The Natural Dentist Oral Care Line vs. Toxic Toothpaste

I was recently introduced to a line of oral hygiene products called The Natural Dentist. After using the products for about a week, I liked this line better than any of the other natural products that I have tried so far. I have used both Burt’s Bees and Tom’s of Maine products, as well as using my own concoction of baking soda and peroxide. While there is nothing wrong with those products, The Natural Dentist feels more like the toothpaste I grew up with, except of course that it is completely natural.

The Natural Dentist product line is made out of herbal and all natural ingredients, so it is completely free of harmful and/or synthetic chemicals found in many oral hygiene products(and personal care products in general) like sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, PEGs, FD & C coloring, saccharin, petroleum products and alcohol.

I also noticed that the toothpaste that I used was a whitening one which I was a little skeptical of at first, but after using it I did notice that it was very effective. Instead of bleach and abrasives, the product uses grape seed extract which works just as well, if not better, than your traditional brands. The Natural Dentist website lists all of the ingredients used in the products, where they come from, and why they were included. You can also find links to independent research studies that compare the line to popular brands such as Listerine. If reading scholarly articles is not your thing, the studies basically indicate that the herbal products work just as good, if not better, than the popular oral care products in killing bacteria, preventing gingivitis and periodontal disease, as well as maintaining good oral health.

What concerned me about these products is the fact that some of the toothpastes contain fluoride. I have been very weary of fluoride for some time because of the controversy surrounding its use, where it is derived from, and if it is actually necessary in the first place.

However, if you don’t want fluoride in your toothpaste, you can use the fluoride free toothpaste that is also available. The general consensus among dental professionals and physicians is that fluoride is necessary in preventing tooth decay and promoting strong healthy teeth. It is a personal decision to use fluoride toothpaste, and you need to examine for yourself whether or not you and your family actually need it.

Why is it Green to Use Natural Oral Care Products?

While the ingredients that are found in the products we use are potentially hazardous to our health, think about the impact that the billions of people using them has on the planet and its life forms. For example, spitting chemical laden toothpaste down the drain gives the earth a much larger toxic dose of pollutants than what is stored in our individual bodies. For instance, PEGs which are used as a thickeners as well as a solvent for grease an oil, find their way into bodies of water and cause algae blooms. The overgrowth of algae unchecked destroys delicate ecosystems and negatively reverberates to other ecosystems.

Another good example is triclosan. Triclosan is a synthetic antibacterial agent that is put in soaps and toothpastes which studies show to be dangerous to your health as well as that of the earth's. Triclosan combines with other molecules that create dioxins, some of which are carcinogenic. Most dioxins are not a serious threat to human health, only 17 of the more 200 that exist, but they are stored in the human body as well as in other animals for very long periods of time. Dioxins that are formed from triclosan are potential endocrine disruptors, cause nervous system interference, and can effect reproduction or create androgyny in animal species including humans. That is just to name a few of its effects.

If you use a toothpaste that contains triclosan, and you use chlorinated water to rinse, a chemical reaction between the triclosan and chlorine occurs and creates a molecule of chloroform. Chloroform is carcinogenic, causes unconsciousness when inhaled (in large amounts is fatal)and is detrimental to the ozone layer. But the million dollar question is would you put Chloroform in your mouth?

Again, what ever you spit out goes down the drain and into the environment. Sweden has already banned triclosan after discovering that several species of fish, animals, breast milk and water systems were contaminated with triclosan. In the United States where 25% of toothpastes and countless other personal care products still contain triclosan, almost 60% of streams and rivers had triclosan contamination across 30 of the 50 states. The United States Food and Drug Administration requires toothpaste manufacturers to list triclosan as an ingredient. Colgate is one manufacturer, and it is proud of the fact that its products contain triclosan as stated on their website.

The Natural Dentist products are manufactured using sustainable products

• Ingredients are harvested using sustainable agriculture.
• Chemicals do not seep into the environment during manufacture because they are not used.
• All products are cruelty free,not tested or derived from animals and are approved by PETA.
• All products are FDA approved and made in the United States.
• Packaging is kept to a minimum, is recyclable, and labels are printed with soy ink.

So by using a natural oral care line that has a strong green profile, you are not only protecting the health of you and your family, but also being eco-friendly in your personal actions as well as supporting a responsible eco-friendly company.

You can purchase The Natural Dentist products online as well as through regular brick and mortar retailers. If you go to the website you can search for a store near you, as well as download coupons.

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