Toothpaste is not all the same. And is not all safe for you to use. Many popular brands need to include warnings on the package, like "Keep out of reach of children under 6 years old" and "If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, contact your poison control center right away." Don't you wonder why your toothpaste is so dangerous? Read the ingredients listed on the box of most name-brand toothpastes and you'll see why: FD&C Blue Dye # 1 & #2 can trigger a litany of health problems. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) can have potentially harmful long-term effects. Triclosan has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a dangerous pesticide suspected of causing cancer in humans. There are good guys in this story. There are brands of toothpaste that eliminate all of the health risks and include only those all-natural ingredients that actually clean your teeth. I use one. It is fluoride free, paraben free and sulfate free. It includes no SLS, no artificial colors and no artificial sweeteners. It is minty fresh and cleans as well as any toothpaste on the market, without harming me or the environment. If we all make healthier choices, healthier products will become profitable and manufacturers will follow our lead. Don't shrug your shoulders and give up. We can make a difference.
