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Alternatives to Fluoride Toothpaste for Teeth Cleaning

Fluoride, Theobromine

Fluoride can make teeth more resistant to tooth decay, inhibits bacteria growth, and can remineralize tooth structure. However, there have been some discussion whether fluoride can also cause bone loss, brain damage, reduced thyroid function, and bone cancer. If young children swallow much fluoride their adult teeth will be speckled white with deposits. Many parents choose to use a non fluoride toothpaste on their toddlers because of this. Fluoride toothpaste has been around since the 1950’s and now more than 98% of all toothpastes have fluoride added to them in the final production. The pro’s and con’s of fluoride have been hotly debated, so a new way to treat teeth is certainly a welcome sign.

Researchers at Tulane University have found that an extract from the cocoa bean, which are used to make chocolate and chocolate flavored products, can indeed be more effective than the fluoride additive. This extract, theobromine, can harden tooth enamel and make it less permeable. Chocolate contains 0.5-2.7% theobromine. This reduction of tooth permeability is key in fighting tooth decay and cavities. Theobromine is now being studied as a fluoride alternative in hopes of having a tooth decay breakthrough. The next test of theobromine is to study its effects against the bacteria that are normally found in the human mouth. This test will show its effectiveness in “real world” condition of the mouth instead of the test lab where there are no bacteria. Depending on this study, a toothpaste additive of theobromine will not be far off. If all goes well in the research and development of the cocoa extract theobromine, then a toothpaste containing it could be on a shelf near you in as few as two years or so. It would mark the only real innovation in tooth decay products since 1914, and what a delicious innovation it would be.

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Tea Tree Oil is another viable alternative to fluoride. It has naturally occuring antiseptic properties and is a nonirritant. It is good for staving off gum disease, but doesn’t remove or help keep plaque from forming on the teeth enamel. Most times you will see tea tree oil paired with baking soda for its effects on plaque. Research by Steven Soukoulis and Dr Robert Hirsch published in the Australian Dental Journal stated that “a gel containing tea tree oil brushed onto the teeth twice a day reduced gingivitis, inflammation in the gums caused by not cleaning your teeth regularly.

Baking soda is good to help keep plaque off the teeth, and gives a good smooth polish to the enamel without scratching its surface. It is a wonderful way to kill germs in the mouth along with providing excellent tooth cleaning. If you add a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to the toothbrush you will provide a whitening effect to the teeth as well. Beware of using too much peroxide though, as you can bleach your gums after a while. Moderation is key to this method.