What’s in my toothpaste
Posted by SarahK
What’s in my toothpaste
................So why is it that there has been a backlash against fluoride? There are several reasons, but the primary one is concern about fluoride’s toxicity. While children are the ones who are most at risk of dental fluorosis, which is caused by excessive fluoride intake and can appear as white streaks on teeth or even black, stained and cracked teeth, anyone can be poisoned if even small amounts of toothpaste are swallowed consistently. Also, because tap water is often treated with fluoride, many people are weary of the possibility of ingesting too much. Dentisse is just one example of a toothpaste that doesn’t contain fluoride; another popular brand is Tom’s of Maine.
There are other ingredients to be on the look out for, as well. Saccharin, which gives toothpaste its sweet taste, has been linked to cancer in rats by several studies. However, there is no clear evidence that it is linked to cancer in humans. An ingredient that I personally like to avoid is sodium lauryl sulfate; not only is it an irritant, but also it has been linked to canker sores (also known as aphthous ulcers, which I am unfortunately prone to) by several studies. Finally, triclosan, an ingredient used to kill bacteria and prevent gingivitis has been the subject of some scrutiny. While studies have found that it kills harmful germs in the mouth, it is important to note that some research has linked triclosan to hormonal alterations in animals. The FDA is currently reviewing various studies regarding the safety of the ingredient, and will make its findings public in spring 2011
What’s in my toothpaste
................So why is it that there has been a backlash against fluoride? There are several reasons, but the primary one is concern about fluoride’s toxicity. While children are the ones who are most at risk of dental fluorosis, which is caused by excessive fluoride intake and can appear as white streaks on teeth or even black, stained and cracked teeth, anyone can be poisoned if even small amounts of toothpaste are swallowed consistently. Also, because tap water is often treated with fluoride, many people are weary of the possibility of ingesting too much. Dentisse is just one example of a toothpaste that doesn’t contain fluoride; another popular brand is Tom’s of Maine.
There are other ingredients to be on the look out for, as well. Saccharin, which gives toothpaste its sweet taste, has been linked to cancer in rats by several studies. However, there is no clear evidence that it is linked to cancer in humans. An ingredient that I personally like to avoid is sodium lauryl sulfate; not only is it an irritant, but also it has been linked to canker sores (also known as aphthous ulcers, which I am unfortunately prone to) by several studies. Finally, triclosan, an ingredient used to kill bacteria and prevent gingivitis has been the subject of some scrutiny. While studies have found that it kills harmful germs in the mouth, it is important to note that some research has linked triclosan to hormonal alterations in animals. The FDA is currently reviewing various studies regarding the safety of the ingredient, and will make its findings public in spring 2011
posted by Bill at
9:41 AM
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