I have seen an increasing number of people interested in organic products. I see an increasing number of organic products on the market, including things like personal care and beauty items. There’s even an organic toothpaste, something I’ve never used it and don’t know a lot about. I found this article about the advantages of buying it interesting and am sharing it with you with permission.
How Organic Toothpaste Can Help Your Health
When you really stop to think about it, keeping your body in top physical condition requires a great deal of effort. Every time you go to a fast food joint and pick up a burger, you’re technically harming your body. Every day you decide to skip out on going to the gym or doing that mile run is a day that lets your body further degrade and slump into laziness. And every time you don’t brush your teeth is a chance for bacteria to spread across your pearly whites.
However, that view on health and your body is a little on the extreme side. Just because a burger isn’t as healthy as a solid meal of fresh, preservative-free foods doesn’t mean you can’t eat it. Your body isn’t a delicate flower that can’t deal with some bad habits. Even so, the saying about all things in moderation is important to keep in mind. And along with avoiding unhealthy binges, it’s important to keep up with your body’s regular maintenance, including brushing your teeth on a daily basis. However, the type of toothpaste you use can play a major part in how effective your daily brushings are. So, is it time to ditch the old brand in favor of something new and organic? And if so, how much help does organic toothpaste really give?
What Harm can Regular Toothpaste Cause?
If you’ve never thought about what your toothpaste actually has in it, it’s time to start. You brush your teeth every day (or at least you should), so knowing what you’re putting in your mouth is important. While there are a number of different ingredients regular toothpaste uses, some of the main chemicals you need to be aware of, as discussed by living the Nourished Life, include:
- Fluoride – can be incredibly toxic if too much is ingested, and can cause acne outbreaks among other, more severe problems.
- Titanium dioxide – Like Fluoride, Titanium dioxide can be toxic, but not enough is known about its effects on the body just yet. Some believe it may be carcinogenic (potentially cancer causing) as well.
- Glycerin – If you’ve ever spent serious time watching westerns, you may have heard of the explosive Nitroglycerin. Yes, a component of that is in your toothpaste. Don’t panic, though! You won’t explode; it’s inert without the rest of the parts, but Glycerin on its own can coat your teeth, keeping them from demineralizing.
- Sodium lauryl sulfate – This creates the foamy aspect of toothpaste everyone knows, but it’s also a surfactant (lowers surface tension between different compounds) that can be harmful.
- Artificial sweeteners – If you already use artificial sweeteners on other foods, then you shouldn’t worry (though they aren’t good for you, period), but if you avoid them, then avoid toothpaste with them.
There are other ingredients to toothpastes out there as well; Organics lists Propylene Glycol, Triclosan, and other artificial flavors and colors along with some of those discussed here. But if you wish to know everything in your toothpaste and what each ingredient actually does, you’ll need to carefully read your toothpaste’s labels and spend some time diving into research on each ingredient.
Not all ingredients are known to be good or bad yet though, as there hasn’t been enough study on them to date, so it’s up to you on whether you’re willing to use them or not.
Can Toothpaste Do More Than Clean?
Yes. Depending on the type of toothpaste you’re using, you can do a lot to improve the health of your mouth and gums. However, according to Organic Lifestyle Magazine, the best way to keep good dental health is to consume a healthy, balanced diet with minimal artificial chemicals and corrosive foods. And truthfully, just switching away from regular, commercial toothpastes can have a big impact on the health of your teeth. Without all the synthetic chemicals and toxic substances, your body’s natural defenses can do wonders in helping maintain your smile.
Alternatives
Even if you don’t want to swap over to an organic toothpaste brand like The Honest Company, finding a fluoride-free toothpaste is a great way to improve your health without changing things up too much. However, if you’re looking to kick commercial brands completely, there are a number of options available to you. You can go for fully organic toothpaste brands like The Honest Company, or you can use completely different cleaning substances entirely. Living the Nourished Life lists 12 different alternatives to toothpaste, including:
- Sea Salt
- Baking Soda
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Herbal Tooth Powders
- Dry Brushing
- Pure Water Brushing
- All Natural Soap
- Tooth Soap
- Coconut Oil
- Waterpik Oral Irrigation
- Essential Oils
- Oil Pulling
Some of these may sound a little wacky, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them a shot. Spend some time reading up how each method works in-depth and find one that interests you. Even if some of these alternatives don’t work out for you, you can always fall back on regular, organic toothpastes.
Organic often means overpriced–something always in front of my mind as I shop. MILK!