Have you ever thought about the ingredients in your toothpaste? If not, now is a good time to start. The toothpaste you are using might be full of dangerous chemicals that can wreak havoc on your health. Every time you brush your teeth, the ingredients in your toothpaste are absorbed into your blood. It might be time to take a look at what’s hiding in your toothpaste.
Here are 10 dangerous ingredients to watch out for when it comes to toothpaste:
1. Triclosan
Triclosan is one of the most common antibacterial compounds found in products. Scientific evidence has shown that triclosan has negative effects on the thyroid hormone. It has been linked to skin irritation, endocrine disruption and antibiotic resistance.
2. Polyethylene Glycol
Polyethylene glycol is a plastic that is used in packaging. It is known to cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose and throat, along with weakness, headache, dizziness and central nervous system depression. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, congestive heart failure and kidney damage have also been linked to polyethylene glycol.
3. Fluoride
Over 95% of toothpaste sold in the United States contains fluoride. Ingesting fluoride toothpastecan cause stomach ailments, skin rashes, acute toxicity and even impairment in glucose metabolism.
4. Surfactants
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant. Surfactants are easily absorbed into the blood and are believed to be carcinogenic. They can cause mouth ulcers, canker sores, hormone imbalances and skin irritations.
5. Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that the body metabolizes at a very slow rate, causing digestive stress. When sorbitol enters the body, the gut bacteria ferment the sugar alcohols, which can cause bloating, gas and other digestive problems.
6. Artificial Sugars
Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are common ingredients in toothpaste. These artificial sugars travel through the blood vessels into other areas of the body, including the brain, where they are converted to formaldehyde. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, vertigo, chills, numbness and shooting pain.
7. Propylene Glycol
Propylene glycol can be found in many toothpastes, and also in antifreeze. It is a highly toxic compound that can cause skin, eye and lung irritation, along with organ system toxicity.
8. Glycerin
Glycerin is an alcohol compound that can be of animal or vegetable origin. It has been shown to prevent nutrient absorption. Research also shows it takes up to 20 rinses to wash the glycerin off of your teeth.
9. Diethanolaminecerine
Diethanolamine or DEA is a known hormone disruptor. It can react with other ingredients to form a potential carcinogen known as NDEA. NDEA has been linked to cancers of the stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder.
10. FD & C Dyes 1 & 2
These artificial dyes have been linked to numerous health conditions. They have been shown to cause allergic reactions, asthma, headaches and even cancer.