Toxins in Your Toothpaste: Are You Using the Right Kind?

Many self-care and home-care products offer anything but “care” for your health. On the contrary, they’re one of most insidious toxin sources in our society. One of the worst culprits is toothpaste.

If would be nice to be able to trust in the inherent goodness of product manufacturers—to believe that they wouldn’t sell us something that’s blatantly harmful.

Sadly, though, this just isn’t the way the world works. More often than not, companies will simply include whatever ingredients get the job done for the cheapest manufacturing cost, even if it means turning a blind eye to the adverse health effects caused by their products.

In some ways, manufacturing practices are improving (or at least companies are beingforced to do so). Just recently, the Chemical Safety Act for the 21^st Century was signed into law. This improvement upon the Toxic Substance Control Act will ensure more stringent regulation of the toxic chemicals used across many industries, so it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

The Chemical Safety Act only pertains to EPA-regulated chemicals and products, though—which means that all cosmetics are excluded.

This is very bad news, given the vast array of poisons found in conventional self-care products. We’ve talked some of them in previous articles: antibacterial soaps, lotions,“microbead” shampoos and conditioners, sunscreens, and more. Toothpaste poses many of the same risks.

Many toothpaste brands contain harmful ingredients like fluoride, carrageenan, artificial surfactants, detergents, and foaming agents, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, PEG’s and propylene glycol, triclosan, toxic industrial byproducts, and GMO ingredients.

So which toothpaste is best?

Luckily, the Cornucopia Institute also identified which toothpaste brands live up to their health claims. Here’s their top 5 picks…

1. Bronner’s All-One Toothpaste
2. Green People Toothpaste
3. Poofy Organics Happy Teeth Organic Toothpaste
4. Miessence Toothpaste
5. Made Simple Skincare Mint Sweet Orange Toothpaste

These exceptional products contain none of the chemicals listed above. Instead, they implement certified organic coconut oil, essential oils, and healing clays. These natural substances work just as well (or better) at preventing tooth decay, keeping gums healthy, and whitening teeth—coconut oil has even been shown to accomplish all these feats on its own, and the addition of other oils and clays only boosts its efficacy.

Choosing a safe, natural brand of toothpaste is a win-win—your teeth will receive superior care, and your body will be protected from the short and long-term side effects of the other, chemical-laden varieties.