Every day, the average person exposes themselves to more than 100 chemicals from soaps, cosmetics, and other personal care products, like toothpaste or mouthwash. Many of these ingredients (chemicals) have been clinically researched and shown to cause serious health problems, including cancers.

In fact, over 80,000+ chemicals used in body care products have never been properly tested for safety by federal regulatory agencies.

As a health and nutrition counselor, I think using non-toxic mouthwash, toothpaste, and other supplements is very important. Here is some basic dental care information I think is essential.

Toothpaste:

If you read the boxes of some name-brand toothpaste and mouthwashes, you may see a warning to immediately call poison control if you swallow them.

The warnings are usually only on the box and not on the tube or bottle itself. We shouldn’t be putting any kind of poison in our mouths at all because the mouth is highly absorbent.

Do not share your toothpaste. It can spread germs when someone else’s toothbrush touches the opening on the tube.

Get a new toothbrush after an illness, or at least every two months. This will prevent the toothbrush from becoming too built up with germs.

Floss at least once a day to keep gums healthy and to remove bacteria from between teeth. Use a tongue scraper to keep the tongue clean and fresh.

Mouthwash:

Be careful what mouthwash you use.

Alcohol is used in many types of mouthwashes. “Mouthwashes with a content of 25 percent or higher have been implicated in mouth, tongue, and throat cancers.” (1)

Another ingredient to watch out for in mouthwash is potassium bromate. It is used in sports drinks (Gator Aid), citrus-flavored drinks, bread, crackers, baked goods, and mouthwashes.  Why should we look out for potassium bromate?

Our thyroid is our master gland. It is central to all of our body’s major functions. It influences our metabolism, digestion, energy, body temperature, skin, hair, sleep, mental acuity, the nervous system, sexual organs, and the hormonal system. In fact, it would be very difficult to find a system that is not influenced by the thyroid. The main nutrient that supports our thyroid is iodine.

When we ingest potassium bromate, it acts like iodine. It will take up the space for iodine and actually prevent your body from absorbing the iodine it needs. This contributes to iodine deficiency and thyroid problems. (2)

The toothpaste and mouthwash I use are made by Modere. It is the highest level approved mouthwash by the EWG.

I wish you perfect dental health!

 

Sources for the article –

1. High-Alcohol Mouthwashes Are Under Scrutiny.” Oxford Journals Medicine & Health, JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst. Volume 83, Issue 11. pp. 751.
2. “Consumer Group Calls for Ban on ‘Flour Improver’: Potassium Bromate Termed a Cancer Threat.” Center for Science in the Public Interest website. July 19, 1999. www.cspinet.org/new/bromate.html