{"id":66,"date":"2014-09-29T21:25:49","date_gmt":"2014-09-29T21:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.coloncancerpreventionalliance.com\/patient-resources\/?p=66"},"modified":"2014-09-29T21:28:20","modified_gmt":"2014-09-29T21:28:20","slug":"clean-teeth-and-fresh-breath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.coloncancerpreventionalliance.com\/patient-resources\/clean-teeth-and-fresh-breath\/","title":{"rendered":"Carcinogen Free Clean Teeth And Fresh Breath"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"toothpaste\"Triclosan.\u00a0 What is it, and why is it getting so much attention lately?\u00a0 Triclosan is the chemical used in many antibacterial products, from kitchen utensils to children\u2019s toys.\u00a0 And now, it seems, your toothpaste.\u00a0 At least, it\u2019s in your toothpaste if you use Colgate Total.\u00a0 So why does it matter?\u00a0 Animal studies have linked triclosan to cancer cell growth, underdeveloped fetal bones, hormone disruption, and dermatitis.\u00a0 The chemical was originally used in hospital scrubs in the 1970s, and it\u2019s use has since increased to include products of just about anything one can imagine (see our DIY recipes<\/a> to avoid chemicals).<\/p>\n

Even more worrying is the link between triclosan and dioxins.\u00a0 Dioxins are pollutants found mostly in meat and dairy and are linked to tumor growth, immunotoxicity, and endocrine disruption.\u00a0 Dioxins are such a concern that the FDA regulates meat and dairy products to limit dioxin exposure.\u00a0 Triclosan has been shown to interact with chlorine (found in tap water!) to create dioxins.<\/p>\n

Bloomberg News reports that studies showing the hazards of triclosan are so convincing that some retailers, including WalMart, are going so far as to pressure manufacturers to remove it from their products, while the European Union banned its use in product that come into contact with food, and the state of Minnesota has also recently passed legislation banning its use in certain products.<\/p>\n

If you want clean teeth without the carcinogens and hormone disruptors, there is good news.\u00a0 Many toothpastes do not contain triclosan, including Swanson\u2019s Toothpaste, Tom\u2019s of Maine, Jason\u2019s Natural Toothpaste, Desert Essence, and Nature\u2019s Gate.\u00a0 Or you can make your own.\u00a0 If you want an antibacterial toothpaste that is super powerful and not linked to cancer or other nasty outcomes, consider this recipe with tea tree oil.\u00a0 Tea tree oil is powerfully antibacterial and antifungal.<\/p>\n