Why normal toothpaste is NOT my friend!

When I started to look at the ingredients of everything I consume on a daily basis, toothpaste was one of the first things I checked. Something about this daily frothy soapy experience made me suspicious! After doing a bit of research I took the family off normal toothpaste. 


We tried all sorts of natural substitutes, amoung them, charcoal of Aubergine (homemade). I don't recommend it!
The cause of this hasty exploration into completely natural personal hygiene and beauty products?


Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. 


There are loads of other nasties, but this is my personal fav as it is in almost everything!

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes. The reason? We have come to expect products which have a cleansing action to foam up and both of these chemicals are very effective foaming agents.

SLS has been linked with skin irritation, skin corrosion, eye irritation and cornea damage, scalp irritation, swollen hands, face, arms, fuzzy split hair, menopausal symptoms, drop in male fertility, baldness, and in a few cases, blindness! In research done in 1983, the Journal of The American College of Toxicology found that some soaps, which had concentrations of up to 30% SLS, were "highly irritating and dangerous".

It is often used as an absorbing agent to allow other ingredients like vitamins, moisturizers and minerals to be more easily deposited below the skin's surface. The problem is that many beauty products come with a host of other toxic chemicals which can now enter the blood stream easily. SLS has shown up in the tissues of the brain, liver, heart and other vital organs! And can we expect anything less from an ingredient which started off in Industrial cleaners? It's all a bit disturbing really and even though many sources say that there is nothing wrong with SLS, i'd rather take my chances with the charcoal!

There are many more options available than there used to be. We use Vicco tooth powder now, it’s an ayurvedic toothpaste made from many different plants. It doesn’t foam. It makes your teeth brown while you’re brushing so best not look in the mirror! 
It took a while, but we rooted out all SLS in our home. And I’ve educated my kids too. It does mean that we need to pack toothpaste for sleep-overs though!