Toothpaste has been used for nearly 4000 years. Before a "modern toothpaste" was invented by Dr. Washington Wentworth Seffield in 1850, there was all kinds of techniques to clean stains and remove food particles. In the old China ground fish bones were used, people living in desert areas used sand, bush men in Africa and native Americans chewed certain leaves or roots, and Western cultures experimented with a number of acids and other corrosive mixtures. The world's first known recipe for toothpaste was comes from Egypt and included ingredients such as rock salt, mint, dried iris flower, and pepper. Once these ingredients were mixed together, they could be used on teeth to help create a dazzling smile.
Modern toothpaste was first sold in tubs around 1873, until one of Dr. Sheffield's sons came across paints being sold in metal tubes. Soon after, in 1892, toothpaste was commercially sold in metal tubes as well.
In the mid-twentieth century research brought the net big step in toothpaste development. Fluoride proved to be an aid in fighting tooth decay, and soon fluoride free toothpaste was history. But, not all researchers agreed with the effectiveness and safetys of Fluoride being added to toothpaste, and still don't!
What's in modern toothpaste and what maybe shouldn't be?
1. Water
2. Silica, an abrasive to polish and clean. The amount used in toothpaste is considered safe.
3. Glycerin keeps toothpaste from drying out. It will though cover teeth with a sticky layer, which could even create a well protected breeding ground for remaining bacteria if you don't brush properly.
4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a foaming agent. The small molecules can penetrate the skin easily, enter the blood stream being carried to every organ. It is a suspected liver toxin and might increase the chance of oral cancer in mouth ulcer sufferers.
5. PEG 6/12 is a short version for Polyethylene Glycol and is used to bind water and to keep Gum uniform throughout the toothpaste. It is considered harmless.
6. Titanuim Dioxide is a pigment and used as a stain remover/whitener. In 2006 it has been classified as potentially causing cancer by the IARC.
7. Sodium Saccarin and Sorbitol are sweeteners. Saccarin has been removed in 2000 from the list of carcinogen. Sorbitol is considered harmless in toothpaste.
8. Gum is used as a binder in toothpaste and is considered harmless.
9. Carrageenan is mad from seaweed and used as a stabilizer. It is considered being harmless.
10. Sodium Hydroxide is used to neutralize the pH of other ingredients. It could contribute to mouth ulcers in sensitised individuals, and larger amounts ingested could cause vomiting and diarrhea (it is also being used as a drain cleaner!).
11. Propylene Glycol is, like PEG, keeping the toothpaste from drying out. It can penetrate the skin very easily, and ingested it could potentially harm liver and kidneys.
12. Fluoride in toothpaste is added to harden the tooth enamel.is classified a poison ( a family sized tube ingested by a child might be potentially lethal). Therefore, any toothpaste with Fluoride has to be labelled with a "poison" warning in the USA and Sweden. Other conditions due to fluoride overdose might be linked to thyroid problems, osteoporosis and cancer.
Of course these are just the main ingredients and every manufacturer has added ones, i.e. colourants, flavourants and more.
Maybe it's time to take a step back and look at the "good old times" with a recipe like this...
Mix 3 parts of baking powder (cleanser) with 1 part salt (abrasive). Add to each half cup of mixture 3 tsp glycerin and 10-20 drops of flavouring (peppermint, anise, or anything else you like). Add small amounts of water while mixing until it feels "tooth-pastey". Keep in a sealable small container or refillable squeeze bottle.
