Controversial Chemical Can Linger on Your Toothbrush

Recent research has revealed the harmful effect that a chemical- triclosan can have on dental health. They noted that the chemical has a way to linger in toothbrush bristles. Even though it is an ingredient in toothpaste, once used with a particular toothbrush, it can remain.

But why is the chemical still allowed in toothpaste? The chemical is still permitted in toothpaste because it is believed to possess elements that can reduce the presence of plaque and cavities. So while the chemical was banned in soaps, gels and even in some wipes, it is still mainstream with toothpaste. The United States FDA has already banned the chemical because the positive effects of it on soaps and gels is unproven while its adverse effects abound.

Though it contains those positive elements, triclosan has been known to be dangerous to the health. It has been shown to lead to hormone disruption and can be a significant factor in antibiotic resistance. Triclosan is not just dangerous for humans, but also for animals.

Recent research is now recognizing that not even a switch away from a triclosan toothpaste can save from its effects. IN a widely circulated study by Baoshan Xing, a professor of environmental chemistry (published in the journal: Environmental science and technology), he discovered that about 33.3% of toothbrushes used accumulates up to 7-12 doses of the triclosan present in one brushing. They also found that when you switch to non-triclosan toothpaste, the effect accumulated in the toothbrushes lasted for 14 days.

But this is not the only problem. When you discard such toothpaste, it might have tremendous adverse effects on the environment.

It is still a matter of anticipation what the US FDA will do regarding the chemical and its use in toothpaste, but for now, users must be aware of the effect of the chemical and its tendency to remain in toothbrush even when its active use is discarded.