Ice Breakers Mints Toxic Side Effects

I have been practicing dentistry for over fifty years and never came across this issue until recently. One of my patients in my integrative medical practice complained of chronic pain in his lower right second molar. His general dentist had x-rayed the tooth and visually exam it. His stock response was root canal to resolve the chronic pain. My patient had bought into this mantra and even had an appointment scheduled to have the procedure done.

Interestingly when my patient brought up his chronic tooth pain issue he was sucking on a mink. Being intuitive I asked him if he routinely used the mints. His response was yes, every day I suck on these Ice Breaker sugar free mints. I then asked him if he had the container, which he promptly produced. The ingredients were appalling: Ice Breakers Mint Ingredients. Sorbitol, Contains 2% or Less of: Maltodextrin, Maltitol, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Aspartame (Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine), Magnesium Stearate, Gum Acacia, Artificial Color (Blue 1, Yellow 5), and Soy Lecithin.

Lets dissect the ingredients:

• Phenylalanine in aspartame is a byproduct when aspartame breaks down in the body and can be dangerous for people who have an inherited disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU). Phenylketonuria is a condition in which your body can’t break down an amino acid called phenylalanine, which then builds up in the blood and causes health problems. Some of the symptoms are: skin rashes (eczema), hyperactivity, neurological problems that may include seizures, intellectual disability, behavioral, emotional and social problems, and psychiatric disorders to name a few.
• Aspartame: this artificial sweetener breaks down into formic acid, methanol, which can make you blind, and formaldehyde which is what morticians use for embalming dead bodies.
• Sorbitol: is a sugar alcohol. Other sugar alcohols include erythritol, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, and xylitol. Excessive use of sorbitol has been reported to cause problems with digestion, such as gas and diarrhea and, in some rare cases, dramatic and unwanted weight loss.
• Maltodextrin: is a complex carbohydrate with a low-sugar content, however, it has a glycemic index of 130 (table sugar is only 65). Because of it’s high glycemic index, maltodextrin can spike blood sugar very quickly. Side effects may include allergic reactions, weight gain, gas, flatulence, and bloating. Maltodextrin may also cause a rash or skin irritation, asthma, cramping, or difficulty.
• Maltitol: is a double sugar produced by hydrogenation of maltose obtained from starch. Maltitol has a glycemic index of 52, which approaches that of table sugar at 65.
• Acacia: is the gum that is exuded from the acacia tree. It’s a dietary fiber that can dissolve in water.
• Soy Lecithin: is a food additive that comes from several sources—one of them being soy. Common side effects may include: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain or fullness. Soy is also high in phytoestrogens, which can potentially enhance the formation of cancer or exacerbate existing cancers.
• Blue 1 and Yellow 5: they have long been known to cause allergic reactions in some people. Yellow dye 5 also caused mutations, an indication of possible carcinogenicity, in six of 11 tests.

Sorry to bore you with the facts but what was of great interest was the fact that when my patient stopped using Ice Breaker mints his tooth pain totally disappeared. If he would have followed through with his general dentists recommendation, he would have developed a potential major health issue from the toxicity of a dead root canal tooth.