Essential Oxygen

Toothpaste & Mouthwash — Too Toxic for Your Mouth?

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Guest Post
By: Debra Lynn Dadd 

Toothpaste and mouthwash have much in common. Both are intended to fight cavities and gum disease, both made from pretty much the same ingredients and both contain toxic substances you might not want to put in your mouth.
 
Whenever you put any toxic substance into your mouth there are two ways it can get into your body. Certainly you (or your children) might swallow it. But even if you don’t swallow it, the membranes in your mouth are very permeable, and toxic substances can easily pass right into your bloodstream and move quickly to every part of your body.
 
Look at the ingredients list on any major brand of toothpaste and mouthwash and you’ll find pretty much the same ingredients. The purpose of both is to kill germs to freshen breath, and reduce tooth decay and gum disease.
 
The major ingredient of concern in toothpaste is fluoride.  Yes it is added to toothpaste to “fight cavities,” but it is also so toxic that it requires a warning label on the toothpaste tube:
WARNING: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more toothpaste than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison-control center immediately.
Fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes are often given to children as added protection against tooth decay. While there is no question that the optimal dose of fluoride can help prevent cavities, there is a possible danger here that with the combination of fluoride in mouthwash, toothpaste, tap water, and other sources that children might be getting too much fluoride, causing mottling of the teeth and many other ills. In addition to the acute danger of fluoride poisoning, long-term low-dose exposure to fluoride has been associated with bone disorders, thyroid disease, low intelligence, dementia, diabetes, and other common ills.
 
The major ingredient of concern in mouthwash is alcohol, which requires a warning label on the bottle:
WARNING: Do not administer to children under 12 years of age. KEEP THIS AND ALL DRUGS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. This product contains alcohol. Do not swallow. In case of accidental overdose, seek professional assistance or contact a poison-control center immediately.
This is a petrochemical version of the same ethyl alcohol you drink in alcoholic beverages, and can affect the central nervous system and cause nausea and drowsiness. Mouthwash is one of those everyday products that we assume to be safe, yet it is especially hazardous to children. It is often left out where children can reach it, and it has an appealing color and taste. A child could easily drink enough to cause harm.
 
There are other toxic ingredients in toothpaste and mouthwash, but these are the key ingredients to look for. Any of these in a product would be reason enough to not use it.
 
But just so you know…both toothpastes and mouthwashes contain the same artificial colors, artificial flavors and preservatives found in processed foods. So if you are eating organic, you’ll want to remove exposure to these additives from your toothpaste and mouthwash as well.
 
And then there are the sweeteners. Toothpastes and mouthwashes are commonly sweetened with the sugar alcohols xylitol and sorbitol, sucralose and sodium saccharin. These are commonly considered to be safe, but they are all manufactured substances with questionable safety.
 
The toothpaste ingredient that really makes me cringe is plastic microbeads. Apparently Crest and other brands of toothpaste actually put bits of plastic in the toothpaste, which have been found to embed themselves in the gums of those who use it. The plastic is polyethylene, which is not toxic, bit it isn’t biodegradable. So once it’s stuck in your gums, I’m not sure how it gets out. And wouldn’t it just build up over time? Fortunately we can see these beads and choose to avoid them, and they are listed among the ingredients as “polyethylene.”
 
Fortunately there are natural dental care products available that clean your teeth and gums and give you a bright smile and fresh breath without the harmful chemicals.
 
debralynndadd
Debra Lynn Dadd has more than thirty years experience finding consumer products that are free from toxic chemicals. She has been a leading consumer advocate since 1984, when she wrote the first book on toxic chemicals in consumer products and safer alternatives. Since, Debra has become the most prolific writer on the subject, with seven more published books and the largest website on toxic free living on the internet. Browse 100s of links to 1000s of safer products, 1000s of Q&A, delicious organic recipes, more than 400 interviews with leaders in the field, and much more. www.debralynndadd.com
We really enjoyed working with Debra Lynn Dadd on this guest blog post, and love her site as a non-toxic resource. If you’re looking for a truly clean and effective alternative to standard oral care products, brush with our Organic non-GMO Brushing Rinse!
 
Love, 
Essential Oxygen

6 Green Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

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Organic Couples Kiss More

  1. Eco-friendly organic chocolate. The Rainforest Alliance certification means it’s chocolate that’s better for the environment and “shopping the frog” ensures cocoa farmers have good living and working conditions. Find Rainforest Alliance certified chocolate here.
  1. Honey for your honey! If your lover REALLY loves bees, get them their own hive. We like the Flow Hive because the honey harvests itself, no need to disturb the bees! Not ready to tend to a hive? Get organic local honey from your farmer’s market as a gift for your “Queen Bee”.
  1. Essential Oxygen Organic Brushing Rinse for you and your kissing partner so you can whiten your teeth and freshen your breath for the big smooching holiday. Bonus: studies show that good oral health can add 6 years to your life, so this gift might add some extra love to your lives! Pro tip: I keep a travel-sized 3 ounce bottle with me at all times so I can steal kisses whenever I want, even after a super garlic-infused meal.
  1. Instead of cut flowers, more sustainable options are to give living plants, potted flowers, organic seeds, or even a grow-your own organic mushrooms box like the ones Back To The Roots makes! I like Seeds of Change and High Mowing Organic Seeds because they both donate a lot of seeds to schools and urban low income garden projects.
  1. Ethical jewelry that gives back. Local artists are a great place to get conflict-free and up-cycled items. If you’re going for a big bling, try Brilliant Earth for their sustainable and ethically sourced jewelry or Do Amore, who gives two people in a developing country access to safe water for every ring purchase.
  1. Organic men’s grooming products. Get your guy to go green with Herban Cowboy organic and natural products that aim to get guys off aerosol spray shave gels and into organic essential oil infused products that come in recycled packaging.

Finally – my favorite free, sustainable, organic gift? A big kiss!!!

Love,

Emmi

Essential Oxygen Director of Communications

 

Good Puppy Oral Health = No Bad Dog Breath!

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Have you made a New Year’s resolution to never smell bad doggy breath again? Your dog’s oral health; their breath, teeth whiteness, and gum health is just as important as yours. Trying to brush their teeth regularly can be a nightmare. The dangers of having them knocked out at the vet are even more grim. Plus, who wants that annual expense? Additionally, make sure to avoid pet toothpaste that isn’t all natural.

Here is what I do for an easy going pup. Spray about 4 shots of 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide in their mouth, and brush. If they are the kind of dog who runs if you even try to touch their paw – just lift their lips and spray on their gums and forgo the brushing. You can also add some Brushing Rinse to the 8 oz. Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide spray bottle once you have used it a few times.

For daily doggy oral health care, letting them chew on all-natural antler sheds is a great option to keep their grin glowing year round.

Some people might be concerned about using hydrogen peroxide given that vets sometimes use it to induce vomiting, but it is a matter of degree. A couple sprays will dramatically improve their oral health without making woof their cookies.

So now you can kiss your dog in 2016 and you won’t be knocked out by dog breath!

4 Tips For Sinus Infections, Headaches, & More

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Do you find yourself getting frequent sinus infections? Do you get headaches that won’t go away day after day even when you take headache medication? Do you ever get a pain that you can’t tell if it is a toothache, earache, or TMJ? When I find myself with yet another pesky sinus infection this is what I learned works for me:

1. Amp up your immunity with a megadose of Vitamin C. If you find yourself in the bathroom too frequently, reduce your dose. Oregano oil capsules (Oreganol from North American Herb and Spice is what I use) is another good option for immunity boosting.

2. Use a neti pot with a saline solution 2-3 times per day. Different people like different neti pots, but I like NeilMed Sinus Rinse because it is a good saline solution that is well blended and doesn’t sting your sinuses. I like to add some luke warm purified water to the saline. Many sites talk about using a Hydrogen Peroxide solution in the neti pot, but I had to be scraped off the ceiling when I tried that!

3. Get an essential oil diffuser and either pour in Essential Oxygen Brushing Rinse to the fill line, or combine our Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide and half water with essential oils like “On Guard” by DoTerra. It is more cumbersome, but you can also take a whole 16 ounce bottle of our 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide and put it in a humidifier. Have it near you or by your bed for 2-3 nights and top off the water each night.

4. Consider buying one or more air purifiers for your house. Costco usually has a good deal on these.

~Love, Mystica

WooHoo – HP32! Essential Oxygen 3% Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Now in a 32 Oz. Eco-Economical Refill Size!

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Since there are so many uses for our 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide making it THE must-have product for every household, we made a bigger bottle! Plus, the bigger size means less plastic used and you get twice as much for half the price! Welcome to the product family, eco-economic refill size HP32!

With none of the toxic stabilizers found in non-food grade, brown bottle varieties, Essential Oxygen 3% Hydrogen Peroxide is the cleanest way to clean…everything.

Now that you can get it in bulk, don’t be afraid to try HP in new ways. Use it for first aid, washing food, household surfaces, laundry, baby gear / children’s toys, plants, pets, and more! Stock up for holiday cooking, cleaning, and of course the inevitable wine spills. Save the environment and your money by re-using your HP dispensers or spray bottles and refilling with an HP32.

Clean cleaner confidently when you use HP because it has NO toxic stabilizers like tetra sodium phosphate, sodium stagnate, acetanilide, or phenol. Use your 32 ounces on:

  • Mouth/Throat Health – Gargle with ⅓ oz at the first sign of a sore throat.
  • Ear Health – Tilt head, pour 1/8 oz in ear for 1 min. Repeat in other ear.
  • Cuts – Spray or dab ¼ oz with soaked cotton ball.
  • Veggies – Add 3 oz to sink or bowl of water and soak for 1-20 min.
  • Sprouts – Add 1 oz to sprout soaking or rinsing water.
  • Nuts/Grains – Add 2 oz to water and soak for 1-24 hours to clean.
  • Meat/Fish – Add 1 oz to water and soak for 1-5 min.
  • Toothbrush – Soak bristles in 1 oz in shot glass overnight.
  • Surfaces – Spray and wipe all household surfaces.
  • Dishes – Add 2 oz to each dishwasher load.
  • Laundry – Add 3 oz to each washer load.
  • Gray Water Households – Wash everything!
  • Dog Breath – Spray in dog’s mouth and brush if possible!
  • Skunk Odor – Pour 1 bottle on affected animal.

You can order the new 32 ounce non-GMO Essential Oxygen Hydrogen Peroxide economical refill bottle online at  www.essentialoxygen.com

Retailers can order direct at: [email protected] or from the following distributors/warehouses who have brought it in so far:

  • Threshold
  • Palko
  • Select Nutrition East
  • Super Natural Distributors
  • UNFI East: Iowa City & Atlanta, Chesterfield, Twin Cities, York, Dayville, Greenwood, Hudson Valley, Sarasota, Racine, and UNFI West: Moreno Valley, Rocklin, and Lancaster  warehouses

If you really want to be blown away by how and why it works and ways to use it, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrODKapEp7c

Thanks for cleaning responsibly!

Love,

Your friends at Essential Oxygen

Essential Oxygen in SPINS Article

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Expo West was a great success this year.  We are proud to report that SPINS put Essential Oxygen’s Brushing Rinse on theirBest Products of Expo West 2015 list!  We were their first pick in their oral section.

There were so many amazing products and people at the Expo and we can’t wait to be a part of it next year!

Take a look at our feature along with the many other inspiring companies from the event:

EssentialOxygenSpinsArticle

#shareyourradiance

 

3 Ways to Reduce Dreaded Morning Mouth

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We all know the feeling of waking up to an unpleasant taste/smell in our mouth. Morning mouth occurs because, while we sleep, a number of our body’s functions slow down including saliva production.

Saliva is very important because it cleanses our mouth and contains oxygen which eliminates anaerobic bacteria. So when our saliva is at a stand-still, bad-breath bacteria creeps in and makes itself comfortable on our teeth, tongue and cheeks.

What can you do about it? Good question! Here are 3 ways to reduce your morning mouth and start the day feeling fresh.

1. Drink water when you wake up. 

Nothing stimulates saliva production faster than fluids. A sip of water gets your bodily functions moving again after hours of non-movement. This is also a great way to get your digestive system going!

2. Avoid eating after brushing. 

At night, the last thing you should do before bed is floss and rinse with your Organic Brushing Rinse. Consuming food after cleansing gives bacteria something to hold on to and encourages bad breath.

3. When you wake up, immediately gargle with our Organic Brushing Rinse. 

Because our bodies have been cleaning and saliva is not circulating all night, our bacteria counts are extremely high when we wake up. It’s best to spit them out and gargle right away to avoid re-ingesting the bacteria. This will also boost your immune system!

Follow these simple steps and you will be on your way to feeling fresh and full of energy in the morning. Now that’s a great way to start the day!

#shareyourradiance

Toxin Free for You and Me

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One of the last things you want in your mouth are toxins. Especially in a product that is meant to cleanse and fortify your teeth and gums like toothpaste and mouthwash. Unfortunately, most of the products on the market today host a plethora of different toxins and disguise them under scary names.

Here is a little toxin cheat sheet so that you know what to avoid when looking for products:

Bleach

Bleach contains chlorine. It is a highly reactive substance, meaning that it readily combines with other elements. When it is isolated and freed from its chemical bonds, it becomes a toxic gas.

Many products that you may not expect do contain bleach and, therefore, chlorine. We all know that chlorine is commonly used to disinfect pool water and neutralize bacteria and germs. We certainly don’t want that anywhere near our bodies!

Glycerin

According to Gerard F. Judd, PH.D, Researcher and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, teeth are able to re-enamel themselves by drawing minerals from food.

This process is hindered when glycerin is used in oral products. Glycerin creates a barrier on the tooth and keeps it from rejuvenating its enamel. Almost all the ‘healthy’ toothpastes contain Glycerin as a primary ingredient.

Heavy Metals

The difference between food grade hydrogen peroxide and cosmetic or industrial grade that is found in brown bottles at grocery and drug stores, is that the food grade doesn’t have the harmful stabilizers found in the brown bottle varieties.

The stabilizers made of chemicals like tetra sodium phosphate, sodium stagnate, acetanilide and phenol contain significant quantities of toxic heavy metals. Most toothpastes and mouthwashes use the non-food grade variety of peroxide.

Alcohol

Alcohol is used to cleanse wounds and disinfect surfaces. It is also responsible for drying out your mouth and making it difficult for your saliva glands to wash away bacteria.

This can lead to bad breath and buildup. It’s ok to have a glass of wine, but keep alcohol away from your oral care products!

Don’t worry, it’s not all scary! Our Brush Rinse and Food-Grade Hydrogen Peroxide are all-natural and completely toxin free. You can swish happy!

#shareyourradiance 

Visit Us at Expo West 2015!

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Exciting news fellow natural-product lovers! Essential Oxygen will be at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA this week! The Expo showcases the best natural products from around the globe and we are thrilled to be joining the ranks.

The Expo is always a blast and features new products, hosts workshops, and features renowned keynote speakers and guests. Whether you are newly discovering Essential Oxygen or are a longtime member of our community, you will be able to chat with us, discover new products and learn more about health and wellness.

We will be meeting and greeting and showering visitors with samples, pins and new product information. Here are the details of the expo, we hope to see you there:

Natural Products Expo West

Dates + Location

Education + Events // March 4-8, 2015

Trade Show // Anaheim Convention Center 6-8,2015

Anaheim Convention Center
800 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92802 USA

Essential Oxygen Booth Number:

3212

Hours:

Friday + Saturday // 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday // 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

How to Register:

Click Here

Fresh Breath S.O.S.

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You talk to people everyday. At the grocery store, over coffee and flipping through files at work. It’s awfully hard to speak with confidence when you are worrying about your breath!

The American Dental Hygienist Association says that nearly 40 million Americans commonly suffer from bad breath, also known as oral malodor or halitosis.

A few fresh breath sabotagers are:

  • Food and Drink
  • Smoking / Chewing Tobacco
  • Poor Digestion
  • Plaque Buildup
  • Select Medications
  • Poor Dental Hygiene

Don’t worry! While there are many culprits for less-than-fresh breath, there are also simple and inexpensive ways to eliminate it.

Many ‘solutions’ like mouthwash and toothpastes mask bad breath with sweeteners and chemicals. This does not solve the problem, it just covers it up for a little while.

Essential Oxygen Brush Rinse naturally cleans teeth and freshens breath using a potent mix of natural ingredients that won’t scare you to put in your mouth.

Our Brush Rinse also fights common breath busters like plaque and tarter buildup to ensure that your mouth is squeaky clean and feeling fresh.

Ready to put it to the test? Try swishing our Brush Rinse in your mouth for a few seconds before a meeting or date. But, be careful…  you’ll smell so good that the person you’re talking to just might try to lean over and kiss you!