Question 1

Where is the kaolin clay sourced and does it contain lead?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it has very, tiny amounts of lead. Most soil-based products, including all clays, contain minute amounts of lead in them.

Some folks simply label this as ‘naturally occurring’ so not dangerous, but we prefer to dive a bit deeper into this in order to really understand just how small a level of heavy metals we’re talking about.

The United States Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry states, “Uncontaminated soil contains lead concentrations less than 50 ppm but soil lead levels in many urban areas exceed 200 ppm.”

So, according to official agencies, ‘uncontaminated’ soils contain less than 50 ppm (parts per million) of lead.  The Micro-crystalline Hydroxyapatite (MCHA) in Shine contains 0.2 ppm of lead, so 250 times less lead than what is considered ‘uncontaminated’.  And, we have to factor in that Shine has other ingredients in it, so the trace amount of lead is even less.

So, even though there is a tiny amount of lead, in this case, it’s such a minute amount that it’s a non-issue to us.  Everyone in our family uses Shine.  You’ll have to decide for yourself if the potential benefits outweigh the risks for your family.

What about the risk of lead in kaolin clay?

It’s true that all clays do contain heavy metals. White kaolin clay is among the purest clays found on earth so the heavy metal content is lower than other clays like bentonite.

Interestingly, organoclays, including kaolin, have been shown to be very effective at binding heavy metals. This is why many clays are used medicinally to remove heavy metals from the body. While we aren’t advocating using kaolin for this reason, we feel that it’s use is appropriate for our product.

In a study titled, Effect of quaternary ammonium cation loading and pH on heavy metal sorption to Ca bentonite and two organobentonites, researchers stated, “The organoclays studied have considerable capacity for heavy metal sorption. Given that prior studies have demonstrated the strong sorption capacity of organoclays for nonionic organic pollutants, it is likely that organoclays can be useful sorbents for the treatment of effluent streams containing both organic contaminants and heavy metals.”

We hope this helps to clarify an often misunderstood fear in our culture.

Question 2

Does this kaolin clay have a mineral content of alumin oxide? Is so how much of it does of it does it contain?

Accepted Answer

All kaolin clays contain aliminum oxides.  The aluminum is bound in the molecular matrix with silica.  Here is an article that details the chemical makeup of kaolin:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaolinite
I hope that helps!

Question 3

Where is it made?

Accepted Answer

Hawaii

Question 4

Do I use this in combination with toothpaste or is this meant to replace toothpaste?

Accepted Answer

It is meant to replace toothpaste

ASIN	B078YFQZK7
Active Ingredients	kaolin
Age Range Description	Adult
Brand	OraWellness
Customer Reviews	4.4 out of 5 stars 1,338 Reviews
Flavor	Mint
Included Components	Teeth Whitening Powder
Item Form	Powder
Item Weight	60 Grams
Manufacturer Part Number	4335063551
Material Features	Natural
Model number	4335063551
Net Quantity	1.00 Count
UPC	019962488719
Unit Count	1.00 Count

OraWellness Shine Remineralizing Natural Teeth Whitening Powder, Tooth Stain Remover and Polisher With Kaolin Clay Powder, Fresh Mint

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