Toothy Revolution

Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game...Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

A few days ago my kids went to the dentist for spring cleaning. All things were in good order and, given how often they probably lie about their oral hygiene, I was pleasantly surprised that they were given the nod without even a referral for an orthodontia evaluation. 

While at the dental office I had a rare collision of forethought and thriftiness and as such asked the hygienist for a couple of those cute little toothpaste samples for the boys to take on upcoming school camping trips. Oh what a clever mommy I am! 

That night, my nine year-old son was excited to try the new toothpaste (this is what happens when you don’t routinely buy commercial products) and while he was brushing away I read the teeny-tiny print on the tube of Crest Pro-Health, Clean Mint flavor; it says: “Warning Keep out of reach of children. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a poison control center right away.”

I’m like, EXCUSE ME? 

This is Crest, the one that nine out of ten dentists recommend for fighting cavities and gingivitis. One of the top selling mass-market brands of toothpaste in America, for crying out loud. And I need to call poison control if I swallow an inch of the tasty blue goo? But if I brush with it every single day, three times a day, and swallow a little bit each time, that’s OK? Is that really OK? 

For as long as I can remember, I have used some kind or other of groovalicious, health-food store toothpaste. Anise, lavender, real mint, flavored baking soda…you name it, I’ve tried it. I’ve always been averse to food coloring, artificial sweeteners, colors etc., but I never actually considered the fact that mass-market toothpaste is poisonous. Naturally, I threw the cute little tube into the trash (and subsequently fished it out to write this entry). Then I gathered the various other tooth cleaning products in our house and checked their labels to see how they compare. 

We currently have four different toothpastes in circulation. The number one choice is Nature’s Gate Crème de Anise with baking soda and anise oil; it has a clean taste, makes the teeth and gums feel good and it has a nice texture. My youngest loves Weleda’s Children’s Tooth Gel, it doesn’t list a flavor but it smells like an orange jelly candy. We also have Peelu brand’s mint-free (which only gets used when we run out of what we really like) and Ipsab Peppermint Tooth Powder that was purchased during the early days of the airline restrictions on bringing liquids and gels onto the plane. Again, not a first choice but not bad either. 

There are no warning labels on any of these products. No artificial ingredients, no synthetic sweeteners, no dyes or weird chemical cocktails. And no fluoride. 

The fluoride debate is its own raging issue. Without going into significant detail, I will say that from a holistic standpoint, I agree with the dissenters on fluoridation who see it as a substance that ultimately weakens teeth and bones and is potentially carcinogenic. 97% of Western Europe agrees…and has chosen not to fluoridate the public water supplies. (For more info, check out the Fluoride Action Network) 

So here’s a daring idea: healthy teeth and gums are a part of an overall healthy body. Routine maintenance (brushing, flossing, regular professional cleanings) is important, but ultimate dental health is a part of a truly Wholistic package. 

The food we put into our bodies, the chemicals we encounter (and avoid), the medicines we take, the relationships in which we participate, are all going to effect how healthy our body (which includes our mouth) can actually be. Choosing a natural toothpaste, widely available now at many mainstream outlets and on line, is one very easy way to reduce the toxic load on the body. 

Go ahead, I dare you!

ps: Thanks Helayna for sharing your toothsome grin!

Comments

[nyscof]

Take Action to End fluoridation here

http://congress.fluorideaction.net

[Sue]

Love this post! Also reminds me of reading shampoo bottles while on the john, a la Dumb and Dumber.

[Cristina]

Oi. Speaking of the john, I'm pouring the bottle of Act the dentist just gave us for Bruno down one.

[Harriet]

i would like to know more about this. I recently saw a holistic dentist, who I thought would be totally into the fact that I used non-fluoridated toothpaste. Instead, it was just the opposite - he told me to use Colgate because I eat too much sugar! Incidentally, he also hinted that my sugar consumption was a behavioural problem. Thoughts?

[Eddie Storms]

Children are most prone to dental cavities and other dental problems. How about trying to buy kiddie toothpastes or brushes? That can somehow help.