What Today's Scientists are Saying
How Sensitive Teeth Pain Relief Products Ruin Your Health & Teeth
The dental profession continues to advocate for HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN YOUR TOOTHPASTE AND MOUTHWASH to treat sensitive teeth.
THERE ARE MUCH SAFER, SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED, NATURAL INGREDIENTS THAT CAN PROVIDE SIMILAR OR BETTER BENEFITS THAN THESE DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.
We’ll back up both of these statements with real scientific studies.
A Short List of Harmful Chemicals in Your Sensitive Teeth Products
Click on the number after an ingredient’s name to jump to more elaborate information and scientific studies that back it up.
You won’t lose your place. We’ll provide a link there to jump right back to where you were.
Potassium Nitrate & Strontium Chloride (1)
Sensitive teeth mouthwashes and toothpastes often include one or the other. Both block pain signals to the nerves in sensitive teeth to reduce pain and temporarily prevent direct contact with food and drink. However, both are known skin and eye irritants.
You also have to keep applying these substances to your teeth to relieve the pain and sensitivity because the effects are only temporary.
Fluoride (2)
Most fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash is sodium fluoride, a toxic waste byproduct of aluminum production. The common wisdom is that it strengthens and remineralizes tooth enamel and protects it against acids, heat, and cold.
Swallowing it can cause glucose metabolism problems, poisoning, neurological impairment, and more.
The dangers adults face from brushing teeth with it are unknown.
What is known is that small children are in danger of tooth discoloration (fluorosis), especially if they are also ingesting fluoride compounds from drinking water. Children and adults alike are at risk of WEAKENING their bones and teeth if they take in too much fluoride from mouth rinses, mouthwashes, brushing, and/or drinking water, according to studies.
About that fluoride in your water: It’s not sodium fluoride. It’s usually one of a number of fluorine compounds classified as industrial waste.
The Cochrane Collaboration is highly esteemed by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other groups for the high quality of their reviews of scientific studies.
What do they think of water fluoridation?
In 2015, they reviewed all the science on fluoride and found that most of the studies are low quality. The only three high quality studies they found produced no good evidence that these toxic chemicals reduce cavities in adult teeth!
There are plenty of less harmful as well as healthier things that support tooth remineralization and strengthen enamel that are confirmed by controlled studies.
Dipotassium Oxalate Monohydrate (3)
Potassium oxalates react with calcium in your teeth and produce calcium oxalate, which helps resist acids. They are also known skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritants.
Furthermore, conflicting scientific studies suggest they may or may not fulfill their purpose. A 2011 review of scientific studies found no decrease in tooth sensitivity from these chemicals compared to placebos. A 2006 Brazilian study also found no effect. A 2018 study found some “statistically significant” benefits in mouth rinses.
Learn Which Non-Toxic Ingredients Scientists Recommend for Sensitive Teeth
Scientists have identified natural, non-toxic ways to strengthen enamel and relieve tooth sensitivity without harsh chemicals.
Keep reading, or click the red button to jump straight to the list of ingredients + the scientific studies to back them up.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) (4)
SLS is the stuff that makes your toothpaste foamy. It’s common in sensitive teeth toothpaste. It’s also a detergent in common cleaning products. SLS is often extracted from petroleum sources or from palm oil, making it bad for the environment. Side effects include burns, lesions, canker sores, dry mouth and INCREASED tooth sensitivity. It’s also a known skin, lung, and eye irritant, and the irritation increases over time.
Titanium Dioxide (5)
It gives toothpaste its clean-looking white color, but you might as well gargle random chemicals from your garage. According to studies, its nanoparticles can enter the bloodstream and cause brain damage. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as a Group 2B carcinogen, meaning that it’s “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
Acidic Stabilizing Agents (6)
This is a class of chemicals that increase the shelf life of your toothpaste and mouthwash. These preservatives go by various names. They are also acidic, which means they dissolve your tooth enamel and make your teeth more sensitive.
Parabens (7)
They increase shelf life & kill bacteria and fungi. These chemical preservatives go by various names. Multiple studies have linked them to endocrine disruption, infertility, breast cancer, obesity, asthma, and allergies.
Remember: This is just a SHORT list!
There really is no point in reading labels, and researching every ingredient, in these over the counter products to determine whether each of their chemicals are safe and effective.
Most of these toothpastes and mouthwash have TONS OF INGREDIENTS. Researching all of them would be an ORDEAL!
A Natural & Evidence-Based Mouthwash
for Sensitive Teeth
These 4 Natural Ingredients Support Your Tooth Enamel
for Pain-Free Eating
Tooth sensitivity is caused by erosion of your tooth enamel, aka demineralization. After lengthy reviews and testing of the science, immunizeLABS has enlisted the help of the following super ingredients to make OralMiracle mouthwash.
These are proven to support your tooth enamel's natural remineralization and restoration process.
CPP-ACP
CPP (Phosphopeptides) and ACP (Calcium Phosphate) spontaneously form CPP-ACP in saliva to help restore and remineralize tooth enamel and raise the pH to a level that makes enamel restoration possible. *
Baking Soda
In a 2017 Era Medical College study, researchers found that the rise in pH from a baking soda mouth rinse was sufficient for teeth remineralization. This is what enables CPP-ACP to strengthen tooth enamel. *
Himalayan Salt
Pink Himalayan salt is mostly unprocessed sodium chloride like your table salt. The pink color comes from more than 80 trace minerals. Salt raises your pH so that your teeth can strengthen enamel through remineralization. It also kills germs. *
Xylitol
Unlike sugar, bacteria cannot use xylitol for energy. In fact, xylitol reduces plaque and slows the growth of some harmful forms of bacteria. *
* Scroll further down for links to scientific studies
OralMiracle Natural Mouthwash
CPP-ACP
Pink Himalayan Salt
Baking Soda
Xylitol
Other Natural Ingredients for Whiter Teeth, Fresh Breath, Bacteria Control, & More
"... My gums were starting to heal and my teeth were becoming remineralized. My teeth felt cleaner and smoother, as they were when I was younger, and the best part is they are so much whiter"
Sheila Datt, Nutrition Coach, Old Greenwich, Connecticut, Verified Buyer
"... I woke up for the first time in my life without dragon breath. Within the first week, I could already tell it was whitening my teeth, and they just keep getting whiter. My sensitivities have diminished and disappeared...”
- Lindsey Hayward, Verified Buyer
"This mouthwash is incredible, all my kids love it! It's pretty much the only thing they can agree on these days. I also had very strong tooth sensitivities and for me they were gone after using this mouthwash for about two weeks."
Rose M, Verified Buyer
The Science Behind OralMiracle’s Ingredients
CPP-ACP
CPP (Phosphopeptides) and ACP (Calcium Phosphate) spontaneously form CPP-ACP in saliva to help remineralize teeth enamel.
CPP-ACP also changes the pH balance in the mouth, keeping calcium and phosphate levels high. This prevents demineralization and protects against acids, which have low pH levels.
A University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) study examined the available clinical trials and other research about the effectiveness of CPP-ACP.
One large 2-year study they looked at measured tooth remineralization and hardness from chewing gum with various dosages of CPP-ACP. They found that “The odds of a tooth surface's progressing to caries was 18% less in subjects who chewed sugar-free gum containing 54 mg CPP-ACP than in control subjects who chewed gum without CPP-ACP.”
After reviewing all the studies, they concluded that the clinical results, on real humans, “suggest a caries (cavities) preventing effect for long-term clinical CPP-ACP use.”
Compare these numbers to the fluoride in your toothpaste and mouthwash. They're very promising.
Sources:
Farooq, Imran & Farooq Umer et al. (July, 2013). A review of novel dental caries preventive material: Casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP–ACP) complex. King Saud University Journal of Dental Sciences. Vol. 4, Issue 2, pp. 47-51. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210815713000127
Mickenautsch, S & Yangopal, V. (2009). Caries preventive effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP): a meta-analysis. Acta Odontal Scand. Division of Public Oral Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown/Johannesburg, South Africa. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19701818
Adams, GG & Baily, DL et al. (April, 2008). The anticariogenic effect of sugar-free gum containing CPP-ACP nanocomplexes on approximal caries determined using digital bitewing radiography. Caries Research. Performed at Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Science, University of Melbourne. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18446025
Pink Himalayan Salt
Pink Himalayan salt contains more than 80 minerals and trace elements, some of which aid your teeth’s natural remineralization process. Minerals include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
This salt is mostly sodium chloride, just like unadulterated forms of table salt. It’s the minerals that give it its pink color.
Sodium chloride increases pH levels in the mouth, aiding remineralization and killing harmful bacteria.
Pink Himalayan salt is one of the purest salts on earth. It’s mined naturally from the Punjab region of Pakistan, often by hand.
Source:
Tracey Sandilands. Colgate.com. How Salt Water Mouth Rinse Benefits Oral Health. Retrieved from https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/mouth-sores-and-infections/how-salt-water-mouth-rinse-benefits-oral-health-1214
Aluminum-Free Baking Soda
Baking soda raises the pH in your mouth, making remineralization with calcium and phosphate possible.
In a 2017 Era Medical College study, researchers found that the rise in pH from a baking soda mouth rinse was sufficient for teeth remineralization.
They concluded: “Sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse is effective in increasing salivary pH above the threshold level needed for prevention of enamel demineralization and enhancing remineralization. This positive finding concluded from our study definitely indicates that SB rinse which is low in cost, bland in taste and associated with no side effect can be used as an adjunct to oral hygiene measures for long periods with more patient comfort during the maintenance phase.”
Baking soda is also well-known as a whitening agent, stain remover, and bacteria killer that relieves ulcers and sores.
Sources:
Agrawal, Amiya & Chandel, Siddhartha et al. (July – December, 2017). The effect of sodium bicarbonate oral rinse on salivary pH and oral microflora: A prospective cohort study. National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery. Maxillofacial Society of India. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5773983/
Salmeri, Jeff. DynamicDentalInc.com. (January, 2013). How Baking Soda Can Keep Your Mouth and Teeth Healthy. Retrieved from http://www.dynamicdentalinc.com/blog/bid/81389/how-baking-soda-can-keep-your-mouth-and-teeth-healthy
Xylitol
According to a 2014 study, “Xylitol, like any other sweetener, promotes mineralization by increasing the salivary flow when used as chewing gum or large xylitol pastille. The uniqueness of xylitol is that it is practically nonfermentable by oral bacteria. Also, there is a decrease in levels of mutans streptococci (MS), as well as the amount of plaque, when there is habitual consumption of xylitol.”
Source:
Khandelwal, Vishal & Nayak, Prathibha Anand & Nayak, Ullal Anand. (November, 2014). The effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral flora. Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dentistry Journal. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4232036/
OralMiracle Natural Mouthwash
CPP-ACP
Pink Himalayan Salt
Baking Soda
Xylitol
Other Natural Ingredients for Whiter Teeth, Fresh Breath, Bacteria Control, & More
More Benefits of OralMiracle Natural Mouthwash
☻ Whitens teeth with lemon essential oil & hydrogen peroxide
-
☻ Kills bacteria & bad breath WITHOUT alcohol & WITH Ionic & colloidal silver, hydrogen peroxide, pink Himalayan salt, & essential oils of lemon, clove, & cinnamon
☻ Freshens breath with essential oils of spearmint, peppermint, & cinnamon
☻ Helps reduces & prevent plaque
☻ Optimizes pH for healthy enamel & reduced discoloration
☻ Contains no fluoride, no sugar, no gluten, no artificial ingredients, & no harmful chemicals
☻ Delivers fantastic flavor
☻ Coats the teeth & gums & works overnight, bringing lasting benefits
The Science: Harmful Ingredients In Your Toothpaste & Mouthwash
Click an Item Below to Expand It for Thorough Scientific Info & Links to Studies
1. Potassium Nitrate & Strontium Chloride
1. Potassium Nitrate & Strontium Chloride
Both of these chemicals block pain signals to the nerves in sensitive teeth to reduce pain. Some desensitizing products typically include potassium nitrate, but some companies use strontium chloride instead.
You have to keep applying these substances to your teeth to block the pain. Both ingredients provide a temporary solution to your problem instead of restoring your enamel.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tallied up the scientific literature to determine the relative safety of these ingredients. They rated potassium nitrate a “low hazard” when used for dental care. They rated strontium chloride a “moderate hazard.”
Potassium nitrate is known as a severe skin and eye irritant. Side effects are rare when it’s used in toothpaste, but they do happen. Japan has banned strontium chloride in cosmetics because it’s unsafe for skin.
Sources:
EWG.org. Dental/oral | Toothpaste containing POTASSIUM NITRATE. Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/browse.php?ingred06=705216&category=toothpaste&order=product_INC&showmore=products&atatime=10
CDC.gov. Potassium Nitrate. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0184.html
Hazard.com. Strontium Chloride. Retrieved from https://hazard.com/msds/mf/baker/baker/files/s6938.htm
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS. DentistryIQ.com. (March, 2011). Potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride, strontium chloride, and NovaMin technologies for dentin hypersensitivity. Retrieved from https://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2011/03/novamin-and-hypersensitivity.html
2. Fluoride
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2. Fluoride
Fluoride is a word that describes a few different compounds that come from reactions with fluorine ions. The fluoride in drinking water is actually a couple forms of toxic industrial waste.
Peer reviewed studies, including a 2014 study published in the Lancet, identify these substances as neurotoxins that can cause neurodevelopmental disabilities.
But never mind the poisons in your drinking water. We’re talking about toothpaste and mouthwash.
The fluoride in your toothpaste is normally sodium fluoride (NaF), which was also considered toxic industrial waste until 1950. It’s a byproduct of aluminum production. However, toothpaste and mouthwash variations include stannous fluoride (SnF2), olaflur (a fluoride salt), and sodium monofluorophosphate (Na2PO3F).
Sodium fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and protects it against acids. In other words, it remineralizes the enamel, but it’s hardly benign.
The biggest dangers from fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash come from swallowing it, even in small amounts. They include poisoning, glucose metabolism impairment, tooth discoloration, stomach problems, and more. Preventing all of that is easy. Don’t swallow it.
FACT: According to the US Centers for Disease Control, sodium fluoride can be absorbed through “inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact.”
There is some controversy over whether sodium fluoride can be absorbed into the bloodstream directly, through the mouth. Dentists will normally tell you that it cannot.
They may say fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash hasn’t been proven to do anything but bind to teeth. This does not mean that fluoride has been proven NOT to enter the bloodstream through the mouth and cause serious health problems.
BRUSHING YOUR TEETH WITH SODIUM FLUORIDE DOES HAVE ITS DANGERS.
In fact, several countries regulate the maximum “safe” amount of fluoride that can be added to toothpaste without requiring a prescription.
Fluorosis is the discoloration of teeth from excess fluoride. It usually occurs when the teeth are still forming during childhood, up to page 8. Dentists recommend that children use no more than a pea size amount of toothpaste when brushing.
Too much fluoride in the body weakens bones and teeth by demineralizing them. It’s a problem for people who consume excessive amounts of fluoride in drinking water. It’s also the OPPOSITE of what fluoride is supposed to be FOR. If you’re already of danger from your tap water, adding more fluoride to your teeth could make the problem worse.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
FLUORIDE IS NOT THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS, AND ITS SAFETY IN TOOTHPASTES IS UNPROVEN. THERE ARE OTHER PROVEN WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR TEETH’S NATURAL ABILITY TO REMINERALIZE AND STRENTHEN ENAMEL.
There are natural substances that won’t leave you wondering whether you’re absorbing neurotoxins that can hurt your IQ, thyroid function, bone integrity, or your overall health.
Sources:
Mosaicco.com. Hydrofluorosilicic Acid (FSA or HFS). Retrieved from http://www.mosaicco.com/products/industrial_products_hfs.htm
Grandjean MD, Philippe & Landrigan, Philip J. (March, 2014). Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. The Lancet Neurology. Volume 13, Issue 3. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(13)70278-3/fulltext#seccestitle90
CDC.gov. Sodium fluoride (as F). NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0563.html
CDC.gov. Community Water Fluoridation FAQ’s: Fluorosis. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/faqs/dental_fluorosis/index.htm
Everett, E.T. (May, 2011). Fluoride’s Effects on the Formation of Teeth and Bones, and the Influence of Genetics. Journal of Dental Research: SAGE Journals. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3144112/
3. Dipotassium Oxalate Monohydrate
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3. Dipotassium Oxalate Monohydrate
This is a compound found in mouthwashes, toothpastes, and gels. It reacts with calcium in the tooth dentin and produces calcium oxalate, which helps resist acids.
It’s also a known skin, eye, and mucous membrane irritant, according to the US National Library of Medicine.
A 2011 University of Washington Study reviewing the existing research found no decrease in tooth sensitivity from dipotassium oxalate compared to placebo treatments.
A 2006 study in the Brazilian Dental Journal made similar conclusions.
A widely touted positive study was published in a 2013 paper by Johnson & Johnson, makers of toothpaste and mouthwash. Go figure.
A more recent study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found some statistically significant positive results with potassium oxalate mouth rinses compared to placebo groups.
That means this potentially harmful chemical gets mixed results at best, depending on the study’s design.
Sources:
U.S. National Library of Medicine. Compound Summary for CID 11413: Potassium Oxalate. Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Potassium_oxalate#section=Top
Cunha-Cruz, J. & Heaton, L.J. et al. (March, 2011). Dentin Hypersensitivity and Oxalates: A Systematic Review. Journal of Dental Research: SAGE Journals. Performed at University of Washington. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3144108/
Bonato, Ana Christina & Martineli, Figueiredo. (2006). Effect of commercially available and experimental potassium oxalate-based dentin desensitizing agents in dentin permeability: influence of time and filtration system. Brazilian Dental Journal. Volume 17, Number 4. Retrieved from http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-64402006000400007
Amini DDS, Pejmon & Gallob DMD, John et al. (July, 2018). Potassium oxalate mouthrinse reduces dentinal hypersensitivity: A randomized controlled clinical study. Journal of the American Dental Association. Volume 149, Issue 7, pp. 608-618. Retrieved from https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(18)30132-6/fulltext
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4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
- 4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
This is what makes your toothpaste foamy, and it’s common in sensitive teeth varieties. It’s also a detergent used in common cleaning products. SLS extracted from petroleum and plant sources like palm oil, which contributes to deforestation.
SLS side effects include burns, lesions, canker sores, and, ironically, increased tooth sensitivity. Its effects as a skin, mouth, lung, and eye irritant increase with long term use. It can also dry the mouth, leaving it more vulnerable to plaque.
Source:
Ginta, Daniela. Should You Be Going Sulfate-Free? Healthline.com. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sulfates#controversy
5. Titanium Dioxide
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5. Titanium Dioxide
This is a toxic substance that gives your toothpaste its clean-looking white color.
The side effects are pretty ugly.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles can enter the bloodstream and cause brain damage. Yes. This stuff penetrates the blood-brain barrier, leading to neurological problems.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies titanium dioxide as a Group 2B carcinogen, which means it's "possibly carcinogenic to humans."
Sources:
Feng, Xiaoli & Jia, Liu et al. (August, 2015). A review on potential neurotoxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Nanoscale Research Letters: A SpringerOpen Journal. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4549355/
Filipic, Metka & Novak, Sasa et al. (December, 2011). Titanium dioxide in our everyday life; is it safe?. Radiology and Oncology. Performed in Slovenia. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3423755/
World Health Organization: International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2010). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans: Volume 93: Carbon Black, Titanium Dioxide,
and Talc. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Documents/OEL/02.%20Kuempel/References/IARC_2010-Vol%2093.pdf -
6. Acidic Stabilizing Agents
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6. Acidic Stabilizing Agents
These are compounds that increase the shelf life of your toothpaste and mouthwash. They also eat away at your tooth enamel.
7. Parabens
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7. Parabens
You’ll find these likely endocrine-disrupting compounds in toothpaste and sensitive teeth mouthwash as preservatives. On the bright side, they do have antibacterial properties. They have been linked to infertility, breast cancer, obesity, asthma, and allergies.
Sources:
Boberg, J. & Christiansen, S. et al. (September, 2010). Possible endocrine disrupting effects of parabens and their metabolites. Reproductive Toxicology. Performed at Technical University of Denmark, Division of Toxicology and Risk Assessment. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20381602
Crinnion, W.J. (September, 2010). Toxic effects of the easily avoidable phthalates and parabens. Alternative Medicine Review. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21155623
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8. Alcohol
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8. Alcohol
Most sensitive teeth toothpastes and mouthwashes don’t contain alcohol, but this enamel-killing substance is worth mentioning. Don’t chase your sensitive teeth toothpaste with a mouthwash that contains alcohol because it will increase both sensitivity and tooth decay.
Alcohol also dries the mouth, depriving it of the mucous and saliva needed to prevent plaque and bad breath. -
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OralMiracle Natural Mouthwash
Strengthens Enamel
Whitens Naturally
Kills Bacteria
Freshens Breath
Alcohol-Free
Disclaimer: The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or illness.
Always consult with your healthcare professional before starting any supplementation program, before taking or stopping any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have any health problem. While we may provide health info, it is not a substitute for your doctor’s advice.