TotalHealth Magazine

If you’re like millions of consumers, your toothpaste is soft, and when you brush, gives you that minty fresh taste. But if you’ve ever wondered what is in toothpaste and what makes one brand different from another, you’ll find the answers in this article.

You'll find a variety of claims on toothpaste labels, such as gum disease toothpaste, one that fights bad breath, SLS free toothpaste, toothpaste for sensitive teeth, hydrogen peroxide toothpaste, or natural toothpaste. Toothpastes are typically made of certain ingredients that make it the paste that it is. However, there are many variations, with some more effective than others.

In general, most toothpaste includes abrasives, binders, foaming ingredient, humectants, detergents, flavors, colors, preservatives, fluoride and water. The following is a breakdown to help describe what these ingredients are for.

Those flat brown spots that appear on the body can be freckles, sunspots, liver spots or age spots. Freckles can be genetic and be present at an early age, or they can be due to sun exposure if you have a hereditary predisposition to them. Freckles can even look sexy, as seen on many models. Age spots are not sexy and can age you beyond your actual age.

Age spots, also known as sunspots or liver spots, have nothing to do with the liver, but are typically associated with old age. Truth be told, age spots have very little to do with old age either or how old you are. Although they can affect young people, usually they appear in adults older than forty years old. They usually are flat gray, brown or even black spots of varying size.

Plastic bottles have been linked to cancer and other health problems. But are all plastic containers the same and are they all potential health hazards? Glass is rarely used for most personal care, skin care or cosmetic products. On the other hand, plastic is everywhere in products we use daily, including food, cleaning products, even care of newborn babies. In today’s market a symbol and number on the bottom identify most plastic containers. This information is important and tells you what type of plastic is used, if it’s recyclable, and if it is safe or not.

Certain ingredients can affect the plastic they are contained in and some plastics can leach chemicals into the products they contain. If you have sensitive skin, it’s very important to know what ingredients are in your skin care, personal care and makeup products. Make it also a habit to check the tubes and bottles you buy that contain your food and sensitive skin care and personal care products. This article will help you learn the difference between those numbers under the plastic containers.

Fun at the beach or on the slopes can cause premature aging or skin cancer. Winter or summer, sunscreen is important for all sun lovers. However, there are reports about the safety of some sunscreen brands. There is also much confusion about how much to use, which SPF number is adequate, or whether you should even use sunscreen in the winter?

In this article you’ll learn critical information about the health of your skin while being exposed to the sun, and what to do to avoid premature aging and skin cancer.

Throughout history, there have always been addictive substances to tempt young and old to experience euphoria and escape the trials of life. Today, the flavor drug of the rich and poor alike is methamphetamine. On the street it’s known as meth, speed, ice, chalk, crank, fire, glass or crystal.

Most people don’t realize the devastating effects of this highly addictive drug. A person can become addicted immediately, even after the first use of the drug.

I saw a program on CNN some time ago about the deteriorating health of our children and the cause for it. Dr. Sanjay Gupta hosted the one-hour program that was part of a series called “Toxic Towns USA”.

The program featured the town of Mossville in southwestern Louisiana that has several chemical plants. University of Texas researchers reported that 99 percent of the residents of this community suffered from an illness or disease caused or related to toxic chemicals.

A toothless face is not a pretty site. If you’re worried about aging and ending up with sunken cheeks and dentures, read on. Most people assume once you become a senior, loosing your teeth is inevitable. Tooth loss is common, but in majority of the cases, just like most things in life, if you loose your teeth and end up with false teeth, you’re probably the cause.

Whether it’s waking up first thing in the morning with bad breath (dreaded morning breath), after eating certain foods or just most of the time, you may have experienced bad breath. The cause of bad breath may be certain diseases such as diabetes, respiratory infections, infected tonsils, stomach conditions and others. Studies report approximately 80 percent of bad breath (halitosis) comes from the mouth.

Throughout history men and women have tried to turn back the clock on aging. Anti-aging skin care products and treatments can be expensive. Before you jump on the bandwagon to help improve your appearance, it’s best to learn about and evaluate the latest treatments available.

Most people start to notice changes in their skin in their late 30s. After the age of 40, is when most areas of the face that was full, begins to get depressed or develop shadowing or darkening. Of course, this makes the face look older.

Below is a summary of some of the true and tried, and newest treatments designed to help reverse aging.

Dentistry has typically been thought of as a very invasive medical field. No wonder, since the word dentist invokes thoughts of drills, x-rays, mercury fillings, toxic chemicals, not to mention fear and pain. None of these images bring to mind a whole-earth or eco-friendly approach to a beautiful smile.

Oral health is extremely important to general health. Heart disease, stroke, problem pregnancies, fibromyalgia and diabetes are just some of the health issues that have a connection to poor oral health.

There is a lot of buzz about toxic ingredients in sunscreen, and rightly so. Everyone should consider their skin to be sensitive and focus on sensitive skin sunscreen. Most people use sunscreen to allow them to stay in the sun longer without worry of skin damage. Some studies have reported there could be health concerns with the ingredients in sunscreen, outweighing the benefits of their skin protection. Many sunscreens include highly irritating ingredients. Of course, there are many types of sunscreen to choose from, with most people focusing on the higher number SPF to maximize sun exposure. However, there is more to it than just the SPF number when it comes to choosing the best sunscreen for you and your family.

Dental amalgam filling contain the element mercury. The safety of mercury in fillings has caused a controversy lasting for many years. Most of the concern involves whether constant exposure of mercury from the filling material in the mouth can have toxic effects on the body.

Unfortunately, most Americans are not knowledgeable about the mercury in dental fillings issue. As a result the public can be easily panicked by a TV broadcast, such as aired in 1990 by CBS news program 60 Minutes. Hal Huggins, a Colorado dentist and a critic of dental amalgams, shared his views on the 60 Minutes episode.

There is growing concern over the connection of gum disease and heart disease. Unfortunately, most people think teeth have no connection to the rest of the body. There are many connections, including the fact that every tooth and its supporting structures contain arteries that travel to the heart. It’s very important to keep the tissues surrounding your teeth healthy. Studies have confirmed gum disease has a connection with increased risk of:

There is no generic toothpaste for all ages and all mouths. Many varieties exist for adults and children. These include:

1. Children’s toothpaste
2. SLS free toothpaste
3. Sensitive teeth toothpaste
4. Natural toothpaste
5. Fluoride containing toothpaste
6. Fluoride free toothpaste

This article will help you distinguish between some of the different types of toothpaste to help you choose the best one for you and your family.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for your body, which of course, includes your teeth and gums. Oral health disease may be prevented when vital nutrients are not deficient in your body. That being said, it’s not unusual to find consumers who misuse supplements, believing that just by taking a supplement or herb, they can cure tooth decay or even systemic disease. However, there are benefits to taking supplements for oral health.

Americans are obese due to over consumption of junk foods and sugar. Sugar has been called Sweet Poison and the Silent Killer for a good reason.

There are many health risks attached to sugar. These have been published in medical journals and include:

When exposed to toxic chemicals, children are not miniature adults. Even small doses can affect their sensitive developing bodies, leaving them vulnerable to allergies and frequent bouts of infections, colds, and even behavior challenges.

I am a baby boomer. What this means is I am one of the explosion of births that occurred in the U.S. between 1946 and 1964 after World War II. During these "baby boomer" years, approximately 76 to 82 million Americans were born, which is one of the soon to be largest aging populations in the U.S. This represents 28 to over 30 percent of the American population. Most of us are between the ages of 40-58 and we want to learn how to be healthier, be more beautiful and to never age, in other words, we would like the fountain of youth. If this came in the form of a pill or supplied in a jar, we would like it even better.

EWG's 2012 Sunscreen Report now online.

No doubt, you’ve heard that you have a skin type. You may think you have dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin. Many people suffer with sensitive skin. Daily use of irritating ingredients in your favorite skin care products, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, could be a contributing cause. Symptoms of sensitive skin can vary from mild rashes, itching, acne, flakey skin to red patches appearing on your skin.

If you have sensitive skin, taking care of your skin the right way involves much more than searching for the most expensive products on the market. The truth is that most of the popular and expensive skin care products are not only costly, but also filled with irritating chemicals and toxins.

Tooth decay usually begins on the outer layer of the tooth called enamel. You may notice a white spot on your tooth and wonder what it is. This white spot or area of decalcification indicates calcium is leaching from your tooth. The spots initially cause no harm, except for the appearance, especially if it’s on your front tooth. The area signifies loss of minerals, which weakens the enamel and eventually can lead to tooth decay. As the decay progresses you may feel pain, and need a root canal or lose the tooth.