Commercial Toothpaste - Natural or Poison?
By Wayne Gendel

In the USA the FDA now requires fluoride toothpaste containers to carry a poison warning label that reads as follows: "WARNING: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN UNDER SIX YEARS OF AGE. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOW MORE THAN USED FOR BRUSHING, SEEK PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE OR CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER IMMEDIATELY."

The following information will hopefully help you make a choice to begin buying a healthier brand, or better yet - make your own!

Human physiology tells us that whatever you put in your mouth is absorbed directly into your blood and tissues through the mucosal lining inside your mouth, even if you never swallow. According to the Physician's Desk Reference Manual, oral absorption can be up to 90% efficient because the blood capillaries are very close to the surface in the inside of the mouth. Most potentially harmful ingredients in your toothpaste likely end up in your bloodstream and start negatively impacting your health in only seconds!

Many toothpastes are loaded with exotic-sounding chemicals, some of which have been documented for their negative effects on health. Some of these questionable ingredients include:

* Sodium saccharin – known to cause cancer in lab animals!
* Abrasive silica
* Sodium fluoride – considered corrosive! Some side effects are allergy to medication, osteomalacia and hyper parathyroid osteopathy, impaired renal function, impaired liver function and blood dyscrasias. In children and youths it causes salivation, nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, diarrhea. Large doses cause thirst, perspiration, paralysis, muscular weakness and clonic convulsions, followed by respiratory and cardiac failure, there may be renal failure. Death may occur within 2 - 4 hours!
* Phosphoric acid – no information available.
* Tetrasodium pyrophosphate
* Titanium dioxide - an inert ingredient (water repellant agent) in pesticide formulations applied to animals.
* Pentasodium triphosphate
* Carrageenan
* Sodium lauryl sulfate - regulated as a pesticide, suspected gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, eye irritation, allergic reactions and hair loss.
* FD & C Blue #1, Yellow #5 - Cancer causing! Also found in many vitamin supplements!

Additives like sodium lauryl sulfate and yellow dye #5 have long been suspected of triggering health-damaging effects, yet they continue to be used in most personal care products. Other compounds, such as fluoride, have been acknowledged by the FDA as presenting significant risks to children when ingested.

In some people, consuming the food additive tartrazine can cause severe asthmatic breathing difficulties by boosting leutriene release. Tartrazine, which is also called yellow dye #5, interferes with the body's use of vitamin B6.

Why not substitute these suspicious chemicals with simple ingredients that you can use at home and make a powerful natural toothpaste yourself? This toothpaste will keep your breath fresh and be able to control and eliminate harmful bacteria.

The Power of Pure Natural Therapeutic-Grade Essential Oils
The primary active ingredient in your home made toothpaste can be pure essential oils. In Canada we recommend Aromatherapist Brand. Dr. Gary Young found that certain essential oils exhibited a 99.96% kill rate against airborne bacteria when tested at Weber State University. In Europe it is estimated that 80% of the time an antibiotic needs to be prescribed, therapeutic grades of essential oils are used in place of drugs!

Clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata and rosemary have been extensively studied by many researchers for their antiseptic attributes and documented in numerous scientific journals, including the Bulletin of the Tokyo Dental College, the Journal of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, the International Journal of Food Microbiology and the University of Georgia Department of Food Science and Technology.

By the way Listerine contains .064% thymol (found in thyme oil), .092% eucalypol (found in eucalyptus oil), .060% methyl salicylate (found in birch oil) and .042% menthol (found in peppermint oil.)

Essential oils are ideal for use in toothpaste because they are both antiseptic and nontoxic, a rare combination. World-renowned essential oil expert Jean Valnet, M.D. stated this fact in his book "The Practice of Aromatherapy". He said: "Essential oils are especially valuable as antiseptics because their aggression toward microbial germs is matched by their total harmlessness toward (healthy) tissue."

Is this on the RDA?
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and propylene glycol are two of the most common ingredients found in many personal care products. The journal of the American College of Toxicology reports that SLS is easily absorbed into your skin and builds up in your heart, liver, lungs and brain, even if you wash it right off after using it! The Medical College of Georgia has done testing showing that SLS forms dangerous levels of cancer-causing nitrosamines when combined with several other common ingredients found in many personal care products.

Propylene glycol, used in many facial moisturizers and hand and body lotions, has been found to cause kidney damage and liver abnormalities in scientific and animal testing. Propylene glycol may damage cell membranes causing rashes, dry skin, and surface damage to the skin. Propylene glycol is a large component of anti-freeze for your car! Sadly enough it can also be found in some food products listed as natural flavors!

Is this the best thing to be putting on your skin? Or in your body? Interesting to note that so many of the ingredients in foods and other products are not listed on the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) list! So if it is not a necessary ingredient that is potentially harmful why put it in your body?

Children’s bubble baths have warning labels on them! Why? It is because the sodium lauryl sulfate in them eats away at the mucous lining of the skin and causes urinary tract infections. The Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. reports that sodium lauryl sulfate builds up in the eye tissue and may be a cause of eyesight problems in many children. Sodium lauryl (or laureth) sulfate is also found in most shampoos.

Forever Healthy’s HOME MADE NATURAL TOOTHPASTE Recipe
Experience the Difference! Save Money! Optimum Oral Health! Great Taste!

A blend of two or more of the following make a safe, natural, great flavored and effective toothpaste:
2- 4 drops of clove, lemon, lime, spearmint, cinnamon, eucalyptus, peppermint, licorice and rosemary. You could also add couple of ionic trace minerals drops.

The oils can be added to:

1. Four ounces of a fine French clay that is very mild for the teeth or
2. Vegetable glycerin and/or
3. Coconut butter or
4. Small amount of baking soda. Add each time you brush. *(note precaution below) or
5. Celtic salt – a mild abrasive cleanser, antibacterial, creating an alkaline environment.
Optional: some stevia or raw honey to sweeten. Raw honey acts as a natural preservative.

Raw honey is in fact one of the things in the world that never goes bad! Make this natural toothpaste weekly or monthly for freshness. Keep in an amber dark glass jar (not plastic) away from heat.

NOTE: only use therapeutic grade essential oils for internal use. We sell one of the premier brands in the world called The Aromatherapist. By law in Canada all brands must say not for internal use. Please note The Aromatherapist brand oils and the specific oils I am listing above are fine for internal use.

DO NOT USE other brands unless they are recommended by a registered Aromatherapist. Most store brands are not 100% pure and may contain added synthetics to make them smell better. That is why they are less expensive. Poor quality brands can be very harmful if taken internally!

* Baking soda should not be used if you have been diagnosed with cancer. Like salt and sugar, baking soda can feed cancer cells and should be avoided if cancer is present.

Natures Toothbrush
One of my favorite toothbrushes is made by nature! Just try chewing on a granny smith or any crisp apple and watch how clean your teeth become! If you do not want to eat an apple just chewing on it works, and the juice with plenty of malic acid is great for digestion!

The Final Word
Nicotine and medicine skin patches wouldn't work if the skin couldn't absorb. What goes on our skin goes in our bodies! If you would not eat it don’t put it on your skin either. Making your own toothpaste is not only easy but healthier. You can literally just have some of the ingredients in your bathroom and make it as you need it. Making your own is empowering because you have made a choice to not only avoid the chemicals, but also to a healthier lifestyle!

References: http://cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/cosmetics/index.html

By Wayne Gendel