No Nasties

Harsh chemicals and toxins have been removed from hair and skin products but incredibly still exists in commercial big brand oral care products.  It’s time to take a closer look at what we are putting into our mouths.  With decades of experience in the oral health industry, we work with dental experts to curate formulas with natural ingredients, that are scientifically proven to work.  In doing so we have a blacklist of banned ingredients that you will never find in our products.

 

SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate)

SLS similar to soap, is uses as a surfactant, detergent and emulsifier.  It is an inexpensive and effective foaming agent.  Because many of us asscociate foaming with cleaning, SLS is frequently added to personal care products like toothpaste.

Studies have linked SLS to an increase risk in developing canker sores and raises questions whether SLS potentially exacerbates gum disease.  A possible connection between SLS and gum disease may be due to the fact this ingredient also decreases saliva production and saliva is crucial to reduce harmful bacteria and maintain good oral health.

SLS can strip all bacteria, good and bad!  This leads to an imbalance in microflora which can also lead to bad breath.

All good reasons to stop washing our mouths out with soap!

 

Triclosan

Triclosan is a chemical ingredient used as an antibacterial and antifungal agent is soaps, toothpaste and hand sanitisers.  It has been banned from use in the skin care by the US Food and Drug Administration but it is still alarmingly found in oral care products.

Studies have shown it can have adverse effects on our health and may possibly lead to bacterial resistance to antibiotics, harmful to the immune system and could create thyroid issues.  It’s also not great for the environment, contaminating our waterways and potentially harming marine life.

Knowing that our mouths are 50 times more absorbent than our skin means, we must be very selective about what ingredients go into our oral care products.  As a non-essential, potentially harmful ingredient, Triclosan has no place in toothpaste or mouthwash formulations.

 

Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a white powder substance often used in food, toothpaste, mouthwash and cosmetics to make the product whiter, more opaque and visually appealing.

Research published in 2020 evakyated several concentration of titanium dioxide nanoparticle of different types of cells in the human body.  The results of the research concluded that at certain concentrations and duration of exposure, titanium dioxide nanoparticles present in toothpaste, can be responsible for causing liver cancer.

Some evidence suggests titanium dioxide may induce toxic effects on the brain and cause nerve damage.

 

Alcohol

Aside from the burning sensations, the alcohol in mouthwash destroys ALL the bacteria in your bad – both good and bad. Moreover, alcohol can reduce saliva production and lead to a dry mouth, a condition known as xerostomia.  Since saliva safeguards your oral health by flushing bacteria and debris away, alcohol based mouthwash can end up harming your oral health rather than enhancing it. 

Dry mouth can also lead to bad breath, with reduced saliva to wash away odour causing bacteria.

 

Parabens

Parabens are preservatives used to prevent the growth of microorganisms and extend the shelf life of products. 

Initially parabens were considered safe, however growing evidence suggests that these preservatives can be toxic, irritating and can cause allergic reactions. Of greatest concern is that parabens are know to disrupt hormone function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.