Posted By: emmaspirit on
I have had a re-occurring nightmare since childhood where I’m foaming uncontrollably at the mouth. And now I cannot watch someone brush their teeth without being overcome by a deep rooted sense of fear. It seems that my unusual reaction is perhaps connected to being 10 years old and chased and bitten by a potentially rabid neighborhood dog or perhaps it is a premonition of the health dangers of foaming, chemical laden Sodium Lauryl Sulfate toothpaste.
As an eco-conscious Adult, I’ve learned that next to eating organic foods, the second best Green thing I can do for my preventative health is to brush with natural, Fluoride-free and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-free toothpaste.
Why avoid fluoride? Hasn’t this mineral been proven to lower our risk of dental decay? Well, not exactly. Scientists have closely evaluated the epidemiological “proof,” that fluoride blocks dental decay and the data seems at best sketchy, with some claiming that areas with little fluoride in the water have less decay overall than highly fluoridated regions.
Fluoride can be quite toxic, hence the warnings on toothpaste cartons about swallowing the stuff! It has been linked to stained teeth, weakened bones, even, in some animal studies, cancer. So why has it been so widely promoted as the answer to dental decay? Industrial processing yields huge amounts of fluoride or fluroro silicic acid, a highly toxic substance. Chemical companies, sadly working with government officials, thought the best way to dispose to the material would be to dump it into the water supply and claim it as a gift for our health. The widespread fluoridation of water actually represents one of the greatest human pharmacological experiments ever conducted.
What is so bad about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? This detergent/ foaming agent is often used in personal care products to create foam to properly disperse the ingredients and ensure easy rinsing. People have been conditioned to believe that the foamy suds are part of the cleaning process. However, SLS has been linked to cancer, liver and kidney damage and cataracts. Skin Deep reports that SLS may possibly be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane - a probable carcinogen.
Now I’m not a scientist. I simply prefer the no risk, no cancer option of a chemical-free toothpaste to clean and protect my teeth and gums. And whenever in doubt, I’ll listen to my premonition.
Mary Beth Gonzalez
Tags:
green, dental care, fluoride, healthy
