including stomach acid), digestive enzymes (such
as saliva and stomach enzymes) and bacteria (i.e., mouth and gut
microflora) increases the amount of poligeenan.
Meanwhile, industry-funded propaganda often fails to point out
that food-grade carrageenan does in fact contain dangerous poligeenan in
varying amounts, in some tests exceeding 5 percent."
Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol is a type of mineral oil, used in toothpaste and other
cosmetics as a humectant and solvent. Industrial grade propylene glycol
is commonly found in antifreeze, paints and enamels. The
pharmaceutical-grade is used in many personal care products, including
toothpaste, as a surfactant. Studies have linked propylene glycol to
skin, eye and lung irritation, as well as organ system toxicity.18 According to the featured report:
"Propylene glycol has limited toxicity but it penetrates easily
through the skin and mouth mucosa and functions as a penetration
enhancer, thereby facilitating the absorption of other ingredients. It
is best to avoid toothpastes containing this ingredient."
Diethanolamine (DEA)
DEA, a foaming agent, is a known hormone disrupter that can react with
other ingredients to form a potential carcinogen called
N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA). NDEA is readily absorbed through the
skin and has been linked with cancers of the stomach, esophagus, liver
and bladder.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) ranks DEA as a number 10 in its
cosmetics database (the most toxic score) due to high concerns of organ
system toxicity. The California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
also lists DEA as a possible human carcinogen.19
Microbeads
Microbeads
are tiny plastic pellets found in body washes, facial scrubs,
toothpaste and more. The microbeads go down your drain, through the
filters at most wastewater treatment plants, and out into the
environment. Plastic microbeads absorb toxins from the water and are
eaten by a wide variety of marine life and, ultimately, by humans as
well.
There's good reason to avoid toothpaste containing microbeads, aside
from the obvious environmental threat. In 2014, serious questions were
raised about their use in toothpaste when dentists and dental hygienists
reported finding microbeads trapped between patients' teeth and under
their gums. This gives food and bacteria an entrance to your gum line,
which could actually CAUSE gum disease. Dentist Justin Phillip was
quoted by The Washington Post, saying:20
"They'll trap bacteria in the gums which leads to gingivitis, and
over time that infection moves from the gum into the bone that holds
your teeth, and that becomes periodontal disease."
Ingredients Made From Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Many toothpastes also contain an array of GMO-based ingredients. The
only way to avoid these is to buy products carrying the "USDA 100%
Organic" label, as certified organic ingredients are not permitted to be
sourced from genetically engineered (GE) crops. GMO-derived ingredients
include:
Glycerin (often manufactured from vegetable oil such as soybean, canola or cottonseed, a majority of which are GE)
Citric acid and citrates (typically produced by microbial fermentation of sugar from GE corn, beet or sugar cane)
Xanthan gum (also produced by microbial fermentation of sugar)
Xylitol (a sugar alcohol commercially produced primarily from corncob, most of which is GE)
Sorbitol (another sugar alcohol, commercially produced from
starches such as corn, wheat, potato or cassava. Cornstarch-based
sorbitol is likely GMO)
Lecithin (commercially obtained as a by-product of soy oil manufacturing, most of which is GE)
Safer Toothpaste Options
Fortunately, there are healthier and safer alternatives. The
Cornucopia Institute's top picks include Dr. Bronner's All-One
Toothpaste, Green People Toothpaste, Happy Teeth Organic Toothpaste and
Miessence Toothpaste. We also hope to launch a reformulated toothpaste
in September of this year, which will be free of fluoride and any other
potentially harmful ingredients.
That said, you can also make your own toothpaste with just a few
basic ingredients. For example, you can mix together coconut oil, baking
soda and a few drops of peppermint essential oil, adding enough baking soda to form a smooth consistency. Store in a glass jar.
Coconut oil may help inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans, an
acid-producing bacterium that is a major cause of tooth decay, and
peppermint oil extract has been shown to be superior to the mouthwash
chemical chlorhexidine in inhibiting the formation of biofilm formations
linked to dental cavities.21
Also remember that your diet is the foundation for strong, healthy
teeth. Nutrients that are particularly important for oral health
include:
Vitamins C, D and K2
Magnesium
Phosphorous
Potassium
Calcium
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