Improving Dental Health With Non-toxic Body Care Products

As a health and nutrition counselor, I frequently receive questions concerning all kinds of health concerns. Recently, I had a question about improving dental health. I think using non-toxic mouthwash, toothpaste, and other supplements is very important. I thought this was something I would share with you.
 

My Answer:
         Dental health is extremely important.

Every day, the average person exposes themselves to more than 100 chemicals from soaps, cosmetics, and other personal care products, like toothpaste or mouthwash. Many of these ingredients (chemicals) have been clinically researched and shown to cause serious health problems, including cancers.

In fact over 80,000+ chemicals used in body care products have never been properly tested for safety by federal regulatory agencies.

So, here is some basic information to get you started in the right direction: 

Toothpaste:
If you read the boxes of some name-brand toothpastes and mouthwashes, you may see a warning to immediately call poison control if you swallow them.

The warnings are usually only on the box and not on the tube or bottle itself. We shouldn’t be putting any kind of poison in our mouths at all because the mouth is highly absorbent.

I use some other dental products, including a teeth whitener by  Primal Life Organics.

There is a study that shows that toxins in toothpastes and shampoos, even if just used by the pregnant mother, cause hormonal imbalances and early puberty in children.

Do not share your toothpaste. It can spread germs when someone else’s toothbrush touches the opening on the tube.

Get a new toothbrush after any illness, or at least every two months. This will prevent the toothbrush from becoming too built up with germs.

Floss at least once a day to keep gums healthy and to remove bacteria from between teeth.

Use a tongue scraper to keep the tongue clean and fresh.

Tongue scrapers, which are available in most drugstores in various shapes and sizes, have been touted as a way to reduce bad breath. They are fairly inexpensive. I think they are something everyone should use.

To use it, you put the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue and gently bring it forward along your tongue, and then repeat. If you have a tongue that is coated with debris, bacteria and dead cells, then a tongue scraping may be helpful.  It makes your mouth feel so much cleaner and fresher.

Mouthwash

Be careful what mouthwash you use.
Alcohol is used in many mouthwashes. “Mouthwashes with a content of 25 percent or higher have been implicated in mouth, tongue, and throat cancers.”(1)

Another ingredient to watch out for in mouthwash is potassium bromate. It is used in sports drinks, citrus flavored drinks, breads, crackers, baked goods, and mouthwashes.

Why should we look out for potassium bromate?  

Our thyroid is our master gland. It is central to all of our body’s major functions. It influences our metabolism, digestion, energy, body temperature, skin, hair, sleep, mental acuity, nervous system, sexual organs, and hormonal system. In fact, it would be very difficult to find a system that is not influenced by the thyroid. The main nutrient that supports our thyroid is iodine.

What does this mean if we ingest potassium bromate? We have a certain amount of space for the iodine in our thyroid. When we ingest potassium bromate, it acts like iodine. It will take up the space for iodine and actually prevent your body from absorbing the iodine it needs. This contributes to iodine deficiency.(2)

Check the ingredient lists carefully and if it’s added under a certain percentage the FDA doesn’t require them to list it on the label. Something to be aware of in many products. If concerned, you may want to call the company and ask.

 
For more information go to:
www.organichealthylife.com

Thank you for all the questions!