Dental Products

The following is taken from this helpful website:

Below is a listing of the gluten-free status of many over-the-counter and in-office dental products. Although many products are gluten-free, there are a few that could cause a problem for a patient with Celiac disease.

Arestin (Orapharma, Inc.) "ARESTIN® does not contain any gluten, red or yellow dye or nuts or nut by-products." 4/19/07

Blistex"Thank you for your interest in the Blistex gluten free products. Attached is our most current listing and as you can see, we have a large variety of products that are gluten free. " 4/23/07 (Product list is at the end of this page)

Bosworth"All our Dental products are Gluten free. " 4/25/07

Colgate "All Colgate products are gluten free." 4/25/07

Colgate Palmolive "We do not intentionally add gluten to the following Colgate Palmolive products. However, we cannot guarantee that the ingredients used are not exposed to any glutens. Sorbitol is an ingredient which can be grain derived and may be found in toothpastes. Our sorbitol is corn-derived." 4/25/07

Crest (Procter & Gamble) "There is no gluten in any of our Crest Whitestrips products, the Crest Night Effects, Crest toothpaste varieties or Gleem toothpaste. None of our current Crest toothpaste versions, Crest Whitestrips versions, or Crest Night Effects contains gluten. In addition, none of the ingredients used in Glide dental floss contains gluten. Although we do not directly add ingredients that contain gluten to Crest Pro-Health Rinse or to Crest Whitening Rinse, it's possible these products could contain trace amounts. We recommend you contact your doctor before using these rinse products if you have questions or concerns about gluten. " 4/23/07

Denticator "None of our products contain gluten.(Festival and FangDango Prophy Paste) 4/23/07

Dentsply/Caulk "our products are gluten free." 4/24/07

3M ESPE Dental"We do not intentionally add gluten in the manufacture of our products. We do not analyze for gluten and therefore, do not make any claims of being gluten-free." 4/19/07

Fixodent"We don't add gluten to Fixodent, but it's possible there may be a trace amount in the product due to the raw materials used to make it. " 4/21/07

Fluor-a-Day "Our complete line of Fluor-a-day, sodium fluoride chewable tablets and drops are gluten-free." 4/24/07 GC America, Inc. "To the best of our knowledge, none of our products contain gluten." 5/18/07

GlaxoSmithKline"We do not provide a list of gluten free products as formula changes or manufacturing site changes may occur. We ask that consumers call us about specific products to ask this question. As far as Polident tablets are concerned, they are a gluten free product." 4/25/07

Glitz Dental "There is absolutely no Gluten in any glitz Prophy Paste." 5/23/07

Kerr Corp."All Kerr products are gluten free." 4/24/07

Oral-B"No Gluten: Phophy Paste Stages Tooth and Gum Care --All the other product we cannot be excluded as a processing aid in the manufacture of raw materials. We DO NOT guarantee are gluten-free. If a consumer has a sensitivity or other concern about gluten, we suggest they do not use the product." 4/26/07

Pascal Dental"Pascal’s complete line of fluorides, whether take home or in-office, are gluten free." 4/23/07

Premier Dental Products"a plant manager from one of our manufacturing faculties has celiac disease so no gluten ever enters the plant. Our prophy paste, varnish and whitening products do not contain any gluten" 4/23/07

Salivart (Gebauer Company) "Salivart is made up of corn starch, which is not gluten producing; therefore, Salivart is gluten-free." 5/3/07

Saliva Substitute(BI Roxane, Inc) "The only over the counter dental product that we manufacture is Saliva Substitute. According to the information provided by our suppliers, the ingredients in Saliva Substitute do not contain gluten." 4/27/07

SDI Limited"None of SDI's products contain gluten and there are no gluten materials stored in our Manufacturing areas. However, we can not fully guarranty that every raw materials we bring in are free of traces of gluten. To do this would be a very expensive excercise. To play it safe, we recommend the product be tested on the patient by a specialist before use." 4/24/07

Sensodyne "Thank you for contacting us regarding Sensodyne® toothpaste. Although we do not add gluten to any of our Sensodyne® products, our raw materials suppliers could not guarantee that they are gluten-free. Therefore, Sensodyne® may contain trace amounts of gluten. If you are looking for a sensitive toothpaste that is gluten-free, you may want to try Aquafresh® Sensitive® Maximum Strength toothpaste, which is completely gluten-free. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us." 6/26/07

Septodent"Septodont - Novocol anesthetics have no hidden ingredients. Also, Gluten is not an ingredient in our Anesthetics." 4/24/07

Sultan Healthcare "All of our products are considered gluten free. Our flavorings contain ethyl alcohol (corn base) to enhance the flavors at less than 1% of the total formulation. Our Pina Colada flavor contains no alcohol and is availed in Topical anesthetic, prophy paste, APF fluoride gel and Neutral Fluoride Gel. We are currently applying for certification from the Gluten-Free Certification Organization." 4/24/07

Tom's of Maine"Only two of our products contain gluten: Natural Moisturizing Hand Soap liquids (Contains wheat protein) Natural Moisturizing Body Wash (Contains wheat protein) All other Tom's of Maine products are alcohol-free and do not contain casein or caseinate, MSG, wheat, oats, barley, rye, malt, spelt, kamut, HPP, or HVP. None of our flavor oils are grain-distilled. We do not use flour of any kind in our manufacturing process for conveyor belts or for any other purpose. Our containers are not dusted with flour before filling. We hope that this provides you with the information you need to make a healthy choice." 4/23/07

Young Dental "Gluten is not an ingredient that we add to our paste. However we cannot make an allergen statement because we have not gathered the appropriate certification from each raw material supplier." 4/23/07

Zilactin (Blairex Laboratories) "All Zilactin products distributed by Blairex Laboratories do not contain ingredients derived from wheat (glutten), barley, rye, oats, or spelt." 4/23/07

Blistex GF List
PRODUCT NAME FORMULA NUMBER
Blistex Lip Ointment 066-9920
Fruit Smoothies (Orange Cream) 014-9809
Blistex Lip Balm Mint 017-9608R
Blistex Lip Balm Berry 030-9713R
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm 030-9822R
Fruit Smoothies Melon Medley 031-9885
Fruit Smoothies Triple Tropical 031-9887
Fruit Smoothies Peaches & Cream 063-9898
Blistex Lip Balm Herbal Answer 069-9871
Blistex Lip Tone Color-Phase 075-9847
Complete Moisture 079-9877
Fruit Smoothies Strawberry/Banana 082-9891
Blistex Lip Tone (U.S.) 099-9872
Silk & Shine 100-9879
Fruit Smoothies Berry Explosion 100-9881
Clear Advance 101-9888
ProCare 112-9894
ProRelief 112-9895
Blistex Lip Balm Ultra Protection SPF 30 117-9862
Blistex Spa effects Grapefruit/ Rosemary/Eucalyptus Uplifting 123-9806
Blistex Spa effects Cucumber Melon Renewing 123-9807
Blistex Spa effects Plum Vanilla Relaxing 123-9808
DCT-SPF-20 094-9535
Lip Medex 073-8407R
Lip Revitalizer 039-9946
Herbal Answer Gel 060-9949
Lip Infusion 124-9816
Cherry Splash 016-9840
Gentle Sense 124-9817

Clinique Products

A reply email from a leading make-up company, Clinique:

August 21, 2009

Thank you for your interest in Clinique.

While a formulation may not contain wheat, oat, barley or rye derivatives, for the benefit of our gluten-sensitive consumers who may have cross-sensitivities, Clinique takes the extra precaution of including corn, rice and soy in our research.

In addressing your concern about gluten, we would like to explain that a vast number of raw materials from many different suppliers and sources are used in the manufacture of Estee Lauder Companies' products. It is therefore not possible for us to fully guarantee that our products are completely free of ingredients that may elicit an allergic response in highly sensitive individuals who react to gluten. For example, it is possible that small amounts of a wheat sourced ingredient may remain on shared manufacturing equipment even after a thorough cleaning. We therefore recommend that you discuss this with your physician, because consumer safety is of utmost concern to us.

Almost Lipstick does not contain any glutens
Colour Surge Bare Brilliance Lipstick contains soy and corn
Colour Surge Butter Shine Lipstick contains soy and corn
Colour Surge Lipstick contains soy and corn
Cream Shaper for Lips contains soy and corn
Different Lipstick contains soy and corn
High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 contains soy and corn
Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick contains soy and corn
Long Last Soft Shine Lipstick contains soy and wheat
Quickliner for Lips contains soy and corn
Superbalm Tinted Lip Treatment contains barley extract and wheat germ extract
Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss contains corn and wheat

Sincerely,
Katie Morton
Response Representative
Global Consumer Communications
CONSUMERCARE-US@GCC.CLINIQUE.COM

Getting Started

So somehow, for some reason, you need to be on a gluten free diet. If you have Celiac Disease, that means absolutely no gluten. Where do you start?

This post is to help you in that direction: how to go gluten free.

To make it simple: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and usually oats (due to cross contamination).

Gluten is found in a lot of foods, but not in everything as it may seem at first.

To get started, do not cut out gluten 'cold turkey'. This is harmful to your body. What I did with my daughter Rachel, was to give myself time to learn about Celiac and gluten over the course of two months while cutting different foods out of her diet (and adding new ones in). This was easier on her body while making it less stressful on myself.

1. Cut out the obvious: bread, noodles, crackers, etc, the things you know that have wheat, rye, or barley.

2. Next, start learning the different terms containing gluten on an ingredient label. There is a great list on Celiac.com which will be helpful to you. It's overwhelming at first, but after a month of grocery shopping with that list in hand and reading labels, it will start to come together in your mind. On the positive side, there is also a safe ingredients list, which is much longer than the list of 'no-no's'. Learn what you can eat and the wide world of grains that do not contain gluten.

3. As you start to learn where gluten is hidden, eat more 'whole' foods like fresh veggies, fresh fruits, fresh meat. Make salads. Look for 'Gluten Free' on the front of boxes, bread mixes, etc and purchase those. Yes, it is expensive. The first few months are going to be the most expensive until you learn the ins and outs of gluten free cooking. So go easy on yourself and spend the extra cash so that you have something good for you to eat. Especially those bread mixes and flour mixes. You can learn to make those from scratch later.

4. As you progress in your diet, cutting things out and adding new foods in, be sure that you are getting enough fiber and other nutrients and vitamins. This is very important. The gluten free diet, though it may seem healthy at first, is challenging. Whole wheat has many nutrients and vitamins as well as fiber. Most gluten free flours do not. In our house we use alot of whole and ground flax seed. I also make sure Rachel eats oatmeal (for fiber), eggs (for protein) and takes a vitamin everyday. Soon you will find what works for you.

5. Read a book about Celiac Disease (if you have Celiac) or a book about gluten free living. For Celiac I recommend this one:











For gluten free living you could try this book:












I've heard good things about this one:













There are a lot of resources out there for you whatever category you fall into. You do have to be careful, and make sure that what you are reading is trustworthy. You'll find a list of links to professional websites who specialize in giving out good info about Celiac Disease on the right hand side of this blog.

5. Learn about cross contamination in your kitchen, in restaurants, and elsewhere.

6. If you are going to make your own bread, you need to decide if you are going to purchase a bread machine or a heavy-duty mixer. Reasons? It is impossible to knead gluten free dough. It is the consistency of mashed potatos and sometimes muffin batter. I have heard good things about using a KitchenAid Hand Held Mixer for GF bread. You'll need to purchase either the 7 or 9 speed to have the sufficient motor power it takes to mix and knead your GF bread dough.

7. Purchase some good gluten free cookbooks. Bette Hagman books are a good start.

8. Sign up for some e-newsletters. About.com and Glutenfree.com have some good weekly ones that are very informative.

9. Experiment with different recipes. Use those recipe books you purchased or checked out at the library. Go online to various gluten free cooking websites. There are some good ones on the left hand side of this blog.

10. Join a support group in your area. Swap recipes, ideas, hints.

11. Learn about how to order at a restaurant.

12. Don't be ashamed of your diet. You are not the only one going gluten free. People are becoming more aware of gluten and becoming gluten free. Talk to your family and friends about it and let them know how they can help you. Cook them a gluten free meal sometime.

13. Don't give up! It's a lot of work at first, the learning curve is steep, but you can persevere!

14. Stay up-to-date on information. Always read food labels, since these do change without warning. Read your newsletters, scan articles in magazines and newspapers, ask questions and keep researching - but in a more relaxed manner than you did when you first started your new diet.

Hope all that helps. If I've left anything out, please let me know with a comment!

Sources:
Mayo Clinic
Celiac.com
Celiac.org
About.com

Dining Out

Here's a good article about eating out at restaurants and avoiding gluten to the best of your ability.

Encouraging Article For Parents

Check out this article aimed at parents with children who have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease from Boston Children's Hospital's website. It was very encouraging to read.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

Here is a reply email from Ghirardelli:

Renee,

Thank you for contacting Ghirardelli Chocolate. In June 2008, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company started production of a new milk chocolate bar, Milk Chocolate Luxe with Crisps, which has a product containing barley malt as an ingredient. As a result, the line on which our chocolate bars and squares are produced, will now share a common line with barley gluten. The chocolate chips (60% Bittersweet, Semi-Sweet, and Milk Chocolate) line and powder line (hot chocolates and baking cocoas) will remain free of gluten ingredients.

Ghirardelli takes the following measures to reduce cross contamination on our production lines: lines are cleaned between the changing from one product to the next. The first two batches of any product made are disposed of and not packaged.

Sincerely,


Shawna Ortez
Senior Consumer Affairs Coordinator
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
1111 - 139th Avenue
San Leandro, CA 94578

Video on Creating A Gluten Free Flour Mixture

I found this video helpful, not only does Jules Shepard explain her "secret" flour mixture, but it was fun watching someone else cook gluten free. Might find some good tips...

Cornbread or 'Corn free' Cornbread

This is moist and delicious, and easy to make! (adapted from a recipe given by a friend)

1 Cup Cornmeal or Millet Flour
3 Tb White Rice Flour
3 Tb Tapioca Flour
2 Tb Cornstarch or Tapioca Flour
1/2 tsp Potato Flour
1/4 tsp Guar Gum or Xanthan Gum
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 Cup Sugar

2 Tb Oil or Butter
1 Egg
1 Cup Buttermilk or milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Combine butter, egg and milk in a small bowl. Slowly add egg mixture to flour until blended. Pour batter into greased 8" x 8" pan (glass is best). Bake 20-25 minutes.

Tip: Try muffin tins. Decrease time by about 5-8 minutes.