levels (Freni 1994). Last but not least, fluoride appears to increase the lead content in our bodies. In
2007, U.S. researchers found that children living in communities with fluoridated water have elevated
blood lead, which may be explained by corrosion of lead-containing plumbing by fluoride chemicals
in water (Coplan et al. 2007). I think that just one of the above reasons is enough to reconsider the use
of a fluoride-loaded toothpaste and adopting a less sugary diet to avoid tooth decay.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Many so-called natural types of toothpaste still use this harsh detergent
to make the product foam lavishly. However, we already know that sulfate-based detergents are
strong irritants and should never be ingested, even in small amounts.
Hydrogen Peroxide. This potent bleach in the form of carbamide peroxide is frequently used in
whitening gels and strips in concentrations of up to 6 percent. This popular whitening agent is not
currently thought to cause mouth cancer in humans, but toxicologists from São Paulo State University
in Brazil concluded in 2006 that “dental bleaching agents may be a factor that increases the level of
DNA damage” in vitro (Ribeiro et al. 2006). To date, science knows that while carbamide peroxide
removes surface stains, it attacks both organic and mineral components of dentin, causing irreversible
changes in the mineral components of teeth. Besides, it can be toxic when eaten or accidentally
swallowed. The National Poisons Information Service in the United Kingdom says that swallowing of
hydrogen peroxide in concentrations similar to those during professional tooth whitening “may cause
irritation of the gastrointestinal tract with nausea, vomiting.... Painful gastric distension and
belching may be caused by the liberation of large volumes of oxygen in the stomach” (Watt et al.
2004). Stomach troubles were also recorded in a study when animals swallowed a commercially
available 6 percent hydrogen peroxide whitener (Redmond et al. 1997). So if you choose to brighten
up your smile a bit, do it under a doctor’s supervision and make sure not to swallow any of the
bleach.
Saccharin (sodium saccharin). This artificial sweetener is used in toothpastes to make them more
palatable. Wet studies dating back to the 1970s have linked saccharin to cancer in animals (Bryan et
al. 1970). Results of these studies were labeled as irrelevant to humans. Debates about the safety of
saccharin are still ongoing, and science has not yet provided clear enough evidence of a lack of
association between saccharin and cancer in people. One of the recent human studies on saccharin
involved the whole state of Lucknow, India, where children have such a sweet tooth they ate up to
three times the recommended amounts of saccharin in candies, ice cream, and desserts. After
observation of children between six and ten years of age, scientists found that they “may be
susceptible to the toxic effects of saccharin, including bladder distention, elevated urine osmolality
and bladder cancer” (Tripathi et al. 2006). That same year, a study done by oncologists of University
of Leicester in the United Kingdom showed that saccharin, along with acesulfame K in carbonated
drinks, triggers overactive bladder symptoms (Dasgupta et al. 2006). Yes, that doesn’t scare quite the
same as bladder cancer, but if there are other options available, why risk it? Who knows what will
studies show in five years?
My advice remains simple: don’t be fooled by the word “natural” on the toothpaste’s label. Many
popular “natural” types of toothpaste contain FD&C dyes, propylene glycol, aluminum, and other
potential contaminants that we discussed in Chapter 2, “Beauty and the Toxic Beast.”
So, do green toothpastes exist? And if they do, do they taste awful, foam even worse, and feel like
chalk in the mouth? Not really. To gently polish away stains, green toothpastes use silica, baking
soda, and mineral calcium carbonate. To leave the mouth fresh, nothing beats good old peppermint.
To soothe gums, green toothpastes use sea salt, aloe vera, and chamomile.