I love it when I have good news to share with you. As I’m starting a five-week series on products that are in your bathroom, I suspected today’s toothpaste post would be all doom and gloom.
Personally I feel a sense of dread when I navigate personal care product aisles at the store – I’m afraid unless I get the handful of products that I know are safe, I’ll end up exposing my family to a host of toxins. So I buy the same kind of toothpaste – the regular flavor of Colgate – every single time.
When I recently researched toothpastes on the Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetics Safety Database, I was pleasantly surprised to find all toothpastes are only a low or moderate hazard.
Shockingly, regular brands of toothpaste – Aquafresh, Arm & Hammer, Colgate, Crest, Pepsodent, Sensodyne, and Ultrabrite – received a “3” moderate hazard ranking, right along with many organic brands. Personally, if there’s no health danger to worry about, I’d rather save my money and buy the most affordable product.
Another fantastic discovery was that certain varieties of Aquafresh, Arm & Hammer, Colgate, Crest, Sensodyne, and Walgreen’s toothpastes received a “2” low hazard ranking. To find the exact kinds of toothpastes with the low hazard rankings, check out the Cosmetics Safety Database for yourself.
I love knowing that I don’t have to be scared about my toothpaste purchases anymore.
Two ingredients to avoid
If you happen to shop for toothpaste without checking safety rankings first, there are two ingredients you should avoid: Triclosan and BHT.
- Triclosan is an antibacterial ingredient that disrupts the endocrine system, is a known irritant and ecotoxin, and builds up as a body burden. (Colgate Total toothpastes list triclosan as an ingredient.)
- BHT, or Butylated Hydroxytoluene, is a carcinogen, toxic to reproductive systems, and a known irritant.
Fluoride’s risks
Some families choose fluoride-free toothpastes. While fluoride is added to many toothpastes and public water sources, not all people are convinced about its safety. If you’re interested in learning more, check out these past Accidentally Green posts:
- What Is Fluoride? How Is It Beneficial?
- How Can Fluoride Harm You?
- 4 Ways to Avoid Fluoride
- Fluoride and My Family
Latest posts by Hilary Kimes Bernstein (see all)
- The Day I Realized Healthy Choices Don’t Guarantee Health - July 21, 2015
- Avoid Synthetic Bug Sprays with All-Natural Repellents - July 16, 2015
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Sarah R says
I have been making my own toothpaste for about 3 months. Its easy, I know exactly what’s in it and I don’t have to worry if my littles swallow any.
Last time I made this one: http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/
'Becca says
Thanks for the encouraging information! I had been using Tom’s of Maine toothpaste since I was pregnant with my son (now 8) and the sweeteners in other toothpastes tasted weird to me. Then Tom’s was bought out by Colgate and changed their formula. Their toothpastes now have a different texture and flavor that we don’t like. They also switched from steel to vinyl tubes.
So, we have been searching for a new toothpaste and have tried only the “natural” brands and been disappointed with all of them so far. It’s good to know that some of the mainstream brands are quite safe!
Have you thought about the tube, though? Vinyl leaches endocrine disruptors, so I had always assumed it was a problematic material for toothpaste tubes, but I haven’t done enough research to be sure.
Hilary Kimes Bernstein says
Ack! I haven’t thought of the tube! You are so, so right, though. I know that vinyl is awful … I guess I wanted to use my toothpaste and be oblivious to the packaging. ;)
Countrified Hicks says
Thank you for sharing the information! I would love for you to come over to my blog hop and share this and other posts there!
http://countrifiedhicks.blogspot.com/2013/02/mondays-with-countrified-hicks-blog-hop.html