Many conventional kinds of toothpaste contain harmful ingredients. These can be difficult to recognize on the label. You may be wondering why avoiding toxic toothpaste ingredients is so important when toothpaste is in your mouth for a short period of time, and even when it is, you certainly don’t swallow it. The truth is, our mouths can also absorb those chemicals into the bloodstream. Also, certain ingredients can disrupt the natural balance of flora (both “good” and “bad” bacteria) in our mouths that aids in maintaining our oral health.  There is a protective mucous membrane in your mouth that can become irritated, inflamed, and infected with toxic ingredients and this imbalance can even affect your gut microbiome.