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
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
3 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 [...]
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