I received an email from my sister after my last post on the importance of using natural toothpastes, Toothpaste is poison! This is what she wrote:
Your blog article got me worrying about my toothpaste. I was wondering if you’ve heard any feedback about using non-fluoride toothpaste at all? I soooo don’t want to get holes in my teeth. I rang the Australian dental federation once and they told me that they can only recommend using toothpaste with fluoride to prevent cavities. Only thing is, I think ALL companies have to test on animals to gain the federation seal of approval. I know this is a fact in America and so I’m assuming it’s the same here. CCF just send me a animal testing booklet so I’m feeling horrible about using fluoride toothpaste.
I did find one company in America ‘Tom’s of Maine’ that has a natural toothpaste with fluoride and is not tested on animals. They specially petitioned the federation to get approval via test methods not using animals. Only thing is it will cost me $90 postage to get the stuff posted out. I’ve emailed Tom’s of Maine to try and get them to send it to me cheaper. I recently read Tom’s of Maine might soon be bought out by Colgate so that will rule them out soon anyway.
I’m really curious to find out whether or not we we actually need fluoride in toothpaste to adequately protect our teeth. And if it’s really okay to use natural toothpastes that do not contain fluoride.
There is no doubt that fluoride in high doses is toxic. There is also no doubt that fluoride is a chemical and putting any chemical into your body is bad for you. You only need to do a very short Google search to pull up thousands of sites, even government studies on the adverse effects of fluoridation. What I really want to find out is do we really need fluoride to properly protect our teeth from cavities. Can I feel comfortable using toothpaste without fluoride, or do I need to get a fluoride treatment from my dentist every six months?
My fluoride conclusions
I’ve done a bit of Internet research and I have to say, it’s difficult to find any conclusive studies because I don’t think any have been done. I have come up with a few conclusions from the research I’ve done.
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As I’ve already stated, there is no doubt that fluoride in high doses is toxic.
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We are exposed to too much fluoride. Fluoridation should be a choice. Adding it to out water is not a choice that should be made for us.
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I’m still undecided about children, but I personally feel that adults do not need fluoride in their toothpaste. There are heaps of alternatives out there to keep your teeth cavity free, one being Xylitol which is a natural sweetener that is great for fighting tooth decay. I chew Xylitol gum which is one way of naturally fighting tooth decay. Spry sells a Xylitol toothpaste but I haven’t seen it at my local health food stores.
- Exposure to too much fluoride in children can lead to fluorosis (mottled teeth). I actually think I have fluorosis on my teeth. I was giving fluoride tablets every day for the first ten or so years of my life, and although I’ve never had a cavity, I have very yellow teeth with a couple of brown stains and some mottled white bits. The dentist has tried to polish these stains off but the stains are all the way through the teeth. I’ve never been a smoker and don’t drink coffee so I can’t blame the yellow teeth on either of those. I was teased as a child and still get asked occasionally about my yellow teeth so to be honest, I’d much rather have a few cavities than yellow and mottled teeth.
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Examples of mottled teeth from Dental Fluorosis. Source: http://www.fluoridation.com |
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My research has made me completely comfortable with not using toothpaste which contains fluoride. I also don’t like the fact that all fluoride toothpastes are tested on animals.
Before I have children (which is a few years yet anyway!) I’m going to do a lot of research and find out what the best options are. If you know of anyone that has had absolutely no fluoride in their toothpaste, drinking water, or trips to the dentist, write a comment because I’d really like to know what state your teeth are in. Fluoride in toothpaste was first marketed in the 1950s so I’m not that confident I’ll find anyone.
For now, no more fluoride in toothpaste for me – I’m using natural dental care only. All I have to do now is find a holistic dentist …
Frances Kerr
19 responses ↓
Flouride as currently used in toothpaste is not necessary to protect your teeth from cavities. I read that it was put in toothpaste as a way of getting rid of surplus flouride that was being produced during the Mahattan Project when developing the atomic bomb.
You don’t get cavities due to a lack of flouride in the mouth- you get cavities when the conditions are right for bacteria to attack your teeth. There are other ways of avoiding such conditions too.
Thanks Wing Ding, that’s quite a strong comment about the atomic bomb. I’m not really sure what it means though, is there an article I can read?
Also, what are the other ways of avoiding such conditions? Or is it just the obvious, flossing, not eating too much sugar, etc.
What brand of toothpaste do you use? I’m thinking about moving on from Weleda, there’s heaps at my local health food store, I might try every one until I find the best.
[...] be touching my images up. Although I am going to take the teeth whitening tip because I have fluridosis damage on my teeth so I’m very embarrassed about the color of them. I figured that’s my teeth not my skin [...]
It’s easy to make your own natural toothpaste!
These instructions are especially useful if you are trying to minimize exposure to fluoride, such as for children or people who already have fluorosis. This toothpaste is sugar-free and non-toxic.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Minutes
Here’s How:
1. Mix three parts baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) with one part table salt (sodium chloride).
2. Add three teaspoons of glycerine for every 1/4 cup of dry mixture.
3. Add enough water to make a thick paste. If desired, a few drops of peppermint oil may be added to improve the taste.
4. Apply and use just as you would any other toothpaste. Store unused toothpaste at room temperature in a covered container.
Tips:
1. Consider Grant’s Herbal toothpaste, or my favourite- Weleda Calendula Toothpaste
2. Don’t like the flavor? You can use a different mint oil, oil of cinnamon, or oil of cloves (small quantity) instead of or in combination with peppermint oil.
3. Glycerine (sometimes spelled glycerin) is available at many pharmacies or in craft stores that sell soap-making supplies.
What You Need:
• sodium bicarbonate
• salt
• water
• glycerine
• peppermint oil (optional)
i use tom of maines toothpaste with fluoride i really like it. I refuse to not use a toothpaste without it because my teeth are really prone to getting cavities and the fluoride really helps me. the reason i switched to all natural toothpaste is because they contain no palm oils, which helps saves the monkeys
Hi Frances, I am so interested in the same thing and after researching it have come to some similar discoveries about flouride etc, I like the natural toothpastes – I do think keeping ones mouth in good clean environment helps and good nutrition, I have heard of xylitol – and iodine solutions and hydrogen peroxide – mostly for rinsing – Kiss my face has a new toothpaste as does JASON and there are more of course – my mouth feels just as healthy if not more after quitting brushing with flouride – I wish I had thought of it more as cleaning rather than protecting though earlier in life the main thing is to keep ones mouth clean and with good nutirtion ones mouth will be healthy – just spot free, I used to think of it as more adding a layer of flouride but was incorrect – flouride is supposed to kill bacteria and remineralize but there are better alternatives – also I think rinsing is good and using an electric toothbrush and cleaning the tongue and the less bad stuff one eats the easier to clean – also Frances I think you are hot and I think if you live in florida or want to visit I would so love to take you on a date to a whole foods or something and we can make an organic meal and brush teeth later with our non flouride toothpastes – but back to topic I have been using non flouride for a year and do feel better – I thought I would get cavities but it has been better its about keeping the whole mouth clean, flouride is not needed
i was asking the exact same question. i’m pissed off about our government (in brisbane, australia) putting flouride in our water recently, although there was alot of opposition and evidence of its dangers. i have looked for a toothpaste with some flouride and no sls, but haven’t been successful. the info you’ve given has helped increase my confidence in using natural toothpastes.
Carmel- I buy my toothpaste online, there are many more options overseas, try iherb.com
Hi Fran, do you think mouthwash is necessary at all? I’ve just started using them but i noticed that my font teeth do exhibit signs of dental fluorosis. i don’t know if it was because of the mouthwash. i’ve never really noticed them until today. Please advice!
thanx for the info, very helpful!
I’ve heard that green tea can also prevent tooth decay. even if u don’t drink it, rinsing ur mouth with green tea when u brush ur teeth can help!
anything in large quantities can be harmful.
if you had a headache, you’d take one or two asprin, not 30 or 40, right?
flouride in small doses is proven to make teeth stronger and help prevent cavities. flouride occurs naturally in many water sources. don’t believe the hype about flouride toothpaste being bad for you.
Hi, you guys seem to be confused in places.. hopefully I can clear some things up a little.
Fluoride is everywhere, natural, tasteless and unavoidable. It is the 17th most common element in the Earth’s waters and has been present long before human civilisation. It has neither hindered or stopped our development.
Bacteria in plaque ferment the sugars we eat to produce acid. Acid = erosion = tooth decay. What the fluoride does is neutralise the acid, remineralise (i.e. build up again) the decayed tooth surface and hinder bacterial activity. Toothpastes with no fluoride are basically just abrasives that help to remove some food debris, but not remineralise the decayed tooth surface.
A good analogy i can think of right now is seeing the tooth as a brick wall. When we consume refined sugars (which is in most of our foods and drinks) a bit of the wall breaks down. Fluoride helps to slow the progression of that brickwall crumbling as well as cement new bricks to the wall to build it up again. No fluoride, but regular brushing would help slow the brick wall from breaking down, but the wall would still be worn out in some areas. Over time, the wall will get smaller and smaller if nothing builds it up again.
However, saliva does help to rebuild it up again, so chewing sugar-less gum after meals is very beneficial as it stimulates your saliva flow. But together with fluoride, the brick wall will be complete again much quicker and sooner.
There have been a lot of studies done on fluoride, but they are not easily found on the internet as they are in past scientific journals.
To help you out a little, the recent Systematic review (pooled from 70 studies) on fluoride toothpaste shows that it prevents at least a quarter (24% to be exact) of decayed teeth, while you get additional protection if you live in a fluoridated area and brush 2x a day (extra 14% prevention). This is a significant amount, especially in the long-run.
As for fluoridated water, those who live in a fluoridated area are 56% less likely to experience dentine caries (i.e. deep caries, almost to the pulp) than those who live in a non-fluoridated area (a study done from 1998-2003).
Of course, the fluoride they add in water is not in such a high dose as to be toxic, but way below it. Fluoride is an important preventive measure, and I’m sure the government is not doing it just for fun, but actually for a good reason. But i understand some people want to have a choice – just like how children want to choose whether they eat their vegetables or not despite their parents emphasising how good it is for them.
As for your concerns on fluorosis, you are only at risk of getting fluorosis between the ages of 0-6 (ages 0-4 for your front teeth), which is when the teeth are developing/calcifying under the gums. It is caused by ingesting a significant amount of fluoride, usually due to children swallowing too much toothpaste on a daily basis (parents should only put a small pea size/smear on their brushes and use children’s toothpaste until age 6, which has half the concentration of fluoride than a normal toothpaste). Can also be caused by giving fluoride tablets regularly to children (this is highly concentrated and is not recommended for children under 10). The stains you get are the fluoride embedded in your tooth structure during the time the tooth was developing. However, it is not harmful, but actually quite beneficial as it is more resistant to decaying than normal tooth structure. For you that means you are less likely to get deep cavities (advanced caries = possible dead tooth = tooth extraction or root canal therapy).
If you are still unsure which way to go, some ways to prevent tooth decay are:
- floss regularly and correctly (ask your dentist)
- eat less sugary food/drinks
- if you’re going to have sugary foods/drinks have it during meal times (this is when your saliva flow is high)
- snack less often
- do not have meals/snacks late at night or before bedtime (this is when your saliva flow is low)
- chew sugar-less gum after meals (to stimulate your saliva)
- brush your teeth 2x a day (immediately after meals is better)
- a good substitute for refined sugar is xylitol (less plaque develops and less acid produced)
- see your dentist/dental hygienist regularly for a check-up and clean
i’m sorry for the lengthy response, but it is definitely something to think about. I hope that whichever choice you make all goes well for you! Happy brushing
Cheers
I use Tom’s of Maine without floride, fennel flavor, and am always complimented on the whiteness of my teeth! My naturopath told me to stop using anything with mint, cinnimon, or tea tree to clear up the pimples and itching around my mouth. Golly gee, it worked! Now, I’m following Fran’s plan to get rid of the rest of the pimples.
I’m very confused about Flouride. We still use it, as I’m scared to death if we stop, we will get cavity’s and decay. I have 5 children, and only one has ever had cavities (so far) and he also has those flouride stains on his front two teeth (only used toothpaste-no tablets for him). But he also is a sugar eater/drinker. I’m really not sure what to think. We also use mouthwash.
Hiya Katie -
at least you care to look into it -
questions I would look up
- when did we start putting flouride in water
- why
- what other countries do it (not europe or even about half of the us)
- what are the benefits (possible anti cavity BECAUSE kills germs or is antiseptic and reminerizes – can you do the same with other ingredients? yes)
- what are the cons
- where does the flouride in our water come from (waste from manufacturing?
- what types of flouride is used (mainly two types)
- whats a safe amount
- are there any conflicts of interest of any findings
- even if the quantities are small can they accumulate over time – a pinch is toxic
- are there safer alternatives?
I have researched google and youtube and other websites and I researched it for the risks first and spent days and then to play devils advocate I researched it for the pros (weeks of discerning info and still am occasionally) and untill the jurys in I would rather not use it – I was scared to stop too
my fav paste and mouth wash is :
Kiss my face mint gel toothpaste (non flouride) , and a xylitol based mwash as of now however there are others I use
the purpose of flouride is to dry the mouth and kill little nasties which can be done with other cleansers
first I floss
than clean tongue
then rinse with hydorgen peroxide
then brush (electric toothbrush) cant go back once tried that
than rinse
and my teeth have never felt healthier and its been over a year now, just my experience as of now
***also I quit drinking sodas and eating stuff with refined sugar about 10 years ago
Best wishes
It is a proven fact that floride in toothpast, is a wonderful additive in cavity reduction. It kills the bacteria that causes cavities. Its fine to use as long as you spit it out, but the more important question is why is it in out drinking water when it does us more harm then good to swallow it. Bright smile vs health defects, especially in children .. watch this, it may be shocking.
http://esotericonline.ning.com/video/the-hidden-agenda-the-fluoride.
You’ll find the negatives effects of fluoride consumption appear to be far worse than mottled teeth.
Here’s one site which does a good job at explaining for anyone interested in their pineal gland and it’s job as a spiritual centre… The gland gets encrusted in fluoride.
Also many negative side effects, cancer tumours etc.
I’ve read a lot of reports from dentists and docters and it would definitely seem that fluoride is in our water and pastes for all the wrong reasons
when teeth begin to loose (in aged ) and tend to natural decay or wear there is effective herbal toothpowder in India to harden the teeth and avoid further decay, and there is no need to remove the teeth. Then why should we go for fluride and calcinated toothpastes when decayed and loosed teeth itself become stronger with the brushing of natural tooth poweder
Hello Frances, I have been using natural toothpaste for over 5 years and have not had yet any cavities although there has been some errosion on my teeth. My Dentist said it is due to the natural toothpaste, that can be abrasive to your teeth due to the natural ingredients. I was surprised and concerned, not sure what to doo, but if this is shown on my x-ray, how can i argue! So, I choose to change switch toothpaste to a more sensitive tootpaste and since my last check up to the dentist(6 months later )there has been a change, my errosion was at a stall.
I have been practicing naturopathy over 10 years now and threw my experiences, we must have a balance with anything we use, may it be natural or conventional, our body needs to be able to draw these toxins from our body and flush it out. This is the no1 key to a healthier body.
We all want to try to limit the consumption of unheathy ingredients and substitute with others …perhaps healthier! That’s Good!
My concern is … are we focusing on the right things! Yourself. There is alot of information out there, sometimes confusing us more.
Listen to your body and stay free of toxic information.
My personal experience and insight.
Visit my blog; http://www.blog.naturanna.ca
Anna R.Dias ND, Montreal.
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