February
is National Children’s Dental Health Month, making it a great time to
look at how families around the country are caring for their children’s
teeth. Most parents believe they are doing the right thing by opting for
popular brands of toothpaste and colorful products that will catch
their child’s attention. Yet what these people are not usually aware of
are all the hidden dangers in the mass-marketed products because of the
ingredients they are made of.
“Many of the products that
parents are buying for their children to use are made with ingredients
that they really shouldn’t have,” explains Dr. Bruno Sharp, a
fourth-generation dentist who created a line of products called Dr.
Sharp Dentistry, and is celebrating their 10th year as a
Natural Oral Care provider. “Ideally, you want to use a natural product,
so you avoid the ingredients that can be harmful to your child’s
health.”
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, over 17 percent of children between the
ages of 5-19 have untreated dental caries. Furthermore according to the
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HSS) 41 percent of
American children have some form of dental fluorosis, a white or brown
mottling of the teeth caused by long term ingestion of fluoride during
the time the teeth are forming. In addition, the FDA’s warnings on
toothpaste read: “keep out of the reach of children less than 6 years of
age. In case of accidental ingestion, seek professional assistance or
contact poison control center immediately.”
When it comes to avoiding ingredients that can be harmful to a
child’s health, fluoride tops the list. Although many people have been
led to believe that it’s a good thing, it is actually highly
controversial and has been linked to such issues as hypothyroidism,
among other adverse affects. Additionally, it’s a good idea to avoid
products that contain artificial colors and flavors, and products that
come in bottles and tubes that may contain BPA.Additional harmful ingredients parents should read the label for to avoid include parabens, alcohol, triclosan, DEA, gluten, sodium lauryl sulfate, and products that contain GMOs. It’s also a good idea for parents to look for those products that are cruelty free, so they don’t contain animal products or involve animal testing.
“You want your child to have
great oral hygiene habits, but that starts with the quality of the
products that they are using each day. When you opt for safe ones, then
your routine is off to a great start,” added Dr. Sharp.
Dr. Sharp is also taking
National Children’s Dental Health Month to donate 1,000 tubes of their
Wild Berry Kids toothpaste to Operation Smile, a Virginia-based global
medical non-profit that provides free cleft lip and clef palate
surgeries to children around the world. The products will be shipped
just in time for Operation Smile’s dental missions in the Philippines
and Vietnam, beginning in April.
“Following surgery to heal
their lips, we love to be able to help children get their best start
with oral hygiene care,” says J. Lindsay Tomberg, Director of Global
Philanthropy for Operation Smile. “We are grateful for the donation of
these natural products that will help many children create good
life-long habits in caring for their teeth.”
Dr. Sharp created a line of
oral hygiene products to give people a healthier alternative. His
product line includes children’s toothpaste, adult toothpaste, fresh
mint mouthwash, and dental tape. All products are safe to use, made in
the USA, and are gluten free, have no artificial colors or flavors, are
vegan, non-GMO, alcohol free, fluoride free, and cruelty free. Plus,
they help whiten teeth and have xylitol, which is a natural sweetener
that also helps to fight off cavities. The products are safe for the
entire family. The products will be showcased at the Natural Products
Expo West in March 2016, in the “hot products” section. To learn more
about Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care products or see where they can be
purchased, visit the site at: www.drsharpcare.com.
About Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care
Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care is a
line of natural oral care products that were created by a
fourth-generation dentist. All products are made from natural, safe
ingredients, and are made in the USA. The product line includes
toothpaste for children and adults, mouthwash, and dental tape. For more
information, visit the site at: www.drsharpcare.com.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram @drsharpnaturaloralcare
About Operation Smile
Operation Smile is an
international medical charity whose global network of thousands of
credentialed medical volunteers from more than 80 countries is dedicated
to helping improve the health and lives of children from more than 60
countries. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more
than 240,000 free surgical procedures for children and young adults
born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. To build
long-term sufficiency in resource poor environments, Operation Smile
trains doctors and local medical professionals in its partner countries
so they are empowered to treat their local communities and help others
around the world. Operation Smile also donates medical equipment and
supplies and provides year-round medical treatments through its
worldwide centers.
# # #
Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oral and Dental Health. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/dental.htm>
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence and Severity of Dental Fluorisis in the U.S. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db53.htm>
No comments:
Post a Comment