Are You Using Healthy Toothpaste? Learn About the Harmful Ingredients It Might Contain

Ever pondered over the composition of your toothpaste? Curious about why certain foods taste bitter post-brushing? And could there be harmful ingredients lurking within?

Discover how to select toothpaste wisely from the array available in the market, while also gaining insights on maintaining optimal dental health.

Our daily best healthy living routine often includes brushing our teeth, a crucial aspect of maintaining overall hygiene and health. Throughout history, various methods, from herbal concoctions to unconventional items like burnt eggshells and crushed bones, have been employed worldwide for dental care. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that commercial toothpastes and powders emerged.

Unveiling the Ingredients:

Today, toothpaste options flood the market, each boasting unique selling points, be it special ingredients or targeted benefits like teeth whitening or herbal formulations. However, these claims can be misleading.

Thus, it’s imperative to scrutinize the ingredients listed on the packaging before making a purchase.

Let’s delve into some common harmful ingredients found in toothpaste:

Triclosan:

This chemical, renowned for its antibacterial properties, often features in toothpaste formulations promising plaque and gingivitis prevention. While effective, triclosan raises concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance and hormonal disruptions, including impacts on estrogen and testosterone levels. Prolonged usage may even lead to allergic reactions and potentially tumor development. Moreover, its interaction with chlorinated water can produce dioxins, notorious for adverse health effects.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS):

Widely utilized as an emulsifying agent, SLS numbs taste buds temporarily, contributing to the bitter aftertaste following brushing. It’s associated with canker sores and dry mouth.

Fluoride:

Although fluoride aids in tooth enamel demineralization and decay prevention, excessive ingestion, especially by children, can lead to dental fluorosis, characterized by tooth discoloration. The overconsumption of fluoride can also have toxic effects on teeth, bones, and the thyroid gland.

Propylene Glycol:

Found in various cosmetic products, including toothpaste, propylene glycol can trigger allergic reactions, particularly in individuals with vitamin D deficiency or fungal infections. Its environmental impact necessitates proper wastewater treatment to prevent adverse effects on aquatic life.

Choosing Safe Toothpaste:

Prioritize toothpaste with minimal or absent harmful ingredients. For children, opt for fluoride-free options and steer clear of vibrant colors indicating synthetic dyes.

Crafting Homemade Dental Care:

Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of lemon or peppermint oil and water to create a natural toothpaste alternative suitable for daily use.

Dietary Considerations:

Acknowledging the significant role of diet in dental health, particularly the adverse effects of sugar consumption on tooth decay, underscores the importance of mindful eating habits in maintaining oral hygiene.

A recent study reveals an alarming level of parabens in toothpaste and hand wash in Bangladesh, posing severe threats to human health. Recently, the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in collaboration with the Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH) in South Korea conducted the study.

30 Samples from various local shops in Dhaka were collected and sent to WIOEH for lab analysis, according to the study.

Remarkably, one tube of toothpaste contained a disturbing 1,423 µg/g, While two hand wash packs had an Alarming level of paraben from 1,403-1,834 µg/g.Even more worryingly, among the children’s products, one tube of paste was found containing 659 µg/g of methylparaben and 50.5 µg/g of butylparaben.

About paraben

Paraben is any of a group of compounds used as preservatives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and in the food industry. This study highlights the potential adverse effects of these chemicals on human health, including disruptions to hormone regulation, reproductive issues and even potential carcinogenic effects caused by paraben. Four parabens (methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) in toothpaste.

These preservatives are added to maintain the quality of products from microbiological, enzymatic or chemical degradation and finally increasing its shelf life. Various studies proved the risks of parabens on estrogenic or endocrine system, and cause cytotoxity and hypersensitivity. Multiple studies conducted from 2005 have found that parabens grown on human breast cancer cells in laboratories bind to estrogen receptors.

This is a concern as it is found to bind to estrogen receptors causing cells to multiply, increasing the risk of breast cancer in women. Berkeley carried out a series of studies to test the hypothesis.

Various other studies carried out in United Kingdom and Poland too have pointed out that parabens are intact in human breast and more details must be obtained as to how it causes the growth of cancerous cells in normal tissues.

Forty breast cancer samples were studied by scientists from 2005 to 2008 wherein 99 per cent of them had one type of paraben.” A possible deleterious effect of parabens is their weak estrogenic property, which was proven in recently published in vitro studies. Concerning propyl paraben, reduced testosterone levels, reduced numbers of sperm cells and impaired spermatogenesis were observed in vivo at doses of 10 mg/kg bw/day, which is considered far lower than the no-observed-adverse-effect level in the case of methyl and ethyl parabens.

However, not every animal study succeeded to prove that parabens possess estrogenic properties, so the debate is still open regarding this issue.

Human studies provided conflicting results regarding the estrogenic activity of parabens. Beside their estrogenic properties, inhibition of mitochondrial functions was also observed.

Therefore, a series of mandatory limits and regulations have been set by Scientific Committee on Consumer safety, Food and Drug Administration and European Union, limits of propylparaben and utylparaben usage in mixture are set as 0.19 % by Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, and the European Union has prohibited using five parabens including iso-propyl-,iso-butyl-,phenyl-,benzyl-,and plenty paraben as preservatives in cosmetics since 2014.

Hence, with the increasing concern about public health, it is of great significance to sensitively and accurately detect tracing PBs in personal care and cosmetic products, such as in toothpaste samples.

The Panel noted that the European Union (EU) has banned the use of 5 parabens (Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Phenylparaben, Benzylparaben, and Pentylparaben) as preservatives in cosmetic products, and has set maximum concentration limits of

• 0.14 % for Butylparaben or Propylparaben (single esters and their salts),

• 0.4% for Methylparaben or Ethylparaben (single esters and their salts), and

• 0.8% for the mixture of these four ingredients, wherein the sum of the individual concentration of

Butylparaben and Propylparaben cannot exceed 0.14 %.

Several nations have opted to forbid the use of parabens in these products completely

Recommended usage of parabens in food products and cosmetics

• The US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recommends not more than 0.1% (w/w) of

parabens in food products. There is no separate regulation about their usage in cosmetics.

• European Union (EU) cosmetic directives allow a maximum concentration of 0.4% of paraben when only one type is used and 0.8% if multiple parabens are used.

According to the US FEMA (Flavor and Extracts Manufacturer Association), the possible average daily intakes of methylparaben and propylparaben are 0.22 and 0.237 mg/day among US adults.

How safe is it to use paraben-containing toothpaste and mouthwash?

The US FDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) claim that there is insufficient evidence on adverse effects of paraben products on human health. Several long-term studies are required to substantiate these claims. Even Colgate has disregarded the use of parabens since July 2016. While the quantity of paraben ingested through oral care products is considered negligible, individuals should use their discretion based on their overall health status.

Recommended usage Parabens in toothpaste and mouthwash

In oral formulations methylparaben and propylparaben are used in the concentration of 0.015%-0.2% and 0.02%-0.06% respectively.

The maximum concentration of methylparaben of 0.2% corresponds to 140mg/day and 0.06% of propylparaben corresponds to 50mg/day.

The exposed total parabens per one brushing was maximally 1.8 mg. This amount may cause adverse effects on oral health or whole body considering the permeability and sensitivity of oral mucosa

The exposure amount was maximally about 1,818 µg, thus, consumer may expose up to 5,454 µg in a day when brushing three times daily.

Paraben substitutes in toothpaste

In toothpaste, paraben could be substituted to natural preservatives such as seed extracts, thymol, cinnamaldehyde, allyl isothiocyanate, citric acid, ascorbic acid and rosemary extract which had antimicrobial activities. Moreover, toothpaste contains various anti-microbial agents such as surfactants, glycerin, fluoride or essential oils; therefore, they do not need to contain parabens. It is beneficial to minimize the use of parabens in dentifrices.

Above this study showed fluoride in toothpaste and sodium dichloride exhibited the highest concentrations; a significantly high level of paraben was detected in five out of 22 adults’ personal care products analyzed.

Fluoride:

Most individuals might already know that too much fluoride can cause fluorosis (discoloured spots on teeth). However, it can also cause a number of serious adverse health effects including neurological and endocrine dysfunction. In 2012, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and China Medical

University found a strong connection that fluoride may negatively affect cognitive development in children. Moreover, in a 2006 study by the US National Research Council of the National Academies they found evidence that fluoride affects normal endocrine function.

Fluoride toothpaste:

Brushing your teeth thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste is one of the most effective ways of preventing tooth decay. A range of toothpastes are available containing different levels of fluoride. The amount of fluoride in the toothpaste can be found on the side of the tube and is measured in parts per million (ppm).

Toothpastes containing 1,350 to 1,500ppm fluoride are the most effective. Your dentist may advise you to use higher-strength toothpaste if you or your child is at particular risk of tooth decay.

• Children under 3 years old should brush twice daily, with a smear of toothpaste containing at least 1,000ppm fluoride.

• Children between 3 and 6 years old should brush at least twice daily with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1,000ppm fluoride.

• Children over 7 and adults should brush at least twice daily with toothpaste containing 1,350-1,500ppm fluoride.

Don’t use mouthwash at the same time as brushing. Use it at an alternative time, because it washes away the fluoride in the toothpaste.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate can cause skin irritation and can aggravate aphthous ulcers.

In a preliminary study by the Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine patients using a paste containing SLS over a 3-month period, patients had significantly more ulcers after the trial(1)

Alternatively, when the patients switched to a SLS free paste, the number of ulcers reduced drastically (1)

Applying SLS to your gums in the form of toothpaste could therefore result in irritation. And for those suffering with mouth ulcers, this could worsen the symptoms further. For this reason, it might be best to avoid SLS in toothpaste.

Choosing Safe Toothpaste:

Prioritize toothpaste with minimal or absent harmful ingredients. For children, opt for fluoride-free options and steer clear of vibrant colors indicating synthetic dyes.

Crafting Homemade Dental Care:

Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of lemon or peppermint oil and water to create a natural toothpaste alternative suitable for daily use.

Conclusion:

Understanding the ingredients in toothpaste and their potential effects is crucial for making informed decisions about oral care products. By scrutinizing labels, avoiding harmful ingredients, and considering natural alternatives, we can prioritize dental health while minimizing risks.

Additionally, adopting a balanced diet and mindful eating habits further supports overall oral hygiene. By combining these practices, we can safeguard our smiles and promote lasting dental wellness for ourselves and our families.

Written by Dr. Mohammed Morshed Alam, Assistant professor, Dept.of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Head of Dept. Dental Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Dental Unit. Chittagong Medical College. Email:morshedalam045973@gmail.com Mobile: 01717 045973