Is Toothpaste Making Your Kids Sick? The Hidden Health Risks of Children's Toothpaste
Most mums are shocked to find out that most commercial brands of children's toothpastes at the supermarket contain harmful chemicals that have been linked to all sorts of health problems.
Not only do the FDA and toothpaste manufacturers know the ingredients are dangerous, in the USA toothpastes are required to have a warning label that warns it’s not safe to swallow. Some labels warn to call poison control if swallowed!
Every mum knows that their kids are swallowing some of that toothpaste.
If you're from the USA, you'll have seen those toothpaste warning labels, though if you're from other parts of the world, including Australia, you won't have seen those warning labels on toothpastes, as the Australian government doesn't require that warning on labels. Yet, we have the same toothpaste brands with the same ingredients in the toothpastes.
Everybody knows mums want to keep their kids safe, so when mums hear this for the first time, a series of emotions occur. First, surprise that toxic ingredients would be allowed in children's products. Followed by anger that this information isn't disclosed. Next comes confusion about what to use instead.
Let's explore how to keep your kids teeth clean whilst keeping them safe.
When shopping for children's toothpaste, here's a list of chemicals to avoid and why:
Flouride
Fluoride is categorized as a “toxic drug” by the FDA. Swallowing fluoride, as is the case with fluoridated drinking water and using fluoridated toothpates, is especially detrimental to health, as the science demonstrates that fluoride is a toxic chemical that accumulates in the tissues over time and produces a number of serious adverse health effects, including neurological and endocrine dysfunction, brittle bones, mottled teeth, behavioural changes and an increased risk of osteosacoma (bone cancer). Children are particularly at risk for adverse effects of overexposure. If you have a young child, it’s recommended that you use a non-fluoride toothpaste.
Triclosan
Included in most conventional toothpastes is used as an antibacterial agent. It has been linked to many health problems including thyroid problems, hormonal disruption, infertility and it may cause cancer. The American Medical Association suggests triclosan not be used in the home as it may encourage bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have found that triclosan, when mixed with chlorine as found in tap water, forms chloroform. Every time you brush your teeth with toxic toothpaste and tap water, you are creating a highly toxic chemical reaction directly in your mouth.
Toothpaste appears to be one of the most potent delivery vehicles for the chemical, as research found people who brushed their teeth with Colgate Total had more than five times as much triclosan in their urine as those who did not. [1]
SLS Sodium Laurel Sulphate
A common ingredient in toothpastes, SLS is a surfactant used to create the foaming action. SLS is readily absorbed in the body and is considered a carcinogen. It can also cause skin and eye irritations, hormone imbalances, denaturing of structural proteins, canker sores and mouth ulcers. According to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology Vol 2 No 7 1983, SLS can act as a mutagen, meaning that in suffucient amounts it is capable of changing genetic informaiton found in cells. SLS can damage the immune system and cause skin inflammation or damage
Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners like saccharin, sorbitol, and aspartame are added to the toothpastes to mask the horrible chemical taste. Saccharin is manufactured from petroleum products. Formaldehyde is a by-product of aspartame. These artificial sweeteners can cause side effects like: headaches, dizziness, mood changes, vomiting or nausea, abdominal pains, diarrhea, seizures, memory loss, fatigue, numbness, joint pain, depression, anxiety, blurred vision, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, systemic lupus and various cancers.
Colours
Colours often included toothpastes are FD & C Blue Dye # 1 & 2.
These can cause behavioural, learning & developmental problems in susceptible people, particularly children. They can also trigger allergies, asthma, headaches and are a potential cancer risk.
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Diethanolamine (DEA), is in products that foam like toothpaste. DEA disrupts hormones and forms cancer-causing nitrates. Dr. Samuel Epstein, professor of environmental health at University of Illinois, states that repeated exposure to skin may lead to increased risk of liver and kidney cancers. A 2006 study from the University of North Carolina found potential danger from DEA in fetal brain development and miscarriage risk.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) ranks DEA as a number 10 in its cosmetics database (the most toxic score) due to high concerns of organ system toxicity, contamination concerns and irritation, along with moderate cancer risk. The California Environmental Protection Agency lists DEA as a possible human carcinogen. DEA is listed on ingredient labels as Cocomide DEA (Diethanolamine), DEA Laurtyl Sulfate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamind DEA, Oleamide DEA or TEA (Triethanolamine).
Choosing a Safe Children's Toothpaste? The list of health risks from fluoride in children's toothpastes is enough for every health conscious mum to look to switch to a green toothpaste. Though when going green, make sure that the product you choose is not only fluoride-free, that it's chemical free too. Unfortunately some companies are jumping on the 'green bandwagon' offering products that aren't as green as you would hope. You need to choose a company you can trust. A company that lists all of the ingredients on the label and a company that doesn't use chemicals.
I choose Young Living toothpaste, as Young Living is a full disclosure company, that use all-natural ingredients, with all ingredients listed on the label.
Young Living offer a fluoride-free childen's toothpaste called Kidscents Slique Toothpaste.
The KidScents Slique toothpaste is an all-natural toothpaste for kids that uses Thieves essential oil blend and Slique Essence essential oil blend to gently clean and protect teeth.
This safe, yet effective blend promotes healthy teeth without the use of fluoride, dyes, synthetic colours, artificial flavours, or preservatives.
Ultrafine calcium carbonate, a natural tooth-health agent, gently scrubs plaque and debris from teeth without damaging enamel.
KidScents toothpaste also contians xylitol, recognised to be great for teeth health.
KidScents Slique toothpaste contains Deionized water, virgin coconut oil, baking soda, calcium carbonate, sunflower lecithin, vegetable glycerin, xanthan gum, xylitol, grapefruit (citrus paradisi), tangerine (citrus reticulata) lemon (citrus limon) spearmint (mentha spicata), ocotea (ocotea quixos) clove ( syzguim aromaticum) lemon (citrus limon) cinnamon bark (cinnamomum verum) eucalyptus radiata (eucalyptus radiata) rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis), stevia-rebaudioside A (stevia rebaudiana)
Other articles you may be interested in:
Find out if your toothpaste is making you sick, the hidden dangers of toothpaste
Find out which Thieves toothpaste is for you in the Thieves Toothpaste Review
Find a safe children’s toothpaste with the KidsCents Slique Toothpaste review
Looking to get your own KidScents Toothpaste? We would love to help you!
In Australia? Then purchase your KidScents Toothpaste here.
In the USA or elsewhere in the world? Then click here to view KidScents toothpaste and add it to your shopping cart.
Sources:
1. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/09/09/toxic-toothpaste-ingredients.aspx
2. http://drleonardcoldwell.com/2013/07/02/how-toxic-is-your-toothpaste/
3. http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/The-5-Harmful-Ingredients-in-Toothpaste-READ-THIS-/10000000003239604/g.html
4. http://lotusdental.com.au/resources-toxic-toothpaste/
5. http://www.naturalnews.com/050936_toothpaste_toxic_ingredients_oral_health.html#
6. http://lotusdental.com.au/blog_news/what-are-the-dangers-of-fluoride-toothpaste-in-children/
