to tom's

As I am currently incapacitated by a severe case of stiff neck, I decided to take the time to ponder life... and toothpaste. With my Tom's of Maine natural whole care gel getting down to its last squeeze, I can't help but think about my evolution from a mocking skeptic to an ardent fan.

Last February, at the behest of a trusted Tom's devotee, I switched my beloved Colgate Total for Tom's.  While many dismiss Tom's products as the weapons of choice for tree-hugging, granola-eating (btw-- what's with the environmentalist granola stereotype?  Who doesn't like granola?) hippies who shower once a week, they really do make you feel cleaner and healthier. Once you actually examine how many chemicals are in toothpaste, and how much toothpaste people inadvertently swallow every time they brush, you'd switch your tube faster than you can say "sodium hydroxide."

Back in 2007, Wired magazine ran an article investigating what's inside Colgate Whitening Oxygen Bubbles Brisk Mint toothpaste.  Here are some chemicals guaranteed to make you cringe (none of which are found in Tom's):

-Roasted Malt is what gives the paste's "brisk mint" flavor it's briskness.  It instructs the mouth's receptors to feel cool.  So you know how nice and clean you feel after brushing?  That ain't real.  

-Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This is what gives the toothpaste it's lather when you brush; it's a detergent also used for the same purpose in shampoo.  This is why whenever you eat something after brushing your teeth, it has that funny taste: SLS temporarily numbs your tastebuds.

-Sodium Hydroxide, aka lye, aka drain cleaner.  Yeahhh.