Why You Need to Switch Your Toothpaste to Fluoride-Free
The health benefits of organic, fluoride free toothpaste and the best brands of 2023
I can remember the exact moment I was brushing my teeth with Colgate Ultra White something and I thought, “this tastes wackkkk.”
I’ve said it here before and I’ll say it again, when you start ridding your household and your body of hyper processed, chemical and additive filled products and food, you become hyper sensitive to anything artificial.
I could just tell immediately that this taste was not supposed to be in my mouth and filtering through my gums to my brain, oral health is intrinsically connected to brain health.
So I started looking into it, and turns out, there is natural, organic, and specifically “fluoride free” toothpaste. I have been using it for over a year now, I’ve tried different brands, and not only have people told me they can’t believe how white my teeth are, but my dentist also approves.
But what does fluoride free mean and why should we avoid it?
What is Fluoride?
Fluoride is a trace mineral, naturally found in small amounts in a variety of foods.
One of its many roles is in preventing and reversing dental cavities and building strong teeth and bones.
Most fluoride is absorbed in the gut and stored in bones and teeth. Unabsorbed fluoride is excreted in urine.
Foods that contain trace amounts of fluoride include: brewed coffee and black tea, shellfish, shrimp, oatmeal, raisins, and potatoes.
Fluoride is not considered an essential nutrient but it is important for bone health, anyone with chronic cavities or bone health diseases should be conscious of the amount of fluoride they consume because their bodies require more than others.
It remains unclear whether fluoride is truly essential, even though it is considered helpful with increasing bone density. Once absorbed in the bone, fluoride appears to increase osteoblast (bone cell) activity and bone density. Fluoride has been suggested as a therapy for osteoporosis since the 1960s, but despite producing denser bone, fracture risk is not reduced.
Why Fluoride-Free?
There has been a great debate in science over the fluoridation of toothpastes to ensure we get it in our diets to keep our bones healthy, especially around our teeth that get used constantly through the chewing and breaking down of our foods.
Lately, major concerns about excessive fluoride intake and related toxicity were raised worldwide, leading several countries to ban fluoridation.
Research shows both the benefits and downsides of fluoridation in water, toothpaste, and other products, however the results are always split, leaving it up to the consumer to really decide.
Several animal and human studies suggest that fluoride shows some neurotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. Other negative effects of fluoride, even when administered in small doses (starting 0.3 ppm), occur on the levels of the thyroid function, the skeletal system, and the reproductive system.
Scientifically speaking, our teeth contain only 2% fluoride, the remaining being compounds of magnesium, calcium, and Vitamin D so focusing on fluoride is not nearly as important as ensuring you are getting adequate amounts of these two minerals and vitamin.
Fluoride toothpastes also tend to contain other toxic chemicals including:
hydrated silica,
sorbitol,
sodium saccharin,
titanium dioxide,
glycerin,
sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate,
fluoride
carrageenan
PEG-8, PEG/PPG
artificial color (ex. blue 1, yellow 10)
endocrine disruptors (ex. lavender)
Fluoride has also been associated with interrupted sleeping patterns. Fluoride as an element acts on our pineal gland, an endocrine gland in our brain.
Considered our “third eye” the pineal gland controls and releases several important hormones in our body, including melatonin. Fluoride can “calcify” our pineal gland thereby interfering with our sleep cycle contributing to insomnia and daytime sleepiness.
Studies have also shown fluoride-free toothpaste contains hydroxyapatite and is just as effective in remineralization and preventing cavities as fluoride toothpaste.
Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite which is ACTUALLY found in our teeth.
So by going with a fluoride-free toothpaste containing hydroxyapatite you get the benefits a fluoride toothpaste would give you WITHOUT risking the negative effects that could potentially come with fluoride.
Something we use everyday, hopefully TWICE a day should be carefully evaluated to be as safe as possible for our body to ingest and absorb.
Fluoride Free, Organic Toothpaste Brands I Love
Easily found at your local Whole Foods or online, this has been one of my favorite brands for awhile. It leaves my teeth feeling incredibly clean and whitened naturally. This brand helps support community based programs and is certified organic.
2. Auromere
Definitely my close second for favorite toothpaste brands. I love this company and their ethos, they have so many other amazing Ayurvedic, organic, and non-toxic household and personal care products on their brand so check them out for other items you may want to switch out! This brand also donates 10% of all its products to a charity that supports the development of the impoverished parts of India.
3. Hello
I recently tried this brand, and I really liked it! Super clean toothpaste and from a company that care a lot about the planet too. This brand is made in the USA.
4. David’s
Another made in the USA brand with naturally sources and naturally derived ingredients. David’s also has programs that support the environment.
