Fluoride seems to be a really hot topic nowadays with so many people taking a very firm stance on whether you really need it or whether you should stay as far away from it as possible.

There’s a lot of information out there about fluoride! According to an article by Dr. Mercola swallowing fluoride can have an adverse effect of children’s neurodevelopment and can cause damage to the brain. Personally, we have stayed away from it and have stuck with xylitol-based toothpastes.

We started using Spry toothpaste on a little finger brush when my daughter got her first teeth and the fabulous thing about it is that you don’t have to rinse it out, so you can completely avoid the battle of rinsing and spitting.

I’ve used fluoride-free toothpastes for myself for years but had never heard about xylitol until I bought that first toothpaste for my daughter. If you’re not familiar with it, here’s a quick little overview. Xylitol is a low-calorie, naturally occurring sugar substitute that actually has anticariogenic properties and some studies have shown that it can reduce the occurrence in children but it is still a pretty controversial ingredient- as is fluoride.

If you take a minute to look at what’s in most toothpastes, you’ll find a very long list including some things you probably can’t even pronounce. Just like with ingredients on the food I eat, I try to stay away from ingredients that I don’t recognize and can’t pronounce.

Another one of the ingredients I would keep my eye out for and stay away from is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). According to the Natural Health Information Centre once SLS is absorbed into the skin it can mimic a hormone called oestrogen which may be responsible for many health problems, including menopausal symptoms, dropping male fertility, and evenfemale cancers such as breast cancer.

If you want to stay really natural you can even try making your own homemade toothpaste! Wellness Mama has several toothpaste recipes on her blog, including one that you can put into a squeezable container, which would be a great way to introduce homemade toothpaste since it’s in a familiar container!

Jacqueline Banks is a certified Holistic Health Counselor and online fitness coach. She works with women in all stages of motherhood, from mothers struggling with conception to those trying to get their grove back after pregnancy to ensure the best health and nutrition for both mom and baby.