I do read, quite a bit. There are many websites and guides out there that recommend sand. Sand, in fact, is the Bearded Dragons natural environment's substrate!

"In the wild, bearded dragons spend their entire life running across sands and pebbles. Many bearded dragon owners feel that using sand as a substrate can increase the chances of gut impaction.

Gut impaction is when an object (or objects) are ingested by the bearded dragon and leads to a blockage of the intestinal tract. These blockages can most likely lead to death if not treated immediately.

Pebbles and gravel are often times offered as a substrate in many pet stores. These pebbles and gravel can also cause impaction if the bearded dragon swallows a small one. Peebles can also damage teeth and jaws if one is accidentally grabbed while going after an insect.

Non-silica sands can be used with adult bearded dragons with a limited worry of the chance of impaction. Sands are not recommended for baby bearded dragons.

There are some sands on the market that are made of calcium, called Vita-Sand. The idea is that the calcium based sand will become metabolized when swallowed allowing the bearded dragon to easily pass it.

Some bearded dragon owners use Vita-Sand exclusively, while others say it can still cause impaction."