8 Toothpaste Ingredients You Need to Avoid
The health of the oral cavity has a great impact on your overall health, so you need to pay enough attention to your oral hygiene. Unfortunately, many consumers don’t know that a lot of commercial toothpastes contain ingredients that do nothing good for your health and should be avoided. Here are 8 toothpaste ingredients you need to avoid if you want to stay healthy.Fluoride. Fluoride is added to toothpastes for preventing cavities (tooth decay). It is not harmful per se, but excessive exposure to fluoride can be the cause of a number of health issues. In some countries, fluoride is added to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. If the drinking water you consume is fluoridated, you should brush your teeth with a fluoride-free toothpaste. In addition, toothpastes with fluoride are absolutely not suitable for children aged 6 or younger.
Triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that is sometimes added to toothpastes to prevent gingivitis. Unfortunately, the use of triclosan also contributes to antibiotic resistance (the ability of microbes to resist the effects of antibiotics). For this very reason, the FDA prohibited the sale of “consumer antiseptic washes” containing triclosan or 18 other antimicrobial agents. Still, triclosan can be found in some toothpastes produced outside the United States.
SLS and SLES. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are anionic surfactants that can be found in many cleaning and hygiene products. They have been linked to aphthous stomatitis, a type of mouth ulcers also known as canker sores. In addition, SLS in toothpaste may reduce the effectiveness of fluoride at preventing cavities.
Microbeads and other abrasives. Microbeads are tiny plastic pellets that help polish the teeth. They can damage thin and sensitive tooth enamel, and sometimes microbeads get trapped under the gums and cause inflammation and gum disease. In addition, microbeads go down your drain and pollute the water. The humanity needs to consume less plastic, so why not start with refusing to brush your teeth with microbead-containing toothpastes?
Carrageenan. Carrageenan is a polysaccharide obtained from red edible seaweeds. It is widely used in the food and cosmetic industries as a gelling, thickening and stabilizing agent. Although carageenan is considered safe as a food additive, it has been linked to gastrointestinal issues in some animal studies.
Artificial sweeteners. Aspartame, saccharine, sorbitol and other artificial sweeteners are often added to commercial toothpastes as a flavoring agent. Excessive consumption of some artificial sweeteners can lead to gastrointestinal problems due to their laxative effect. Generally, they are safe for adults, but children aged 6 or younger shouldn’t brush their teeth with toothpastes containing artificial sweeteners. Xylitol is an exception that is considered to be a safe alternative to other sugar substitutes. It prevents bacteria from adhering to the tooth surface, thus preventing plaque and dental caries.
Propylene glycol. Propylene glycol (PPG) is used in the food, cosmetic and pharmacological industries due to its hygroscopic properties. It acts as a humectant, solvent and preservative. Although propylene glycol at low concentrations is considered safe for human health, its cumulative effect has not been tested properly. Generally, the potential for long-term oral toxicity of PPD is considered low, but are you really willing to risk your health?
Titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral pigment that gives toothpastes their bright, white color. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been confirmed as a topical allergen. In addition, there haven’t been any studies to determine whether it is absorbed my the mucous membranes in the oral cavity.