most popular:
2008 Holiday Gift Guides



most popular: Hot Home Wind Turbines


most popular:
$19k Electric Car in US


th comments
Shaun Merritt said: "The Green Party didn't get any seats because of our outdated and unrepresentative voting system, not because Canadian's don't want them in office.<..." [read]

Dan said: "I agree. I work for an online chair site, Sitbetter.com, and there have been a number of times I've actually encouraged people to keep their ..." [read]

flexitarian said: "This certainly helps the green movement look like a sensible, pragmatic group of people who would never indulge in absurd, self-indulgent greenwash..." [read]

Buddy Ebsen said: "I wonder what would happen if you used four of these wheel motors, doubled or tripled the battery capacity, and then dumped the gasoline engine, ga..." [read]

Renee said: "While not as ridiculous as these things, last year for Christmas my mother bought me electric salt and pepper grinders. One of my complaints is, t..." [read]

Treehugger on Toothpaste

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 09.17.05
Design & Architecture (bathroom)

toothpaste.jpgToothpaste is tough. Our dentist, who we worship, insists that we use a flouride toothpaste; Others go nuts over flouride. We felt slightly less guilty buying flouride toothpaste from Tom's of Maine, where even the fluoride is natural. (right- ground up fluorspar.that has to be better for us!) UK website ethicscore.org looked at toothpastes recently and rated Tom's and Kingfisher tops, Crest last. ::Ethicscore.org the Guardian article reviews them for flavour and packaging: ::Guardian and tipster Bonnie

Comments (6)

Supposedly you could get by without the toothpaste by using a Soladay-2 (which TH posted http://www.treehugger.com/files/2004/12/wip_top_five_pe_1.php)
Anyone actually buy it? I'm curious to read an actual review.

jump to top Pablo says:

My dentist points out that allegations of increased flouridosis (mottled teeth from a bit too much NaF) occuring in the US parallels the increased consumption of prepared foods and bottled beverages across the board. Huh? Older US cities tend to have flouridated tap water whereas the suburbs less so. Guess where the bottling and food processing companies are located? So..adding the toothpaste to your diet plus considering whether your local area already flouridates is important..check in with your dentist for his/he thoughts about what happens when there are all added up.

jump to top John Laumer says:

Another alternative to a flouride toothpaste is a product called Organic Dentifrice by Shaklee.

jump to top Bunny says:

Tooth decay is directly related to diet and fluoride is not required for healthy teeth. The only ones benefiting from fluoride are those who sell it.

With fluoride reaching 2/3 of Americans via their water supply and virtually 100% via the food supply, tooth decay is still a national epidemic. While fluoride use is growing in products and in foods, tooth decay is increasing.

So either fluoride causes tooth decay or fluoride has no beneficial effects on teeth that are in a body fed a poor diet.

For more info:
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation
www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

Fluoride Action Network
www.FluorideAction.Net

jump to top nyscof says:

our well water had very high flouride content which, as john points out, mottled our teeth before we knew what was happening. however, contrary to what nyscof says, none of my siblings have ever had a cavity but their kids who grew up on low-flouride city water get plenty. i think we benefited from flouride, not the people who sell it.

jump to top hijiki says:

I dissagree. I know that Fluoride is bad for you. Toms of Maine toothpaste is just an excuse, in my opinion. I use Natural Garden toothpaste. Fluoride is bad for your health in my opinion!

th ads
th top picks
th ads