April 2012
Trying to find good toothpaste can be
a real challenge!
In these times of keen health awareness should we be concerned about the ingredients used in our toothpaste
and whether they really help to improve our oral health. We might believe that the ingredients used in
toothpaste can’t truly be bad for our health because we don’t actually ingest them, but is this truly the case?
The oral mucosa in our mouth absorbs certain tablets (homeopathic and prescription etc..) more quickly than
actually swallowing them; if this is the case then it is safe to assume that the ingredients found in toothpaste
can also be absorbed into our system. Even though the doses are small, we do generally brush our teeth
several times a day and every day; these small doses therefore can accumulate over time and may cause
secondary effects, for example the amount of fluoride in a tube of toothpaste is enough to kill an infant if it
were completely ingested.
Before we look over the ingredients, let’s identify how toothpaste should act ideally.
-Active ingredients should clean, reinforce and protect our teeth from bacteria and help maintain healthy
gums.
-Inactive ingredients won’t actually clean but will be used for texture and taste.
In popular toothpaste we find base components such as:
Abrasives (cleaning agent) like calcium carbonate
Water (dissolving agent)
Humidifier (prevents dryness) like sorbitol
Thickeners (prevents the sedimentation of the abrasives) like clay
Anti-tartars like tetrasodium pyrophosphate
Desensitizers like potassium nitrate
Anti-cavities like fluoride
Surfactants ( create mousse) like sodium laureth sulfate
Coloring agents
There are other ingredients as well however these are less common. Are all these ingredients truly necessary
to help keep our teeth and gums in good health? Studies show that fluoride is dangerous for our health
i
1.2.3.4. The minimum lethal dose of fluoride is 5mg per kg of body weight. This dose can lead to severe
poisoning. In the United States and Canada, all the toothpastes contain this minimum dose. Even though we
don’t actually swallow a whole tube, keep in mind that our oral mucosa still absorbs it daily and without
actually causing death, it can cause long term secondary effects to our health. Although it is said that fluoride
can prevent cavities, studies made by dentists in New Zealand, Canada and the United States show that the
same amount of cavities were shown in cases using fluoride as in cases without any use at all. In fact, good
nutrition and oral hygiene give the same results without the effects of fluoride.
Concerning the surfactants and coloring agents, studies show that sodium laureth sulfate can cause
dermatitis and canker sores. Sorbitol is known for causing stomach problems as it affects gastrointestinal
functions 5.6.
To avoid such side effects, why not take a look at toothpastes composed mainly of pure essential oils.
As a matter of fact, pure essential oils have been used for centuries to treat various dental ailments. One of
their prime characteristics is the capability to penetrate oral mucosa. Their application on the gums is
therefore equally effective sub gingival as well. Take for example Tooth and Gums toothpaste, which is
composed of red thyme, eucalyptus, cinnamon, lavender and peppermint. These ingredients have
antimicrobial properties and conditioners that target soft tissues (gums) as well as protection against bad
breath. It also contains Echinacea which is proven to stimulate healing of the gums and extract of green tea
which helps to protect against cavities.
According to Dentistry Today Periodontics, considering the usage of essential oils to treat gum problems,
studies show that 60% of patients had less pathogenic bacteria with the use of Tooth and Gums toothpaste.
Choosing toothpaste could become a puzzling task when faced with dozens of brands and different versions of
the same toothpaste. Now that we are aware that our oral mucosa can absorb ingredients from toothpaste, it
is important to verify the full composition of our choice and see the effects those ingredients have on your
global health. Opt for toothpaste made of pure essential oils, without fluoride, sodium laureth sulfate,
colouring agents and sorbitol.
Our philosophy is to use pure ingredients, without side effects on our health and to develop ideal oral
hygiene habits. It would give us great pleasure to help you to choose toothpaste so that you can have
fantastic teeth and gums.
In celebration of the arrival of spring, we are pleased to offer a discount of $100 on
combined whitening treatments, only $534 instead of $634 for in office and take home
treatment and only $350 instead of $450 for at-home whitening kits. Contact us soon to
benefit!
References
1. Enviromental Protection Agency (1999)
2. Shulman JD, Well LM (1997)
3. Journal of Medecine (1994)
4. Fluoride in Dentistry (1996)
5. Agner T. dermatitis caused by sodium lauryl suphate (1991)
6. Marrakchi S, Maibach HI. Lauryl sulphate-induced irritation un human face (2006)
Global Dental Art Dentaire Global
4571, rue Sherbrooke Ouest
Westmount, Québec H3Z 1E9
Phone: 514-934-0222 Toll free: 1-877-934-0222
[email protected]
www.artdentaireglobal.com
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