So, I have a strange confession. I am allergic to whitening toothpaste. The reason I've kept this secret under wraps is because it makes me feel equally like a finicky purebred dog and a freak. Obviously, no one else is suffering this sensitivity because nearly all toothpastes on the market now contain whatever ingredient this "whitening" stuff is; it is even prolific amongst Tom's of Maine products and other natural lines.
Another part of me is ashamed of my weakness. Clearly, if I am this reactive to even a common product, I am evolution's Neanderthal. The other side of the coin - and please forgive my Michigan Militia-esque conspiracy theory - is that perhaps whitening will be the rodent equivalent of our next great plague? No one will think to blame this insidious ingredient, as it has become such a commonplace additive. But who knows what this stuff is really doing to people? How long were the longterm effects studied or were the ingredients considered too inert to warrant extensive testing?
Whatever this stuff is - my body doesn't like it one bit. I attempted to break away from the generally safe Crest toothpaste and use a Tom's of Maine product that doesn't advertise a whitening component. But it's in there. My lips are now so chapped they've started bleeding and I've only used it twice. That equals another trip to Walgreen's to purchase the original formula of the one gross toothpaste that doesn't give me a horrible reaction. But I want you to think about it - I mean, what is in this stuff anyway and how much testing really went into a product we have in our mouths daily?
Thank you for listening. This has been your aluminum foil hat warning of the day.
