Worried About Fluoride In Toothpaste? Natural Herbal Alternatives Abound

Natural, herbal-based products for oral health that avoid dubious non-natural ingredients have been added to the arsenal of traditional weapons against tooth decay and gum disease. Examples of undesirable ingredients in standard oral care products include fluoride, the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulfate and artificial colors and flavors. While accepted as safe, some health care providers say excessive use of fluoride among children causes fluorosis – brown spots or streaks on teeth. A variety of natural alternatives are available, product providers say. Ancient ayurvedic herbs provide astringent and antibacterial action, without fluoride. Other options include the popular antiseptic tea tree oil, neem tree bark, and the antibacterial sweetener xylitol. Some products contribute to dental nutrition by including coenzyme Q10 with perilla seed oil, vitamin C and blue-green algae.