What’s the Best Toothpaste? — Part 2

Simple Science: The Best Toothpaste

In the wide and confusing world of popular tooth cleansing products undoubtedly the safest, most effective combination you can use on your teeth is a soft bristle toothbrush and water, twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. Back up this simple exercise by flossing at least once a day, without fail — and you will have the healthiest mouth around.

But realistically most of us who are interested in maintaining a healthy oral environment probably will feel slightly dissatisfied with the notion that you can have clean teeth without using minty commercial toothpaste. So, what are the healthiest options and how can you make sure you are using products that promote clean teeth and preserve your overall good health?

It’s All In the Ingredients

When you consider that Ben Franklin used a combination of honey and ground charcoal to clean his teeth, it becomes fairly evident that people have been concerned with keeping their teeth clean for a very long time and over the course of time; there has been quite a few interesting ways of accomplishing the important feat of good oral hygiene.

Take for example an ancient Egyptian recipe discovered in 2003 dating back more than 1,500 years that combined one drachma of rock salt – (approximately 100th of an ounce) – two drachmas of mint, one drachma of dried iris flower and 20 grains of pepper all carefully crushed and mixed together to form the best known “powder for white and perfect teeth”. Modern scholars daring enough to try the concoction for themselves found it ‘abrasive and painful to use’. And so … it’s no doubt why we’ve been looking for better alternatives ever since.

Ingredients to Avoid

The most common ingredients in toothpaste include; Silica and Limestone, Aluminum Oxide (provides coarseness to scrubbing) Titanium Dioxide (made from the minerals ilmenite, rutile and anatase – to give toothpaste its white pigment), Mica (adds sparkle to the toothpaste) and of course, fluoride.
For many of the ingredients in toothpaste there are potential health concerns and some have proven to be downright toxic. Some of the biggest offending chemicals include the following:

Fluoride: a byproduct of the fertilizer industrial – this toxic chemical can cause a myriad of health problems when ingested (usually as an additive of the public water systems) and, ironically it is a known demineralizer that removes calcium from teeth and bones causing discolorization of teeth leaving them brittle.

Saccharin and other artificial sweeteners: People ingest synthetic sweeteners and don’t realize how harmful it can be to their health, much less their teeth. A good rule of thumb is to avoid any artificial ingredients in your toothpaste, particularly in the form of sweeteners.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and other detergents: used in many known products as a foaming agent and as with most detergents SLS is known to be harmful to the skin, eyes, brain, liver and lungs. It is also quite corrosive and harmful to skin tissue. SLS is also widely used in garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps.

Aluminum: when combined with fluoride, aluminum is absorbed into the body at an alarming rate, and aluminum is a metal that seems to collect in the brains of Alzheimer’s victims.

Silica or Zirconium: an abrasive mineral – harms gums and wears away tooth enamel which is particularly hazardous for people who brush a little too enthusiastically or when combined with hard bristle toothbrushes.

Healthy Alternatives

Everyone is looking for a healthy alternative, so what’s the best toothpaste? What’s the best alternative? The fact is, each and every person reacts differently to different ingredients. Take for instance, the case of a recent patient of ours: she had been recommended a bee propolis toothpaste which, by most accounts, is a very biocompatible toothpaste. She broke out into blisters along her guns (and no, she is not allergic to bees). Even within our office we have different employees who are sensitive to different toothpastes. The choice of one employee actually causes dry mouth in another employee. So what’s the best toothpaste for you? You’ll have to learn the ingredients and try different types until you find one that you are most compatible with.

Mixing Up the Homemade Pastes

An online search will turn up hundreds of recipes for toothpaste, and most of those at least start with the two basic ingredients of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. For anyone interested in trying their own hand at making homemade toothpaste just keep in mind that you want to avoid anything that might be overly abrasive to tooth enamel or harmful to the gums, and never swallow the ingredients.
For its recognized healing properties, Aloe Vera is a good ingredient to include as is diluted tea tree oil but most recipes focus on taste and giving a lasting sense of freshness to the mouth. Some of those ingredients include cinnamon, ginger, fennel, clove, spearmint and peppermint – all relatively harmless when combined with other dry ingredients but stay away from essential oil versions of these flavors unless they are well diluted as they can cause burning sensations to the mouth and gums.

Store Bought Toothpastes

There is an unending list of toothpastes on the market today, some claiming to be ‘natural’ while still including ingredients that are either on our list of things to avoid or chemicals that cannot be pronounced. The bottom line is; avoid any toothpaste that has more than six or seven ingredients and never buy anything that contains chemicals or ingredients that you cannot identify. Look for toothpastes that do not contain fluoride, aluminum, artificial sweeteners or detergents and beware of toothpaste marked ‘natural’ – do your homework and read the label.

Toothpaste Analysis

To help make your decision easier (or maybe more difficult) we have compiled a list of many of the most popular alternative toothpaste options. We have done our best to provide complete analysis, but as formulas change, this list may become out of date. Hopefully it provides a starting point for you in your search.

Enjoy… and good luck!

This File May be Best Viewed if You Download it Using the Link Provided… It’s a Large Document.
Best Toothpastes

Why the HHS and EPA Decision on Fluoride is Bad

Today’s news from The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding fluoride is making national news. In essence, they will be recommending a lower “safe” level of fluoride consumption. Great news, right? Not really.

This decision is an In an obvious attempt to placate those who rightfully stand behind the research that denounces the benefits of fluoride by “changing” what they deem to be safe levels. In actuality, they aren’t changing anything. The previous recommendation was for 0.7-1.2 milligrams per liter.  Now, to “reduce the likelihood of dental fluorosis,” they are recommending a strict 0.7 milligrams per liter.  This bears no resemblance to normal margin-of-safety practice, in the light of the 2006 National Research Council report that cast doubt on the EPA’s maximum safe limit of 4.0 milligrams per liter.

This is yet another attempt to “hang on to the myth that water fluoridation is safe and effective” (The IAOMT || http://www.IAOMT.org).

You can read the press release for yourself, below.

Whether you believe that fluoride is good or not, most Americans exceed the recommended limit of fluoride through their daily intake of food… without ever drinking fluoridated water. On top of that, fluoride is a prescription drug. Putting it into the water (something San Diego has now opted to do) is forced medication of the masses. Add that to the fact that removing fluoride is very difficult and very expensive (this is a topic we will be getting into shortly, but your options are limited in both availability and effectiveness. In short order, you can try a whole-house fluoride filter — most of which use activated alumina as a medium — or a reverse osmosis system if you prefer point of use), and what you have is a government that has imposed it’s (lobbied) will on the masses with no form of backing out… and in this case it affects our health.

This decision will be posted shortly in the Federal Register to allow the public to comment for 30 days. As it is not yet available to comment on, you may do so my sending your thoughts directly to CWFcomments@cdc.gov.

Here is the press release from the HHS:

News Release

HHS and EPA announce new scientific assessments and actions on fluoride

Agencies working together to maintain benefits of preventing tooth decay
while preventing excessive exposure

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today are announcing important steps to ensure that standards and guidelines on fluoride in drinking water continue to provide the maximum protection to the American people to support good dental health, especially in children. HHS is proposing that the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water can be set at the lowest end of the current optimal range to prevent tooth decay, and EPA is initiating review of the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water.

These actions will maximize the health benefits of water fluoridation, an important tool in the prevention of tooth decay while reducing the possibility of children receiving too much fluoride. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named the fluoridation of drinking water one of the ten great public health achievements of the 20th century.

“One of water fluoridation’s biggest advantages is that it benefits all residents of a community—at home, work, school, or play,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH. “Today’s announcement is part of our ongoing support of appropriate fluoridation for community water systems, and its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay throughout one’s lifetime.”

“Today both HHS and EPA are making announcements on fluoride based on the most up to date scientific data,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, Peter Silva. “EPA’s new analysis will help us make sure that people benefit from tooth decay prevention while at the same time avoiding the unwanted health effects from too much fluoride.”

HHS and EPA reached an understanding of the latest science on fluoride and its effect on tooth decay prevention and the development of dental fluorosis that may occur with excess fluoride consumption during the tooth forming years, age 8 and younger. Dental fluorosis in the United States appears mostly in the very mild or mild form – as barely visible lacy white markings or spots on the enamel. The severe form of dental fluorosis, with staining and pitting of the tooth surface, is rare in the United States.

There are several reasons for the changes seen over time, including that Americans have access to more sources of fluoride than they did when water fluoridation was first introduced in the United States in the 1940s. Water is now one of several sources of fluoride. Other common sources include dental products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements, and fluoride applied by dental professionals. Water fluoridation and fluoride toothpaste are largely responsible for the significant decline in tooth decay in the U.S. over the past several decades.

HHS’ proposed recommendation of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water replaces the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. This updated recommendation is based on recent EPA and HHS scientific assessments to balance the benefits of preventing tooth decay while limiting any unwanted health effects. These scientific assessments will also guide EPA in making a determination of whether to lower the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water, which is set to prevent adverse health effects.

The new EPA assessments of fluoride were undertaken in response to findings of the National Academies of Science (NAS).  At EPA’s request, in 2006 NAS reviewed new data on fluoride and issued a report recommending that EPA update its health and exposure assessments to take into account bone and dental effects and to consider all sources of fluoride. In addition to EPA’s new assessments and the NAS report, HHS also considered current levels of tooth decay and dental fluorosis and fluid consumption across the United States.

The notice of the proposed recommendation will be published in the Federal Register soon and HHS will accept comments from the public and stakeholders on the proposed recommendation for 30 days at CWFcomments@cdc.gov.  HHS is expecting to publish final guidance for community water fluoridation by spring 2011. You may view a prepublication version of the proposed recommendation at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/pre_pub_frn_fluoride.html.  Comments regarding the EPA documents, Fluoride: Dose-Response Analysis For Non-cancer Effects and Fluoride: Exposure and Relative Source Contribution Analysis should be sent to EPA at FluorideScience@epa.gov.  The documents can be found at http://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/fluoride_index.cfm

For more information about community water fluoridation, as well as information for health care providers and individuals on how to prevent tooth decay and reduce the chance of children developing dental fluorosis, visit http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation. For information about the national drinking water regulations for fluoride, visit: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/fluoride.cfm

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Tips for Keeping Your Teeth Healthy in 2011 and Beyond

Take Care of Your Natural Teeth in 2011 and Avoid Having to Buy New Ones!

At the risk of serious cliche, I have decided to post a list of ways to help you protect your teeth in 2011. Of course, these aren’t resolutions. I won’t call it a “top 10″ list, and to be honest, it applies no matter what time of year it is. But… people always seem to inspire themselves to make changes as the calendar flips on another year, so here goes: my “non-list of ways you can improve your dental health in 2011 and beyond.”

• Cut back on the snacks. Sure, you can eat pretty much whatever you want (although I’d stay away from the gummy bears), but the problem comes from consistent snacking. It creates a very acidic environment in your mouth, which erodes your teeth and makes it a perfect resting spot for bacteria that can lead to cavities.
• Don’t eat the sticky stuff. We all know that chewy candies probably aren’t the best snack when we need an afternoon pick-me-up, but we do it anyway. The fact is, if you want to avoid cavities, then stop eating the stuff that sticks in your teeth for hours after you’re done eating them (this includes dried fruit, which really isn’t much different from a sour gummy worm).
• Watch what you drink. Coffee and tea not only stain your teeth, but they are very acidic. So is wine and orange juice. And most people sip on something all day long. So stop already! If you need to sip on something, sip on water. Heat it if you have to. Enjoy your acidic beverages in moderation and your dental health stands a better chance of improvement.
• Brush and floss. I know… “duh”, right? But the simple fact is, most people just don’t brush often enough, long enough, or properly… and don’t even get me started on flossing! So grab a good, soft toothbrush and put one in your desk at work, in your bathroom at home, in your car… anywhere you may snack. Brush after you eat and you’ll not only avoid costly trips to the dentist, but you’ll also have better breath.
• Don’t worry about fluoride. Everyone tells you that you need fluoride to prevent cavities… but the science shows that ingested fluoride has little to no affect on your teeth and topical fluoride needs to be at dangerously high levels to have an adverse affect (oh, which reminds me, fluoride is toxic. It’s a byproduct of fertilizer and was/is used in rat poison. You get more than the EPA recommended limit in your daily food intake alone, so no, you do not need to drink fluoridated water). Plus, it can have some serious side-effects with your bones (including links to bone cancer and more). So grab a fluoride-free toothpaste at the store or, better yet, avoid the toothpaste altogether… you don’t need it to prevent cavities. The brush alone will do the trick.
• Visit the dentist. Look, the best way to save money at the dentist is to go more often. We all get a cavity eventually… but waiting and avoiding the dentist will turn an inexpensive filling into a pricey inlay, crown, or extraction. So go to the dentist and take care of the problems while they are still small so you can prevent things from getting too big.
• Drink more water. Drinking water is a great way to keep your mouth clean and free of bacteria. So drink more. It’s that simple (oh, and if you have access to a good, high pH water, there’s a mounting body of evidence suggesting alkaline water has sweeping health benefits, along with dental benefits).
• Get your bite balance. No idea what I’m talking about? That’s because most dentists don’t do it anymore. However, all of us, over time, use one side of our mouth over the other. Or we clench or grind at night (or during the day), or we’ve had some sort of jaw trauma (maybe we stepped into the ring with Manny Pacquiao). As we start to favor one side, the muscles tighten and pull our jaw out of alignment. This means our teeth don’t come together properly. The result can be anything from tooth wear to TMJ problems, to chronic decay. So, visit a dentist who understands occlusal adjustments (bite adjustments) and have yours checked out… if you’re always getting cavities in the lower left (or any other specific area of the mouth), this could be a simple fix.

Prevention is the key here folks. I understand most people don’t get excited about a trip to the dentist… and I don’t blame them. But anyone who thinks that all dentists are just out to find problems so they can stay in business is naive and, I think, more than a little cynical. I would MUCH rather have patients who take care of themselves at home than to drill on teeth. I’d rather repair a tooth that broke in hockey fight than one than crumbled apart because someone didn’t think flossing was worth the 60 seconds it takes. So, take care of yourself at home; take these tips seriously, and you can save yourself a lot of time and money in 2011 and beyond!

Proper Removal Technique for Old Mercury Silver Dental Fillings

As awareness of the dangers of mercury amalgam dental fillings increases, so does the number of dentists who perform mercury removal procedures. Unfortunately, this comes with risks.

Many dentists, in their haste to help people, don’t learn the proper and safe method for removing mercury silver fillings. Why does it matter? Because by not following the proper safety protocols, you could actually be in more danger when having mercury removed than you are in just leaving the fillings in your mouth.

When mercury fillings are removed, the mercury is disturbed by the drill, releasing dangerous vapors and mercury particulates in your mouth.

So how do you protect yourself? How do you know if your dentist is following the proper safety protocol when removing your old mercury amalgam fillings? Below is a quick video that should help you better understand the proper protocol (as specified by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology’s (IAOMT)) so you can ask your dentist about it and recognize the steps he or she should be taking during your procedure.

The Alternatives to Root Canals

We talk a lot about the alternatives to root canals typically the only alternative mentioned is extraction of the tooth. But is that really the only alternative? Surely there must be other options, right? This was the question posed by Sean after listening to recent podcasts (Root Canals, Infections, Formaldehyde, Oh My!).

The truth is, there are other alternatives depending on the situation. We’ll try to explain it all in detail, here.

First off, if you really need a root canal, then that means the damage has gone too far and you are having serious symptoms (toothache or swelling). At that point, the healthiest option is to extract the tooth and replace it.

Root canals, however, are often recommended for the wrong reasons (such as when a dentist has exhausted or ruled out other sources or causes for tooth pain). A common incident is when the bite is off and the problem tooth is sore and causing pain. Another common example is when the gums have receded and the tooth is painful because of exposed dentin. Of course, taking out the nerve will cut sensation or feeling to the tooth, but it by no means is the source of the problem is cured.

The reason root canals are so often recommended is because many dentists don’t spend enough time diagnosing the root cause of the problem. Diagnosis is time-consuming and inefficient. For every minute a dentist spends diagnosing the source of your dental pain, he or she loses money (because that time could have been spent seeing more patients). While many dentists will dedicate the time to properly diagnose problems, far too many take the easy route and make assumptions in order to quickly provide a solution. Root canals will most often remove the cause of the pain (again, because you’ve removed the nerve), therefore, root canal therapy is often recommended.

Now, if the dentist has properly diagnosed the cause of your problems and if you really have a true need for a root canal (infection or deep cavity), then the damage is too great to reverse. The healthiest alternative to a root canal is simply to take out the infection by removing the tooth.

Does this sound barbaric when you can “save” the tooth with root canal therapy? Probably at first. But what dentists are unaware of are the links between leaving an infected tooth in the body and other systemic illnesses (such as breast cancer). It’s called the focal infection theory. A better question would be, “Would you jeopardize your health to ‘save’ a tooth?”

If you have an infection or severe decay that has caused a deep cavity and a root canal is recommended, your only two options are extraction or root canal therapy. That’s why knowledge and prevention is of utmost importance: learn how to prevent decay and the spread of tooth decay and you’ll never have to deal with a root canal.

If a root canal is recommended to you, you should definitely get a second or third opinion to confirm the true need for the procedure. Unfortunately, too many dentists do root canals for the wrong reasons and you may have other, less “barbaric” solutions if you were misdiagnosed and don’t need to undergo the procedure.

If you already have a root canal and are wondering if there’s a link with that tooth and the rest of the body, view a tooth meridian chart (we have an interactive meridian chart here: Tooth Meridian Chart) or visit a natural or holistic dentist. A lot of times, extracting the problem tooth can help alleviate or eliminate problems (not always, so again, get a second or third opinion before taking action).

The short answer to the alternatives to a root canal question is… If you really, truly need a root canal, you have only two options: root canal therapy or extraction. However, there is always the chance that you have been misdiagnosed and have many, safer, more appealing options available to you.