Like any post I share, I’m not telling you to use or not to use something. I’m giving you information to become an informed consumer, so you can make your own decisions and choose what you want for your family. If we don’t know risks associated with specific ingredients, how can we make the best choice?
So let’s talk toothpaste!
Dental health is effected by genetics AND what you eat, so two people using the same products may not get the same results for cavity prevention.
First let’s look at the concerning ingredients traditional toothpaste contains. For today’s post I’m only going to dive deeper in a couple.
Fluoride (neurotoxin, lower IQ in children)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/SLS (contamination with 1,4 dioxane (cancer causing), canker sores, may be toxic to marine life)
Lake dyes (petroleum byproduct, hyperactivity in children)
Flavor (mystery ingredients)
Polyethylene Glycol/PEGs (contamination with 1,4 dioxane (cancer causing))
Propylene Glycol/PPGs (skin irritant)
Why no fluoride?
Fluoride is touted to be the end all, be all for preventing cavities. So much so, that many municipalities now fluoridate city water even though the research shows its benefits are when it’s used topically vs ingested. In 2016, the EPA was served with a petition that includes more than 2,500 pages of scientific documentation detailing the risks of fluoridation to human health. In particular, the petition notes, “the amount of fluoride now regularly consumed by millions of Americans in fluoridated areas exceeds the doses repeatedly linked to IQ loss and other neurotoxic effects.”
As for fluoride’s effects on the brain, in 2014 Lancet Neurology released a study, authored by a Harvard doctor, among others, that classified fluoride as a developmental neurotoxin. It wasn’t the first time.
In 2012, a meta-analysis, also by Harvard researchers, clearly showed that children exposed to fluoride in drinking water had lower IQs, by an average of seven points, in areas with raised concentrations. At daily doses ranging from 0.7 to 2.3 mg/L day of fluoride, additions adverse effects include behavioral alterations, neurochemical changes, hypothyroidism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have all been demonstrated.
Children and pregnant women (their unborn child) are most susceptible to the negative effects of fluoride.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Many toothpastes also contain surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES). SLS may also be listed as sodium dodecyl sulfate, sulfuric acid, monododecyl ester, sodium salt, sodium salt sulfuric acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate, aquarex me or aquarex methyl.
Surfactants are chemicals responsible for the foaming action of the toothpaste, but they 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 been linked to skin irritation and painful canker sores, with research suggesting an SLS-free toothpaste should be used for people with recurring sores.
However, one of the main problems with SLS is that the manufacturing process (ethoxylation) results in it being potentially contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a cancer causing byproduct. The manufacturing process also releases carcinogenic VOCs into the environment. SLS may also have toxic effects to marine life, including fish, insects, and crustaceans.
So what do I personally use & recommend?
I know many natural or crunchy minded friends who still choose to use fluoride as they feel it is better than their children getting cavities. We personally choose to filter out fluoride from our drinking water and skip fluoride in our toothpaste, along with fluoride treatments due to the negative health effects, especially on children. We instead choose toothpaste with hydroxyapatite and I’ll share why below.
Most natural toothpastes will just forego the fluoride, but don’t have any beneficial ingredients to remineralize your enamel. The best option is to buy one that has Hydroxyapatite (HA) as this is a naturally occurring component in our teeth. It aids in the remineralization of the enamel. Even in its synthetic form, it is toxin free and bioavailable so it will bind with our teeth, strengthening them.
HA is scientifically proven to strengthen and protect your teeth without fluoride. Studies have shown it has similar or better success rate of preventing cavities without the negative effects of fluoride. It has been the gold standard in Japan for over 40 years. It initially was patented to help astronauts after returning from space to remineralize their teeth and bones.
Glycerin is one ingredient many also try to avoid in their toothpaste because it can coat your teeth, making it more difficult to remineralize. I currently switch between two toothpastes and one of them has glycerin. I was more concerned with finding a glycerin free toothpaste before I knew about HA. Since most natural toothpastes don’t have ingredients with proven track records to remineralize teeth, adding in glycerin would just make it more difficult for them to remineralize.
I’ll share my experience with switching from fluoride to fluoride free toothpaste, almost 2 years ago. Previously, I used Sensodyne’s Pronamel “paste” toothpaste. I’ve had some tooth sensitivities on and off over the years, but most recently (2 years ago) had one specific tooth that was sensitive to something sweet, sticky, or cold. It was too the point that I wouldn’t eat certain food on that side. There were very few toothpastes I could use, including any “gel” ones. After talking with my dentist, he was talking about trying more specialized toothpaste, and if it didn’t help the sensitivity, they would have to apply a sealant/filling, but because of the location it would likely not last long and need to be redone every few years. After just a short while of switching to fluoride free toothpaste, the sensitivity was completely gone! At the time, I wasn’t aware of HA, so the only controversial ingredients I had swapped out were fluoride, flavor and PEG. That toothpaste didn’t have SLS that most conventional toothpastes have. I have to assume the biggest culprit for my sensitivity was the fluoride, as I had tried multiple fluoride toothpastes with no change, and I tried multiple fluoride free toothpastes, and my sensitivity has never came back.
My Toothpaste Recommendations
Technically the best would be: SLS, Fluoride & Glycerin Free, uses Nano-Hydroxyapatite and utilizes organic ingredients like the essential oils, but I have not found an option that fits all the boxes. Dr. Brite checks them all except glycerin free, and Wellnesse & Bite check them all except organic ingredients. At the time of this writing. So here is my hierarchy of Best, Better, Good. All the online options have subscribe & save to save more and highly recommend going this route.
Best – SLS, Fluoride, & Glycerin Free & uses Hydroxyapatite
Wellnesse – only comes in mint
Bite – zero waste, most expensive option, but may be more affordable if you have a toothpaste eater, a child who leaves long strips of toothpaste everywhere, or just anyone who uses too much.
Better – SLS & Fluoride Free & uses Hydroxyapatite (contains Glycerin)
Risewell – both versions are the same except flavor, so kids can use either. Their cake batter is my girls’ favorite.
Dr. Brite – my least favorite option due to less mintiness & texture (Ryan really dislikes it) but it has clean ingredients, is cheaper than the other two, is available through more websites like Thrive Market and drbrite.com frequently has sales. You can also sometimes find it in store at TJ Maxx for less. Some versions do not have HA, so check the ingredients.
Good – SLS & Fluoride Free (doesn’t use Hydroxyapatite and contains glycerin and undisclosed flavors, but widely available online and in stores)
Hello- Fluoride free versions
If you still choose to use fluoride, Hello has fluoride options that are SLS free and flavor is at least “naturally flavor” versus artificial. I have not been able to find a fluoride toothpaste that discloses flavor, so if you know of one, please share in case others want that option!
sources:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fluoride_b_2479833
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5390120/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22863133/
https://www.aappublications.org/news/2019/08/19/fluoride081919?fbclid=IwAR1meToSpnwLNO4aADgFLuSy6MjBETJkezEqTO0HR97qYx97zC6XYXFDE04
https://www.livestrong.com/article/174367-dangers-of-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5997847/?_ga=2.27426748.1073827304.1599421251-2018910469.1599421251
