In case you haven't heard, there are chemicals used in our personal care products that the FDA doesn't inspect and they have banned only 8 out of the over 12,000 ingredients used in cosmetics since the federal cosmetics law was written over 70 years ago. These chemicals can be toxic and can lead to cancer, neurological damage and reproductive issues.
So what am I getting at here? Rethinking your toothpaste. Most brands on the market contain fluoride, triclosan, ethanol and silica, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, sweeteners, artificial flavors, and food dyes — which are not great for your health.
According to Suite101: "The mucus membranes inside the mouth are one of the most direct routes to the blood, the brain and other cells of your body, since the mucosal lining inside the mouth has about 90% absorption efficiency."
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and triclosan have recently come under scrutiny. SLS can cause skin and eye irritation, has been linked to mouth ulcers because it can create microscopic damage to the oral tissues inside the mouth, and it is also a suspected carcinogen.
This article appears in Oct 21-27, 2010.