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Unfortunately, most commercial toothpaste is full of super-toxic ingredients that don’t need to be in there and actually contribute to the problems they’re promising to solve! 

Toothpaste doesn’t have to be ingested for toxins to enter your system; they can pass through the lining of your teeth directly into your bloodstream and spread throughout the body.

And you would assume that because it’s allowed to be sold on the market that it’s deemed safe. But when they’re testing the safety of a specific product, they’re testing it based on the assumption that this is the ONLY toxin that will be entering your body and that after you use it, you are actually able to eliminate it after each dose, before using it again. 

It’s the accumulation of toxic exposure that is harmful, not necessary the single dose. 

Gradually removing conventional items full of toxins and chemicals from your home and beauty regime should be a top priority, especially if you’re dealing with any health issues. 

Here is a list of some of the most common harmful ingredients found in toothpaste

You’ll find a handy cheatsheet at the bottom 

Fluoride: Ingesting too much fluoride can possibly cause permanent tooth discoloration, stomach problems, skin rashes, and impairment in glucose metabolism. In fact, the F.D.A. requires a warning label on every tube of fluoride toothpaste sold in the U.S.

Triclosan, which is a pesticide, health concerns associated with triclosan include cancer weakened heart muscle function, endocrine issues which disrupt hormones and bone deformation, to name a few.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (S.L.S.) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) their primary purpose is to provide a foaming lather. The problem with S.L.S. and SLES is that they may cause canker sores, mouth ulcers, stomach issues, and cancer. Remember, foam doesn’t actually clean your teeth.

Propylene Glycol is a mineral oil that, in the industrial grade, is used in antifreeze, paints, enamels, and airplane de-icers. The pharmaceutical grade would be used in toothpaste to smooth out the texture. Unfortunately, it could also possibly cause cancer, reproductive issues, and skin irritation.

Artificial Colourings to make it blue or green – which is unnecessary and may cause cancer, increase inflammation and disrupt the immune system, hives, asthma, hypersensitivity and behavioral changes like irritability and depression, especially in children.

Titanium Dioxide makes toothpaste white, but that’s about it. 

Glycerin makes the toothpaste pasty but strips your mouth of the natural protective mucous and coats your teeth, which prevents them from remineralizing, leading to increase chances of cavities.

Saccharin is a petroleum-based sugar substitute made from crude oil. So tasty. It’s approximately 350 times sweeter than regular white sugar. Saccharin was linked to cancer in a few clinical studies but continues to be a commonly used additive in food and hygiene products.

Carrageenan derived from seaweed is a common thickening agent in toothpaste – both conventional and natural, but it doesn’t mean carrageenan is totally safe. It has been shown to cause inflammation in the intestine and possible colon tumors potentially.

Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and has been known to metabolize inside your body as both a poisonous wood alcohol and formaldehyde. Yes, formaldehyde! Possible side effects could include migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, vertigo, anxiety, memory loss, and brain tumors, birth defects, and joint pain. Aspartame consumption could potentially lead to illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Lymphoma, Parkinson’s Disease, and Fibromyalgia.

Parabens are a fairly common additive in cosmetics, including toothpaste. Used as a preservative, parabens are chemicals that can mimic the hormone estrogen and can potentially cause cancer, developmental, and reproductive issues. Some of the chemicals to watch out for are: Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Benzylparaben.

Want an easy and inexpensive way to avoid all these nasty ingredients? Make your own D.I.Y. toothpaste.

Here is a simple recipe to get you started.

Remember not to overwhelm yourself, 1 change at a time is all you need