The Question Remains

What are the ingredients in your toothpaste? Better yet, try to read them on the box or tube. You can't because they aren't there. Sure sodium fluoride is listed and Sensodyne lists the active ingredients, but what are the other ingredients in the toothpaste? Food and soap manufacturers must list the ingredients in both English and French on the label so how come the toothpaste manufacturers do not?

This whole string of questioning began when Dennis reflected back to when he noticed his lungs getting worse. At about the same time he developed a "rash" on his cheekbones and his forehead and when he cleaned his ears with a Q-tip, there was often blood on the Q-tip. He correlated that he had began using Sensodyne toothpaste on a regular basis not very long before he noticed all of these other things happening. But come on, toothpaste?? Let's think about it for a moment.

The mouth is the beginning point of two body systems: digestive and respiratory with the circulatory system being also involved. Anything in the mouth is absorbed into the gut and also the bloodstream as the mouth has ample blood supply. Plus a certain amount of mouth vapor substance gets inhaled into the lungs. Yes we all spit out (or supposed to spit out) the toothpaste, but in reality some remains in the mouth and gets inhaled, absorbed, and swallowed later.

So back to the original question: what is in  your toothpaste? Unless one makes homemade toothpaste, one has no clue what's really in the toothpaste especially if the manufacturing has been outsourced to an other country. In order to acquire a list of ingredients, one has to phone a 1-800 number. But who does? Ah yes, there is fluoride to prevent tooth decay, but does it really? And what else does it do or cause. I suggest Googling "side effects of fluoride" and be prepared as to what you will see.

In response to Dennis' findings, this amateur whole foods chef went on a mission to find a toothpaste recipe to see how easy it was to make at home. I found a recipe that I like and am sharing the blog post and recipe here. Homemade remineralizing toothpaste recipe The toothpaste contains calcium/magnesium powder (for remineralization), coconut oil (anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and just plain good for you), baking soda (cleanser), essential oil (fragrance and taste) and stevia to sweeten if desired.

Only after a few days of use, we have noticed some differences. Dennis' ears quit bleeding and  his rash has all but gone. As for me, my teeth are less sensitive and my newly acquired crown has settled down and not sending me into next week via a jolt of pain when I bite something hard. Uncomfy yes, next galaxy no and yes, I will still have to get my bite checked. A bonus is that my teeth feel clean and it will be very interesting when I have to see the dentist for cleaning as to whether as much plaque removal is needed or not. 

So now our question is if Dennis' aforementioned symptoms have cleared as a result of tossing the use of Sensodyne toothpaste, what else is Sensodyne (or any other toothpaste for that matter) causing? Could it be that the toothpaste is contributing to his lung issues? Good question and one worth investigating.

Sherri Donohue
Hot Torch, Room Full of Glass, and a Kung Fu Kwoon