Brushing your teeth is a daily gesture, as mundane as filling out your tax return. However, the toothpaste contains questionable components and displays a worrying ecological record. A dentist shares her tips for avoiding certain problematic ingredients.
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KEYSTONE
Not all toothpastes are created equal. Some contain worrying chemicals, reports “bild.de”.
Here are some ingredients to absolutely avoid:
- Titanium dioxide and lead: suspected of being carcinogenic, they are already banned in food.
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS): This foaming agent can irritate the oral mucous membranes and cause dryness. Result: swallowing, smell and even salivation are disrupted, which weakens the enamel and compromises the immune system.
- Parabens: these preservatives disrupt hormonal balance and could be linked to breast cancer.
- Artificial sweeteners: associated with increased risk of diabetes.
Far from being ecological
Toothpaste is mainly composed of water, between 20 and 50% depending on the product. However, manufacturers do not always display this information, which is kept secret. According to Berlin dentist Dr Judith Grieger, the foam created by toothpaste gives a deceptive impression of cleanliness, dispersing abrasive and fluorinated agents throughout the mouth and throat.
In addition to its high water content, toothpaste contains microplastics in 87% of products, according to a study by the Plastic Soup Foundation. These particles end up in rivers, lakes and oceans, with treatment plants unable to filter them completely. As for toothpaste tubes, they are rarely recyclable.
There is an alternative
Toothpaste tablets represent an ecological alternative to traditional toothpaste, while requiring little adaptation. Unlike tubes, their manufacture and use involve almost no water. They are simply chewed so that they mix with saliva and form a paste.
In addition, the tablets are rich in cellulose, much more than usual toothpastes. This allows for deep cleaning and polishing of the teeth, making their surface smooth and less prone to deposits and cavities.
