Most toothpaste brands contaminated with heavy metals

#1

Toothpaste widely contaminated with lead and other metals, US research finds

Most of 51 brands tested, including those for children, contained dangerous heavy metal,

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#2

Don’t swallow it. Some of the new age toothpastes say not to bother rinsing. Yikes! I’m using Regular Crest Toothpaste now (per dr Ellie), so I’m definitely spitting it out and rinsing with her other suggested products.

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#3

Yeah, I’m not sure about keeping the toothpaste in your mouth. If it’s for the fluoride, there are topical applications you can get at your dentist, which apply a concentrated solution to your teeth, and you keep it there for a time, then spit out and rinse. It’s a much more effective treatment than the continuous small doses from toothpaste you have to hold in your mouth on the daily, lol.

I have a fairly elaborate teeth cleaning routine, where I first do a pass with an electric toothbrush and NO toothpaste, then floss and use dental interstitial brushes, and finally a Dr. Plotkas toothbrush with some small dab of standard toothpaste, do the teeth and surrounding tissue, tongue, gums, etc. I definitely rinse with water after that - but no other rinses. FWIW, my dentist and periodontist and their technitians all spontaneously compliment me on my excellent dental hygiene, so maybe my routine is OK.

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#4

Am I missing them or did they not test several of the big name brands?

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#5

Rubin said the contamination seems to lie in some ingredients added to toothpaste, including hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and bentonite clay. Hydroxyapatite is extracted from cow bone and added because it allegedly helps teeth absorb calcium, though Rubin said she doubts it does. Calcium carbonate is added to help remove stains from teeth. Bentonite clay is a cleaning agent.

Those with the highest levels all had bentonite clay. Meanwhile, Rubin’s testing of hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate as individual ingredients showed concerning levels of lead and other metals, suggesting those are the source.

My Oral-B Pro (Crest Pro) with stannous flouride toothpaste which has plenty of evidence showing its superiority to other toothpastes, seems to contain none of those ingredients.

Active Ingredients: Stannous Flouride (0.16% w/v Fluoride Ion) (0.454 %), Anticavity, antigingivitis, antisensitivity toothpaste. Inactive Ingredients: Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-6, Water, Zinc Lactate, Flavor, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Saccharin, Trisodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, PVP, Carrageenan, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Blue 1. Active Ingredient: Stannous Fluoride 0.454% (0.16% w/v Fluoride Ion)Inactive Ingredients: Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Propylene Glycol, PEG-6, Water, Zinc Lactate, Flavor, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Saccharin, Trisodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, PVP, Carrageenan, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Blue 1.

https://www.amazon.com/Crest-Pro-Health-Advanced-Protection-Toothpaste/dp/B0D14YWSFJ/

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#6

This plus no dental work is as good as a person can get. Plus good NO. Nicely done.

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#7

@KarlT I noticed that Regular Crest was high in lead. I spit it out and rise. Hopefully that’s good enough.

#8

I just discovered Dr Plotkas and I worship it!! My sonicare feels neglected.

I’m glad to see my Boka toothpaste is one of the better ones, but scary to see Redmonds and David’s that I used to use, whoa!

Boka says don’t rinse it out, as Joe said, but yep, I’ll start rinsing.

Thanks for posting this

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