These super-small invaders do big damage to your body

Thanks to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, there’s at least one group of lab rats that won’t be getting cavities!

These rodents with perfect teeth are the result of a new experiment using what’s called nanotechnology – a process that involves using particles of a compound so tiny that you can’t see them through a regular microscope.

In this case, the miniscule ingredient is a drug used to treat iron deficiency made into a mouth rinse. (How you get a rat to swish and spit must be another story!)

The nanoparticle-infused solution activates hydrogen peroxide, which wiped out any plaque build-up on the rats’ teeth!

But so far, not so good.

While we would all love to be able to conquer tooth decay by simply using this magic mouthwash, it turns out that nanoparticles can do have a dark side. And avoiding them as much as possible is something you need to put into action ASAP!

Because despite the fact that nanoparticles are invisible to the human eye, they can wreak enormous havoc on your body.

And in a perfect example of why it’s good to always look before you leap (believe it or not, the FDA didn’t bother doing that!), we’ve all been sucked into an itsy-bitsy parallel universe where the tiniest substances might be doing us the biggest harm.

While this nanoparticle mouthwash isn’t yet available outside of the laboratory, it could be soon, since the FDA has already approved the iron drug it utilizes.

But there are plenty of other nanoparticle products on the market right now that you need to worry about.

And the frightening effects of what can happen when the “unique properties” of these nanoparticles collide with real-world contaminants have already been revealed.

A research team at the University of Southern Denmark observed that silver nanoparticles, for example, interact with the commonly found toxic metal cadmium. And when human cells were exposed to the nanoparticle/cadmium “cocktail” in the lab, practically three-quarters of them died. Even without the added cadmium, a full quarter of the cells were killed!

Considering that a wide variety of nanoparticles are currently used in everything from processed foods and their packaging to toothbrushes and even drugs, this is a very important finding!

But those aren’t the only scary discoveries about these tiny terrors.

First, all nanoparticles make a beeline for the bloodstream, where they are attracted to proteins. Once there, cells won’t perceive them as a foreign invader (because they’re protected by a protein “shell”), but rather as something produced by your own body.

And by wearing that “disguise,” nanoparticles can set about doing some significant damage.

Previous research has uncovered that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide, which are commonly used as additives in food and cosmetics (and are carcinogenic if the dust is inhaled), can weaken your protective intestinal barrier (think IBD)… damage DNA… cause neurological dysfunction… and make a host of vital nutrients (such as zinc) more difficult to absorb.

Scientifically speaking, this all makes perfect sense. The smaller a particle is, the easier it can enter the blood and lymph systems. In fact, nanoparticles are used as drug-delivery methods when doctors need a med to cross the blood-brain barrier.

And aside from the damage we already know about, what other types of havoc they can cause in the body is anyone’s guess.

That means that doing your best to avoid nanoparticles like these could be one of the most important precautions you can take to avoid some mystery ailment striking you down without explanation.

So, start being picky about the products you buy, starting with avoiding anything labeled as being resistant to bacteria — like toothbrushes, cutting boards, baby toys, etc. These items frequently contain nanoparticles of silver, used as antibacterial agents.

Next, avoid foods and cosmetics (including sunscreen) that are labeled as containing titanium dioxide. (You won’t see any mention of “nano” unless you’re in Europe, where it’s labeled.)

And as for that amazing new plaque-busting nano-mouthwash that could soon become available – well, you’d probably be a lot safer washing your mouth out with soap!

“Cocktail of nanoparticles and contaminants may have harmful effects on human cells” August 20, 2018, News Medical Life Sciences, news-medical.net