We get this question a lot. Here’s what it says on Tom’s of Maine Web site:
We use 100% aluminum tubes because they are environmentally sensitive. They are recyclable in most communities. They also help maintain our natural flavors. The tubes that we use are lined with a thin layer of food-grade plastic (meaning a pharmaceutical grade inert epoxy which is approved safe for use with food ingestibles) that prevents the toothpaste from coming into contact with the aluminum.
Flouride is not my first choice.
The way flouride works is that in its ionized form it is highly attracted to phosphate ions in your teeth. Flouride is a smaller ion than calcium, so it goes in your tooth and is tightly packed, meaning it’s harder to unravel the enamel with acids.
Topical flouride, as in toothpaste, is fine in severe cases because it’s usually the last measure to cover rampant decay or hypocalcification (areas where tooth is weak due to lack of calcium). Systemic, as in pill form, definitely not. It has to go through your stomach and blood to get to your teeth. This means flouride as access to bones, nerve and other tissues where we don’t want it to go.
Tanins in coffee are what stain your teeth and the best way to get rid of stains is to get them polished. Dentists typically use pumice, but at home you can use baking soda or table salt.
Both are natural abrasives, which means they will strip the outter layer of your teeth if used excessively and can cause your teeth to be sensitive. Be careful and don’t use every day.
Great question from @davidbeckwith!
1. Use thyme oil to clean the surrounding area.
2. Apply 1-2 drops of clove oil on tooth with a cotton swab.
3. If throbbing, take 60 to 120 kavapyrone for analgesic effects (it is derived from kava plant and known to blocks pain receptors).
4. Do warm salt water rinses 4 times daily ( make salt water rinse with 1/2 teaspoon salt with 1 cup water).
Green dentists are committed to serving both their clients and the environment. A dentist is green in four ways: client relationship, materials used in dentistry, office design and partners.
