How much thought do you put into which toothpaste you buy? My guess is that for most people the considerations don’t go much further than which flavour they prefer or which advertisement they saw on television last night. Did you know that many of the toothpastes on our supermarket shelves are packed full of potentially poisonous substances? And we’re putting this stuff in our mouths, twice a day.

Here are just a few common toothpaste ingredients that we should be avoiding:

Sorbitol is a sweetener that has been shown to cause bloating and intestinal cramping in high doses and has a laxative effect. Gel toothpastes can contain up to 70 per cent sorbitol.

Sodium Fluoride is added to toothpaste to strengthen tooth enamel. What we aren’t told here in the UK is that ingested fluoride can contribute to osteoporosis and it is poisonous. In fact, there is enough flouride in one tube of “family” toothpaste to kill a small child. They don’t put that on the tube! In the US, the Food and Drug Administration requires all toothpaste packaging to include health warnings and information on contacting local poisons control officers in the event of ingestion.

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that reduces plaque. It also causes premature cell death in gum tissues and has been linked to liver damage in animals. Even it’s manufacture is harmful and releases dioxins (hormone disruptors) into the environment.

To avoid all these ingredients by choosing a more natural toothpaste isn’t difficult. There are some great products available that you can be sure don’t include any of these contested ingredients. Here are some I’ve tried and liked.

Green People make toothpastes for adults and children that are 100% natural, don’t contain SLS or any other foaming agents, fluoride, artificial sweeteners, flavours or any other unnecessary synthetic ingredients.

Kingfisher natural toothpaste contains no artificial colourings, flavourings, sweeteners or preservatives, and you can choose between varieties that contain fluoride and those that don’t.

Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel is a fantastic all-natural fluoride-free children’s toothpaste. It is especially formulated to be kind to milk teeth and it’s bright yellow colour comes from golden calendula flowers. It’s a refreshing alternative to the chemical laden children’s toothpastes available in the supermarkets.