Article: How a family reduced its toxic footprint

Hi everyone,

I saw this interesting article in the Toronto Star Online Edition, about reducing/eliminating toxic products in everyday hygiene items. Here's the teaser quote:

I stick my nose deep into Marika Goode's armpit and inhale. She's right. She doesn't stink. Not bad for a woman who hasn't purchased deodorant for a year. Her breath smells minty. And her hair is voluminous and shiny. She hasn't bought toothpaste or shampoo for a year either.

How does she do it?

"I'm going to make you some toothpaste," says Goode, 47, setting a white mixing bowl on her kitchen counter. "Do you like spearmint or peppermint?"

Although, I like what she is doing, a warning needs to be let out on the toothpaste side, especially concerning people with sensitive teeth. Baking soda is an abrasive that might make sensitive teeth even more sensitive after use.

As always, when using a particular item we all have to weigh the pros and cons and come up with a decision on whether there is a net benefit. (By the way, the greatest impact in cleaning your teeth is not your toothpaste or toothbrush but the time spent brushing...2 minutes/twice day is great)

Source: Porter C, Porter: How a Family Reduced its Toxic Footprint, Toronto Star Online, March 24, 2010, Read on March 24, 2010,  http://www.healthzone.ca/health/newsfeatures/article/784935--porter-how-a-family-reduced-its-toxic-footprint?bn=1

Take care

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental Did You Know: What's in your Toothpaste Part 2

Surfactants (detergents) such as sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate and lauryl sarcosinate are used to produce a foam that helps clean teeth. The first two have significant antibacterial properties but can irritate oral tissues. To minimize this, lauryl sarcosinate is used in part or in whole as a replacement.

Source: Field S, Why There's Antifreeze in Your Toothpaste: The Chemistry of Household Ingredients, Chicago Review Press, 2008, pg 239-241.

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Recalled Toothpaste: Neem Toothpaste from India

I got this CDA alert via email:


(With regards to) Health Canada's recall of Neem Active Toothpaste with Calcium, manufactured by Calcutta Chemical Co. Ltd. in India, further testing by Health Canada has found the product to contain high levels of harmful bacteria in addition to the initial discovery of unacceptable levels of diethylene glycol (DEG).

You can read the rest of Health Canada alert here:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/advisories-avis/2007/2007_108_e.html


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Dental did you know: Toothpaste Chemistry

Two of the components of the new Crest Pro-Health toothpastes are:

1. Stabilized Stannous Fluoride: which fights plaque, has a prolonged antibacterial action, protects against sensitivity, makes teeth more resistant to cavities and freshens breath
2. Sodium Hexametaphosphate: which inhibits calculus, helps remove intrinsic stains and prevents stains.

Source: Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry (Suppl 1) Sept 2005, Vol 26, Num 9. (Coverpage)


Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100

Counterfeit Toothpaste: Read the Label

In the category of "always read the label". There has been an epidemic of fake toothpaste around the world containing harmful chemicals. As a rule, always try to buy from a reputable supplier or major chain and look at the packaging. Virtually all major brands of toothpaste sold in Canada are made here or the US and are packaged with english and french labels (without spelling errors on the package i.e. Colgate becomes Coigate).

The Globe and Mail had an excellent article on this, here's the teaser quote:

Health Canada is investigating suspected counterfeit toothpaste found in Southern Ontario that is similar to a product at the centre of a health recall throughout the United States because of fears it contains an ingredient used in antifreeze.

Steve Janke, 40, bought a tube of what purports to be Colgate brand toothpaste labelled as being manufactured in South Africa from a dollar store in Guelph, Ont.

The packaging was missing the French translation found on most Canadian products and the 100-millilitre tube was labelled as being manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive (PTY) Ltd. [CL-N] in South Africa.

You can read the rest of the article here: Tainted toothpaste sparks probe

Source: Globe and Mail Online, June 19, 2007
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070619.wcolgate19/BNStory/National/home

Hans Skariah, B.Sc., DMD
Promenade Court Dental Health Group in Mississauga
2233 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON, Canada
(1/2 km north of the QEW in the Dome Building)
(905) 273-7100