The wide array of toothpaste products in the market provide consumers with plenty of choices. They do not need to stick to the more expensive brands since there are affordable products out there that are equally effective.
The oral hygiene industry is a perpetual money-making machine. For toothpaste alone, the global market is on pace to reach $18.3 billion by 2025 due to the heightened awareness of oral hygiene. Then you have a wide array of affordable products out there that match the results of popular brands like Colgate and Crest.
When choosing toothpaste, you should always look for the seal from regulatory government agencies in your area. It certifies that the product you are using is safe. However, if you are in the market for non-branded toothpaste, make sure the product does not contain the following ingredients:
- Parabens — The chemical preservative can also also be found in shampoos and other products. Its main purpose is to extend the toothpaste’s shelf-life. But the chemical is known for disrupting the hormones, which may put you at risk of breast cancer. Even if manufacturers claim that the contents are only in small amounts and, therefore, safe for consumption, would you really risk it?
- Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) — Some manufacturers add this to the product to make the toothpaste sparkly white. However, multiple studies have pointed to its “limited evidence” of being linked to cancer. It can also harm the other organs in your body. They do not need to add this compound to your toothpaste since it has no known benefit to oral hygiene. It simply acts as a food colouring, a marketing tool to make you think that your teeth would be as white as the toothpaste.
- Carrageenan — Carrageenan originates from seaweeds, used as a thickener in ice cream or gelatin. However, steer clear of this ingredient in your toothpaste since one study linked it to gastrointestinal issues in multiple tests involving animals. It must be mentioned that the substance found in food is the undegraded form, which is known to be safe. However, the degraded form of carrageenan is a carcinogenic substance. During processing, the degraded form might mix with the undegraded form.
- Triclosan — it boggles the mind why manufacturers would add triclosan to the ingredients when it is a known pesticide. They use it supposedly as an antibacterial agent, but the risks outweigh the benefits. In some cases, the compound has been linked to some disruptions in the endocrine system. The Food and Drugs Administration already banned its use in body wash and soap. Strangely enough, it imposes no ban on toothpaste.
- Abrasives — Abrasive ingredients will supposedly scrub your teeth to help get rid of the stains and food debris. It would have posed no problems for gentler chemicals. However, some products contain hydrated silica. It can also lead to teeth loss as your gums deteriorate. Your toothpaste is safe to use if you read calcium carbonate, hydrated aluminium oxides, or dehydrated silica gels among the ingredients. If you start to notice any negative effects from the toothpaste you’re using, don’t hesitate to get your teeth grinded by the Dentist in Concord.
Those are five of the ingredients that have no place on your toothpaste as they pose a risk to your health in the long-term. As a responsible consumer, take the time to read the ingredients, especially products that go into your body.