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How To Clean A Dirty Mouth, Au Naturale

March 16, 2009 3:55 pm

This column features weekly tips and advice from a revolving cast of industry leaders, on hand to discuss your beauty dilemmas, from blemishes to Botox. To submit a question, e-mail celia_ellenberg@condenast.com.

I’ve heard that a lot of toothpastes have formulas that are similar to detergents, which is disconcerting, to say the least. Are there any natural options out there that work without all the chemicals?

The detergents that clean your teeth and provide a foam to help carry away the debris are called surfactants. Toothpastes most commonly have surfactants called lauryl sarcosinate or sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS), which have anti-bacterial properties and can penetrate and dissolve plaque. The difference with natural toothpastes is that they typically offer a formula that does not contain dyes, harsh chemicals, saccharin, alcohol, preservatives, or SLS, which can dry or irritate the mouth. These soothing herbal pastes can be as effective, but it’s important that you choose a brand that contains a natural fluoride for cavity prevention and a high concentration of xylitol, which is a natural sweetener derived from birch pulp that also helps fight oral bacteria.

As a leader in the cosmetic dentistry movement, Dr. Marc Lowenberg is renowned in celebrity circles for an artistic ability to perfect his patients’ smiles, bearing in mind their individual facial structure and personality. Making regular appearances on television programs like Extreme Makeover, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live With Regis and Kelly, the Today show, and Good Morning America, Dr. Lowenberg is also a popular fixture on the lecture circuit—and in New York, where he runs a private practice with his partner, Dr. Gregg Lituchy.

Photo: Courtesy of Amazon.com

tags: Dr. Marc Lowenberg, Teeth, Xylitol