Is toothpaste harmful to our health?

Have you ever read the indications on toothpastes?

DENTRIC: Contains: Sodium Monofluorophosphate (1450 ppm of Fluorine). Children 6 years and younger: Use a pea-sized amount under adult supervision to minimize the risk of ingestion. In case of receiving supplemental fluoride supply from other sources, consult your dentist or general practitioner.

At first glance it strikes me that a product for everyday use has so many warnings, especially in children. The last sentence is also very significant, it recommends going to the doctor in case of taking extra doses of fluoride. This points to fluoride as not a very good element for your health , contrary to what you usually think. So I started researching, and this is what I found:

First, what is fluoride?

Fluorine is a chemical element located in the group of halogens on the periodic table. It is a yellowish natural gas with a pungent odor. Its handling must be carried out under great security measures since in its pure form it can cause serious burns when it comes into contact with the skin .

It combines with other metals or for example with hydrogen to form fluorides. Florides have various applications in the market , in some countries they are added to drinking water and also appear in various dental products, from the aforementioned toothpaste to mouthwashes, gum, salt or mineral water.

The fact that such a dangerous element ends up forming part of our routine has worried several experts. One of the most critical was  Dr. John Yiamouyiannis , who went so far as to state this: “We would not purposely add arsenic to the water supply. Nor would we add lead. But we do add fluoride. The fact is that fluoride is more toxic than lead and only slightly less toxic than arsenic. » Following his postdoctoral studies at Western Reserve University Medical School, Yiamouyiannis became director of the biochemistry department of the Chemical Abstracts Service, the world’s largest chemistry information center .

Dr. Yiamouyiannis affirmed that floride was strongly linked to the appearance of cancer , although this affirmation was harshly criticized from other laboratories, being discredited on numerous occasions. Perhaps these laboratories were subject to important influences from the industry, since there is no doubt that millionaire interests come into play. Unfortunately Yiamouyiannis died in 2000 due to rectal cancer. This cancer was not caused by floruro, but it represented an opportunity for its detractors because Yiamouyiannis decided to treat it by natural means. Rectal cancer is relatively easy to cure if detected early, although it is not very well known what stage you were in when it was detected, many people think that it could have been cured by following the doctors’ instructions. But these are pure nonsense speculations. 

If we rely on official sources, according to the ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Regestry) – Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry –  fluoride is safe in small amounts but doses not recommended can cause weakening of teeth and bones, especially in children causing serious damage . While it does not make any reference to the cancer Dr. Yiamouyiannis warned of, it strongly recommends not to exceed its consumption .

At the moment I have not found official studies that ensure that floride causes cancer, however, it is clear that there is a concern among consumers and various experts. Not only due to cancer but also due to many other diseases linked to the abuse of fluoride . Although it is true that most of the products that are marketed use recommended and safe percentages of this element, we are talking about that there are many products for daily uses , that is, we could be exposed to unhealthy doses of this material without realizing it. Currently it can be found in milk with fluoride, salt, and even mineral water. Fluoride due to its wide industrial use cancoming into contact with people through the air in heavily polluted cities . In addition to its proven toxicity, some dentists claim that it is not even effective against cavities until they appear.

A study on fluoride and the nervous system indicates

Fluor can accumulate in the body and chronic exposure to it has been shown to produce harmful effects on different body tissues and particularly on the nervous system, without producing previous physical malformations.

Various studies, both clinical and experimental, have reported that F causes alterations in brain morphology and biochemistry, which affect the neurological development of individuals and, therefore, of functions related to cognitive processes, such as learning and memory.

It’s quite easy to make your own toothpaste, so it might be a good idea to stop using commercial toothpaste to avoid exposing your health to unnecessary risk.

Prolonged intake of F causes damage to health and significantly to the central nervous system, so it is imperative to consider and avoid the use of items that contain fluoride and particularly in developing individuals, due to their susceptibility. to the toxic effects of Fluorine. 

In the next post we will be giving more recipes to make toothpastes and rinses, for now here are these simple recipes to make your own toothpaste  and to make your own mouthwashes .

Food and health