Few people stop and look at what is in their toothpaste. It is a jumble of chemicals with names that are too long to read and impossible to comprehend. However, there is now a small but growing number of experts who contend that some of the chemicals used in the most common brands of toothpaste are not aimed at helping our teeth, rather they are aimed at making the toothpaste more cost efficient to produce. Here are a few of the most common ones that you want to avoid\u2026<\/p>\n
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS): <\/strong>Sodium Lauryl Sulphate can be found in about 85% of the toothpaste used in the United States. Its purpose in the tube is to keep the ingredients mixed. Without it the oils would separate from the water inside of tube and instead of coming out as toothpaste you would get the different components at different times. SLS has been linked to skin issues. It creates gaps between the skin cells of the mouth, making it easier for toxins to take root. This can cause chronic ulcers in a person\u2019s mouth, as well as make a person more prone to cuts and abrasions.<\/p>\n If you have chronic ulcers in your mouth, one solution you should talk about with your dentist is the possibility of switching to a SLS free toothpaste.<\/p>\n Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide: <\/strong>These two agents are commonly found in teeth whitening toothpastes. While they may be able to whiten your teeth when applied in high enough concentrations (which are usually higher than you find in toothpaste anyway, making them pointless in most cases), they also damage the outer layer of the soft tissue of your gums at any concentration. And sick gums inevitably lead to sick teeth.<\/p>\n If you want to get your teeth whitened, the safest way is to see a dental specialist. As a rule of thumb, it is a good idea to avoid teeth whitening toothpastes, as their benefits are minimal.<\/p>\n Microbeads: <\/strong>Microbeads are found in a wide variety of health and beauty products, including toothpaste, and they are extremely dangerous, just not in the way most people would suspect. The term microbead is just a fancy marketing term for a tiny plastic ball that adds a little abrasion to the substance. The big companies love them because they are cheap space-wasters. In some products they represent 10% of the total volume. These little beads also feel nice on the skin, and in soaps and lotions they can give you a better scrub. Unfortunately, these little balls do not dissolve in water so when they are washed down the drain they make it all the way to the water treatment centers. From there they are dumped into rivers and the ocean because our water treatment centers were not designed to filter them out. Once they are in the lakes and rivers they float around until they are eaten by fish. Because they are the same size and shape as fish eggs, there are lots of interested predators who think they are a meal. After they are eaten, they remain in the fish until they are eaten by something bigger, working their way up the food chain, and just like any plastic product, they are toxic when eaten.<\/p>\n Many states have banned them from products or are in the process of banning them, but until you know if you state is one of them, you should check the label of all your products, lotions, creams, shaving gels, soaps, and toothpastes, to make sure they do not contain plastic microbeads.<\/p>\n Dr. Potts is a gentle, caring dentist who uses the most advanced materials and procedures available. He practices comfortable, health-centered dentistry, with a strong emphasis on getting to know each patient. In addition to his technical proficiency, Dr. Potts is a careful listener. He makes sure to understand what you want and will explain beforehand what treatment is best for your individual needs, along with all options available to you. Check out our Twitter, Facebook page, and website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Few people stop and look at what is in their toothpaste. It is a jumble of chemicals with names that are too long to read and impossible to comprehend. However, there is now a small but growing number of experts who contend that some of the chemicals used in the most common brands of toothpaste […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[407,406,405],"class_list":{"0":"post-483","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-dentistry","7":"category-health","8":"tag-microbeads","9":"tag-peroxide-and-hydrogen-peroxide","10":"tag-sodium-lauryl-sulphate","11":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n