green is universal

By Mary Beth Gonzalez, iVillage.com

I have had a re-occurring nightmare since childhood where I'm foaming uncontrollably at the mouth. And then animals and people come at me with their mouths engrossed in a white foamy mess. To this day, I simply cannot watch someone brush their teeth without being overcome by a deep rooted sense of fear. After much analysis, 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. In fact, when scientists have closely evaluated the epidemiological "proof," that fluoride blocks dental decay, 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 actually be quite toxic, hence the warnings on toothpaste cartons about swallowing the stuff! It has been linked, ironically, 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 of 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 with some claiming the end result will be massive degenerative disease.

What is so bad about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)? This detergent and 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. The Environmental Working Group states in their Skin Deep Report that SLS may possibly be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers 1,4-dioxane to be 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.

Best Natural Dental Care Products:

Kiss My Face: Offers fluoride-free and SLS-free products with no animal ingredients, no artificial colors or unnecessary chemicals and their products are not tested on animals.
- Wake Up: Certified Organic Aloe Vera Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1
- Triple Action AloeDyne Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1
- Whitening AloeDyne Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 2
- AloeDyne Fresh Breath Mouthwash: Skin Deep score: 2

Jason: A Hain Celestial Group company, their natural and organic toothpastes are fluoride-free and SLS-free.
- Healthy Mouth: Tea Tree Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 3
- Powersmile Whitening Toothpaste, Skin Deep score: 1

Auromere: Auromere provides Ayurvedic products that are pure, authentic, cruelty-free and their toothpaste contains no fluoride or SLS. I love their non-foaming, Cardamom and Fennel herbal toothpaste.

Tom's of Maine: A Colgate-Palmolive company, Tom's of Maine sits on both sides of the fence. They offer SLS and Fluoride products as well as SLS-free and fluoride-free toothpastes with glycyrrhizin, derived from licorice root, to foam and disperse ingredients. Skin Deep scores not available for these specific recommended products but other Tom's of Maine products scores range from 0-5
- Natural Clean & Gentle Care SLS-Free Antiplaque plus Whitening Fluoride-Free Toothpaste
- Natural Sensitive Care SLS-Free Toothpaste
- Naturally waxed, anti plague, unflavored, flat dental floss

Finding the right natural toothpaste for your personal needs isn't easy. I've often spent more than 30 minutes at a time in the natural beauty aisle reading the detailed toothpaste ingredients. Some "natural" products sneak SLS in as one of the last ingredients. Others list sorbitol, a sugar, as one of the first ingredients. Though sorbitol, unlike common sucrose, isn't suppose to cause dental decay, why would I want to brush my teeth and gums with sugar? Aren't I brushing to get rid of the sugar that causes tooth decay? Manufacturers add sorbitol to appeal to the sweet tooth and sugar addictions of consumers.

We can be smarter and not fall for these tricks. We can take our toothbrush into our own hands and stop foaming at the mouth.

Mary Beth Gonzalez
iVillage.com
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