Toothpaste is the first thing we put in our mouth soon after we get up from bed. For Gen X and Z they have never used anything else to clean their teeth. Over the years tooth paste has become a part of our life and routine.  At the super market shelf there are more than enough varieties to confuse the buyer. Whitening gel, triple action and tartar control are few of the advertising gimmicks companies use to market their product.

The end user expects a tooth paste to meet the needs for proper dental hygiene. They expect that it will protect the teeth from decay, help fight dental plaque and protect from gum diseases. Tooth pastes are designed to do all these things. This is achieved by adding chemicals that will do the job. This makes some wonder, whether it is safe to put those dangerous chemicals in our mouth every day twice a day. Let us have a look at the chemicals these toothpastes contain and their harmful effects on the body. Human physiology tells us that whatever you put in your mouth is absorbed directly into your blood and tissues through the mucosal lining inside your mouth, even if you never swallow

Tooth pastes started adding Fluoride from 1914 onwards. It has a proved ability to prevent cavities Most toothpaste brands use Sodium Fluoride (NaF). Some brands use Sodium Monofluorophosphate . The concentration of Fluoride in pastes for adults is 1000 to 1450 ppm maximum. Unless it says on the package does not contain fluoride, you are using fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoridated toothpaste contains 1,000 ppm fluoride. There is enough fluoride at 1,000 to 1,500 parts per million to kill a small child if they consume the entire tube. If a child consumes just part of it, it could result in either acute or chronic toxicity. A four to six year-old child will swallow 25 to 33% of the toothpaste they put on their toothbrush. Always read the labels. Pepsodent toothpaste doesn’t have fluoride. Fluoride actually causes gum damage at the concentrations used in fluoridated toothpaste at 1,000 ppm. Fluoride poisons enzyme activity and slows down the ability of the gums to repair them. If you brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste, you will suffer gum damage. Still there is nothing to suggest that toothpastes with fluoride is harmful for an adult . But you should never use a toothpaste with fluoride for children under the age of 6 years.

Toothpastes usually contain bactericidal agents as Triclosan that kill bacteria. Triclosan induces damage and lesions to the cell wall of bacteria resulting in bacteriolysis . Triclosan is a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals which is suspected of causing cancer in humans. When tap water meets toothpaste, the triclosan reacts freely with the chlorine in the tap water to become chloroform (a chlorinated aromatic) and is similar to the dioxins found in the compound Agent Orange. It's a chemical reaction occurring right in your mouth while you brush your teeth. And don't think you are safe once you rinse it all out of your mouth: research shows that it can remain in your mouth after brushing for up to 12 hours, and can be easily absorbed into the tongue and through mucus into the body. Children are at the greatest risk, as they tend to swallow their toothpaste more while brushing their teeth. Some tooth paste companies advertise that their tooth pastes protects for 12 hours . This 12 hour protection that triclosan provides is more harmful than good.

Toothpastes also contain surfactants (detergents) and Foaming agents that help to carry away debris from the mouth and between the teeth. Common foaming ingredients in toothpastes are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and ammonium lauryl sulfate. SLS and SLES are esters of Sulphuric acid - SLS is also known as "Sulfuric acid monododecyl ester sodium salt", however there are over 150 different names by which it is known. Although SLES is somewhat less irritating than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it cannot be metabolised by the liver and its effects are therefore much longer-lasting.

A report published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology in 1983 showed that concentrations as low as 0.5% could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. The sodium lauryl sulfate found in toothpastes is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines. The reason for using this chemical is that, it is very cheap. Once it has been absorbed into our body, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Estrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where estrogen levels are known to be involved.

Anti-tartar agents as Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (TSPP). Pyrophosphates are water-softening agents that remove calcium and magnesium from the saliva, so they can't deposit on teeth creating dental tartar (calcified plaque). Pyrophosphate does not remove tartar, it merely helps prevent its formation. No harmful effects of this chemical are found yet.

Abrasives: Calcium phosphate (chalk) and alumina were used as the abrasive base of tooth pastes but they had the disadvantage of reacting with other chemical ingredients. Today the common abrasives are Silicon Dioxide (silica) and Titanium Dioxide. Hydrated silica is a transparent abrasive used not only in white opaque tooth pastes, but in gel toothpastes as well.

Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate) is a mild abrasive. It has a mild whitening action and helps to keep an alkaline environment (not friendly for dental plaque bacteria) in the mouth. The disadvantage is that these abrasives can cause long lasting damage to the enamel and you will find that your teeth are sensitive. Buy toothpastes with low level of abrasives. These abrasives may be behind your increased blood pressure also.

Tips on how to choose Toothpaste

Never use fluoride toothpaste for children under the age of 6. For adults fluoride is proven to prevent dental cavities.

Those with tooth sensitivity problem should avoid buying whitening toothpastes.

Buy toothpastes with less amount abrasives.

Avoid toothpastes containing cancer causing sodium lauryl sulfate. More over they are the number one cause behind mouth ulcers . If you are getting mouth ulcers without any reason, change your toothpaste.

Avoid using Gel toothpastes as they can damage the enamel and can cause sensitivity.