Growing up we used Colgate toothpaste and I am pretty sure they had the market captured in our city. The tube was metal and you could role it up from the bottom making sure you got everything in the tube. I even remember being growled at for squeezing the tube from the top and not the bottom! Do you remember that too?
Having a ‘clean mouth’ dates back thousands and thousands of years. The early Egyptians used to use oxen hooves, myrrh, eggshells (calcium carbonate or chalk), pumice (think volcanic rock) and water. Such a simple recipe.
If I had my opportunity again, I would ask my grandparents and parents what they used to do for toothpaste, soap, shampoo, washing detergent and so much more because it appears from the 1950’s onwards the chemical assault on our nerve system had begun in earnest. People today go to the supermarket to purchase over the counter, commercially made and marketed toothpaste because that’s what has always been done; no questions asked.
So, how did we get from the Egyptians recipe which seems wholesome to the chemical assault we have today?
To answer that we have to go back to around the 1870’s and shine the light a little brighter on the Colgate company which was originally a small soap and candle business. In the 1870’s they decided to mass produce the first toothpaste. Fast forward forty odd years the company, with a great marketing plan and deep pockets, distributed two million tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to schools and hygienists to demonstrate tooth brushing and its importance. By design they had created ongoing revenue for the Colgate business.
In the 1930’s toothpaste was still predominately from soap however people also used charcoal, burnt bread and mint for freshness. And the Egyptians contribution of pumice for oral hygiene is in some ways still used today in dentistry. After World War II there were some significant advancements in synthetic detergents and manufacturers replaced the soap in toothpaste with emulsifying agents that supposedly ‘worked better.’ We saw the introduction of fluoride to toothpaste recipes and whitening agents added to ‘brighten the teeth.’
However, do we really need a commercial toothpaste? To understand that we need to take a look at saliva.
If you have explored our blog articles, listened to interviews or watched our videos you would of heard us talking about the importance of your saliva and immunity. Indeed, immunity starts in your mouth, with your saliva, so the quality of your saliva really matters to your oral and overall health. About 1500mls of saliva is produced per day, that’s a lot! Your saliva is filled with electrolytes, trillions of bacteria, enzymes to help break down starches, mucus to keep everything flowing, a protein to coat the vitamin B12 so it can pass through the stomach without getting ‘flagged’ moving to the small intestine with ease where it can be absorbed. And the genius part, is our salivary glands produce bicarbonate which helps to neutralise the acids occurring from eating.
If your saliva is too acidic than cavities can be created. Keeping your saliva in balance and not disturbing it’s chemistry is important. When your saliva is altered too much in either direction, acidic or alkaline, you can create anything from gingivitis to yeast on your tongue to halitosis which is chronic bad breath.
When commercial toothpaste came out and it was tainted as being wonderful, toxic free, good for you and ‘safe and effective.’ Populations around the globe began using it with little concern for the ingredients or their safety. After all a reputable company like Colgate wouldn’t intentionally harm you, would they? Let’s just say shareholders want profits and business is business.
I’ve chosen just a few ingredients in commercial toothpaste to highlight what you or your family may not be aware of. Each ingredient in and of themselves could have a few pages written on them!
Fluoride: This is one of the ingredients that can definitely have a few pages written! The more you read the more you understand that fluoride is indeed harmful to your internal bacteria, it’s a known neurotoxin that lowers IQ, is a thyroid disruptor and can demineralise your teeth by a process called Dental Fluorosis and so much more. You can read our article Fluoridation: A Mass Prescription Drug and watch a short documentary (35:57mins) here.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate: This is a lathering detergent to create foam and most commonly found in shampoo, conditioners, soaps, dish soaps, gels, cosmetics especially facial cleansing products etc. It is an irritant to the skin, the lungs and the eyes and toxic too aquatic life too! It can also be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane a possible carcinogen and ethylene oxide which is a known carcinogen.
Propylene glycol: Is a synthetic petroleum based chemical, with long term effects on health. It’s the same stuff they use in antifreeze. Yes, that’s right antifreeze because it lowers the freezing point. It is also found in cosmetics, processed foods like certain ice creams and frozen desserts, electronic cigarettes and Windex. It creates skin irritations, allergies and sensitivities. Stick to using it in your car but not in your body!
Titanium Dioxide: Is an artificial colorant the European Union labels not safe for human consumption but other countries chose to ignore that fact. It has no nutritional value but it makes things look pretty, visually pleasing and bright e.g. skittles, M&M’s, Kool-aid, donut glaze, jelly, deodorants etc. It creates DNA damage, inflammation, immune disruption and the list goes on. It is commonly found in sunscreens and toothpaste like Colgate Total. And remember artificial colouring is linked with overactivity and inattention (ADHD) and impulsiveness in children.
Sorbitol: Is classed as a sugar alcohol and can have many effects on a person’s health from diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting to an imbalance in electrolytes and remember your saliva contains electrolytes.
Toothpaste can also contain:
- Artificial flavours
- Artificial sweeteners (e.g. saccharin because no one wants a nasty tasting toothpaste!),
- Artificial dyes
- Synthetic colours
- Parabens A preservative to keep the toothpaste fresher for longer however they are a bio accumulator in the body and known to be endocrine (hormone) disruptors.
- Aspartame (e.g. Nutrasweet or Equal) an artificial sweetener and a known neurotoxin resulting in depression and impaired vision and metabolises to methanol and formaldehyde leading to tissue damage.
- Carrageenan which is used as a thickening agent and creates inflammation in your gut.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse the tube says:
DO NOT SWOLLOW. If swallowed call POISON CONTROL.
So, do we really need a commercial toothpaste? No, you don’t.
What you do need is great nutrition which in turn supports saliva balance and great natural products which will support your health not hinder it.
Since the 1990’s we have been using charcoal just like they were 3-5000 years ago but a more modern approach being activated charcoal. Activated charcoal has a high surface area allowing it to attach to molecules and impurities in a way regular charcoal cannot.
Making your own toothpaste can be easy, fun and something the whole family can do and in the long run it’s cheaper and has wonderful beneficial and balancing effects on your health.
To make your homemade toothpaste pop over here.
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It must include the following: Since 1990 Drs Randall & Sarah Farrant have been global mentors to thousands of individuals, families, health professionals, celebrities and sporting personalities. They have facilitated and inspired people to live a Vitalistic life.
Additional resources:
- Fluoride – Short Documentary (35:57mins) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5WwNKP0WRI&ab_channel=RealityCheckRadioNZ
- Website: https://fluoridefree.org.nz/
- Aspartame: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8JqoCgSJmU&ab_channel=KianaDocherty
