Warning: The Drugs in Your Toothpaste Can Affect Your Health

 
18-Jan-2008 by shantihhh

 

 
toothpaste

One of the fastest ways to absorb anything into the body is through the mouth. Drugs such as nitroglycerine for heart conditions and natural homeopathic remedies are given under the tongue for fast absorption. Your daily routine of brushing your teeth with your favorite toothpaste may also be delivering a daily dose of antibiotics or other potentially toxic ingredients, without you realizing it.

Most people, even dentists and dental hygienists, don't realize there is a warning on the back of most toothpastes (including many from health food stores). The warning is mandated by the FDA for active ingredients that are drug based. The most common ones are fluoride, antibiotics and other drugs used to prevent cavities, tartar or teeth sensitivity.

Even children's toothpaste has a warning to "keep out of reach of children under the age of six. If more than used for brushing is swallowed, contact the poison control center or your physician". If a child under the age of six swallows half a tube of the sparkly, bright colored toothpaste that tastes like bubble gum and contains fluoride, the result could virtually be deadly.

Besides fluoride and the potential for poisoning your child if large amounts are swallowed, most toothpaste contain saccharin and many other artificial additives. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is another ingredient to stay away from. Studies have reported there's a potential for flare-ups of canker sores with SLS. Instead of choosing one of these types of commercial toothpastes for your child or you, providing your family with nutritious meals and brushing with "common sense" toothpaste, without potentially toxic ingredients, is much safer.

In recent years we've been hearing about the alarming increase of superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphlycoccus aureas (MRSA). The CDC and other studies list one cause for the rise of these antibiotic resistant bacteria to the general overuse of antibiotics. This overuse is not always in the form of a pill. You may be absorbing a small amount of an antimicrobial drug through your personal products as well.

Many brands of toothpastes, deodorants, shampoos, and soaps contain antibiotics, antimicrobials and strong disinfecting detergents. Triclosan, acetylpyridium chloride and tea tree oil are commonly used ones. Although natural, tea tree oil is a strong anti-fungal and antibiotic better suited for conditions such as athlete's foot than in your moisturizer.

Antibiotics should only be prescribed if you have a serious infection. Informed consumers make wise buying decisions that aren't based on pretty packages. Read, research and choose wisely for you and
your family.


For more information, visit (
www.drstay.com) .

Comments

Snigdha says :

Most mainstream toothpastes contain two to three different ingredients or additives that potentially increase cancer risk. These include saccharin, FD&C Blue #1, and fluoride. Saccharin is clearly carcinogenic in experimental studies - with some suggestive human evidence. FD&C Blue #1 has caused small increases in tumors and experimental studies. Although fluoride may have some benefits in prevention of tooth decay, it is also thought to cause a rare form of bone cancer in experimental studies, according to the federal National Toxicology Program. Use the Safe Shopping Chart (below) to determine whether your brand contains any of these suspect ingredients or additives and, if necessary, to find a safe alternative. TOOTHPASTES AND POWDERS (+): Contains either one or all of potentially hazardous ingredients. Brand of Toothpaste or Powder Contains Fluoride, Saccharin or FD&C Blue #1 (o) : Contains no suspect ingredients Arm & Hammer (all) (+) Nature's Gate (all) (o) Auromere (o) Peelu (o) Bioforce (o) Pepsodent (+) Colgate (+) Rainbow Research (o) Crest (+) Rembrant Natural Whitening Toothpaste (o) Dabur (o) Tom's of Maine (nonfluoride) (o) Desert Essence (all) (o) Ultra Brite (o) Enzymatic Therapy (o) Viadent (+) Logona (all) (o) Vicco (o) Mer-Flu-An (all) (o) Weleda (all) (o) Metadent (+) Xylifresh (o) Natural Dentist (o) References Federal Register, September 18, 1982; 47(188): 42563-42566. International Agency Research for Cancer. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenesis: An Updating of IARC Monographs, vols. 1-42 supplement no. 7. Lyon, France: World Health Organization, 1987: 334-339. National Toxicology Program, Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Sodium Fluoride (CAS No. 7681-49-4) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Drinking Water Studies). Research Triangle Park, NC: NIH Publication no. 91-2848, December 1990
Posted on: 19 January 2008 - 12:12am

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