Are You Being Kept in the Dark About Your Toothpaste?

Fluoride Free.

Today’s most popular toothpastes, including many ‘natural’ brands, contain a brew of inadequately tested, potentially hazardous ingredients. Even if you’re careful to avoid swallowing, potential carcinogens, irritants, and hormone mimickers can slip into your bloodstream every time you brush.

Benefits

Listed below are the benefits to all the ingredients in Dr Mercola's toothpaste:

Calcium Carbonate – Highly purified mild abrasive for cleaning. Tested for heavy metals (especially lead, arsenic and mercury) and metal contaminants like aluminium, copper, and zinc.
Xylitol – Prevents dental caries and helps reverse early caries. Derived from non-GMO corn sources, so it’s not genetically modified.
Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice – Helps clean your teeth and gums while soothing your entire mouth.
Kosher Vegetable Glycerine – Promotes smoothness and taste. Tested for heavy metals and organic impurities.
Kosher Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) – Promotes whiteness and helps freshen breath. Tested for heavy metals and organic volatile impurities.
Lauryl Glucoside – Helps blend oils and water. Sourced from coconut.
Organic Tapioca Starch – Used traditionally in the West Indies for oral health.
Cellulose Gum – Helps make toothpaste thick and creamy.
Cultured Dextrose – Enhances flavor and mouth-feel. Acts as a preservative. Ours is non-genetically modified and produced by natural fermentation using starter cultures.
Zinc Oxide – For whiteness. Tested for heavy metals.
Organic Stevia Leaf Extract – Provides sweetness. Enzyme-treated to reduce unpleasant metallic taste. Tested for heavy metals.
Glycyrrhizic Acid (Licorice fruit extract) – Promotes oral health and freshens breath. Tested for heavy metals.
Organic Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil – Promotes clean teeth and gums, and helps reduce normal plaque accumulation. Traditionally used topically for skin care.
Organic Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi Holy Basil) Leaf Oil – For cleansing and keeping breath fresh.
Natural Cardamom Mint flavor

Additional Information

Did you know the inside lining of your mouth – your oral mucosa – can absorb more than 90 percent of what it comes in contact with?

This means any ingredient in your toothpaste, including a potentially hazardous one, is likely to pass directly into your bloodstream.

So what kind of chemicals are we talking about? It’s not easy to know.

Manufacturers don’t have to list all the ingredients on their packaging, including potential carcinogens and impurities.

What’s in YOUR toothpaste?

Here are listed ingredients for one of the top-selling toothpastes:

Sodium Fluoride - A poison that accumulates in your bones and tissues
Triclosan - May affect your thyroid, brain, and reproductive functioning
Hydrated Silica - A component of sand that can damage your enamel
Glycerin - Sourced from a genetically engineered vegetable oil
Sorbitol - A sugar alcohol that’s likely genetically engineered
PVM/MA Copolyme - Can potentially break down your mouth lining
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - A gastrointestinal irritant and potential carcinogen
Propylene Glycol - A tissue “penetration enhancer” used in antifreeze
Sodium Saccharin - An artificial sweetener
FD&C Blue No.1 - Petrochemical dyes that are allowed in toothpaste, but banned from food
D&C Yellow No.10 - Petrochemical dyes that are allowed in toothpaste, but banned from food

D

Red is for roses – Not for toothpaste!

Many top-selling toothpastes contain dyes, especially those marketed to children. Some parents claim their kids are more likely to brush if the toothpaste is pleasing to the eye.

Here’s what you need to know about dyes used in toothpaste:

They’re mostly made from petrochemicals
They may contain as much as 10 percent impurities, either from the chemicals used or from by-products formed during the manufacturing process
They can contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic
The three most widely used dyes, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, are contaminated with known carcinogens
D&C dyes are banned from use in food but are allowed in toothpaste

How about ‘Natural’ toothpastes – Are they any better?

Just as the word "natural" doesn’t mean anything with food, it’s just as meaningless with toothpaste.

And since toothpaste isn’t regulated, there’s no guarantee that a "natural" toothpaste won’t contain potentially harmful ingredients.

Unless toothpaste is labelled organic or specifically states “No GMOs or Genetically Modified Ingredients,” there is always the possibility that some of the ingredients may be genetically engineered, especially those made with GMO-corn.

Oral health-promoting botanicals – Introducing refreshing mint toothpaste with Tulsi

Just because many "natural" toothpastes contain carrageenan, SLS, and other potentially harmful ingredients, this one didn’t need to.

Dr Mercola carefully scrutinised the source and quality of every ingredient to meet their exacting standards:

Must use organic ingredients whenever available
No fluoride, but would still provide protection against dental caries
No genetically engineered ingredients
No carrageenan or other potentially carcinogenic ingredients
No synthetic preservatives, but would still have a long shelf life
No hidden heavy metals, contaminants or impurities
No harsh chemical foaming agents like SLS or SLES
No artificial flavors or sweeteners, but would taste good
No harsh sand (silica), but would still provide whiteness
No potentially dangerous antimicrobial like Triclosan

The secret ingredient for a sparkling smile – and healthy gums

Instead of using potentially dangerous ingredients, Dr Mercola turned to botanicals to provide cleaning of teeth and gums and whiteness.

One in particular, Holy Basil, or Tulsi, has held their attention for many years as an outstanding overall tonic for health. Dr Mercola believe it’s one of the finest medicinal herbs ever discovered.

Evidently, people in India agree. As part of an ancient custom, family members worship the plant and illuminate it with lamps twice a day.

To this day, Holy Basil plays an essential role in worship ceremonies. People believe it protects them from evil and brings good luck.

As for oral care, Tulsi is an exceptional mouth freshener and cleanser, and helps support a beneficial balance of healthy mouth flora. It also helps prevent dental caries while it soothes your mouth.

While Refreshing Mint Toothpaste With Tulsi contains several excellent plant extracts for cleaning teeth and gums, fighting caries, and freshening breath, in my opinion, Tulsi is the crowning glory.