Have you ever read the warning label on the back of your tube of toothpaste? The back of Crest Cavity Protection Fluoride Anti-cavity Toothpaste reads: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed get medical help or contact the poison control center right away. Under directions, users are cautioned to use only a pea sized amount in children under 6 to prevent swallowing. If this does not alarm you, perhaps the following information will.

Each tube of toothpaste contains enough poison to kill a child.

According to floridealert.com, “This dose of fluoride (in Colgate for Kids toothpaste) is more than double the dose (60 mg) that could kill the average-weighing 2 year old child. It is also greater than the dose capable of killing all average weighing children under the age of 9.” http://www.fluoridealert.org/toothpaste.html Fortunately few fatalities have happened in the last decade or so.

If a tube of toothpaste will kill a child, what will it do to an adult who has been consuming small amounts every day for thirty, forty, or fifty years? Well a report from the 1950’s showed that “the age of women bearing Down's Syndrome children decreased in direct relation to the increase of fluoride in the water supply. The more fluoride that was in the water, the younger the age of the women bearing Down's Syndrome children” according to About.com. http://thyroid.about.com/cs/toxicchemicalsan/a/flouride_2.htm The About.com story also reports that “Fluoride had been used for decades as an effective anti-thyroid medication to treat hyperthyroidism and was frequently used at levels below the current "optimal" intake of 1 mg/day. This is due to the ability of fluoride to mimic the action of thyrotropin (TSH). It makes sense, then that out of the over 150 symptoms and associations of hypothyroidism, almost all are also symptoms of fluoride poisoning.”

Besides toothpaste, there are potential problems with deodorant, and shampoo as well. Natural skincare authority lists Top 10 Deodorant toxins from denatured alcohol known to cause birth defects, to Parabens which causes reproductive system toxicity to Ethanolamine, a known human carcinogen. http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/deodorant-toxins.html

According to the Organic Consumers Association, “popular shampoos contain toxic chemicals linked to nerve damage.” http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/shampoo022105.cfm The chemical MIT (methylisothaizoline) found in Suave, Clairol, and Pantene among others, can contribute to cancer, liver disorders, and neurological disorders.

In my personal experience, I have known many people who have had cancer. I have known and been related to many people who have died from cancer. If I can tell you one thing in my personal experience it is that the people who have successfully fought off the disease have not only changed their eating and exercising habits, but have switched to natural products for what they put on their bodies as well. Some of them may not smell as good as they used to, but hey, their still here. That says a lot.

This does not mean that these people and many others who have eliminated toxins from their lives no longer pay attention to personal hygiene. It just means they have turned to natural products.

There are many natural toothpastes on the market. There is Tom’s of Maine Natural toothpaste, Nature’s gate, Melaleuca toothpaste and more. Then of course there is the inexpensive option of making your own toothpaste from baking soda, salt, and similar edible ingredients.

Deodorants are also quite easy to find these days in organic and natural forms. Jason has a full line of deodorants and body washes. Bumbleandbee.com has a line of deodorant called Pit Putty, and crystal body deodorants are also quite popular. You can also find many deodorant recipes online as well.

If you are looking for natural shampoo, consider Ginesis, Jason shampoo, or other Organic alternatives. You can also go the route of making your own shampoo from food products. This can be expensive because it is difficult to make shampoo for more than one use without using some amount of soap product. There is always the option of washing your hair less as well.

At the end of the day, the choice you have to make is between saving money by purchasing store brand products that are easy to come by and cheap to purchase, or are you going to be more careful about what you put on your body and in your mouth. I only touched on a few personal care items here, but there are a great many more that can do you harm. Start reading your warning labels and considering what long term use will do to your body and health.

Andrea Hermitt is a featured writer for Xomba.com. Read the rest of her work here .