We all use toothpaste on our kids....let's take a look at what's in the popular drugstore brands.
First, we'll take a look at the Reach brand by Johnson & Johnson. J&J has put out some of the most hazardous children's products over the years, some of which were found to be tainted with 1,4 Dioxane a couple of years back. Is their children's toothpaste any better? Let's find out.
This ingredients listing is from the Strawberry Shortcake Strawberry Flavor toothpaste:
Active Ingredients: Sodium Fluoride (0.15% W/V Fluoride Ion)
Inactive Ingredients: Cellulose Gum, FD & C Red No. 33, Disodium Phosphate, FD & C Red No. 40, Flavor, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, PEG-12, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sorbitol, Sucralose, Water
Let's now take a look at the Colgate children's toothpaste in the Dora the Explorer package.
What's in it?
Active Ingredients: Sodium Fluoride (0.24%) (0.15% w/v fluoride ion)
Inactive Ingredients: Sorbitol, Water, Hydrated Silica, PEG 12, Cellulose Gum, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Saccharin, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, FD&C Red 40, D&C Red 33
As you can see, the ingredients listings are very similar in many ways. There are a couple of minor differences, but the negatives are found in both products.
I will first start with an ingredient many people debate over. Whether or not to use it can be quite controversial: Sodium Fluoride (fluoride). We have all been told for years that we need fluoride for our teeth. The ADA recommends using it. It is in many municipalities' water systems.
Sodium Fluoride comes to use as a by-product of making aluminum. As with aluminum, there have been many studies conducted and concerns issued over a possible link between fluoride and Alzheimer's Disease.
Other links between fluoride and other conditions have been studied. There was a concern about the link to cancer and fluoride. Many studies were done, some from more credible agencies than others. A link has not yet been scientifically substantiated between fluoride and cancer but it is still being studied.
A link to bone fractures in areas where the water system is fluoridated has been studied, but the experts believe much more reseach is done. It is interesting to note that the Monroe County Water Authority does add 1 part per million (the guideline set by the EPA) to our water supply here in the Rochester area. I had a very nasty fibula fracture here from a fall. Nick had 2 broken bones before he was 3. I am not suggesting anything other than clumsiness on our parts. When Nick broke his elbow, I had just finished reading him Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and after he went down for his nap he tried jumping out of his bed at 2.5 and broke his elbow. The second time, he was running across the kitchen floor and tripped, landing awkwardly on his wrist. When I had a fracture, I fell down 13 stairs. We also have taken Calcium and Vitamin D for quite some time since Nick was allergic to milk until he was 3 and required to have extra calcium and D to keep his bones strong. He still takes it.
The other area of concern which has been substantiated is a link between fluoride and dental fluorosis, which is caused by exposure to too much fluoride. If the water supply contains fluoride and it is present in some other drinks, foods, in the air, and in toothbrushes and mouthwashes, it is very possible to get too much fluoride. This condition can cause cavities, yellow and stained teeth, white spots on the teeth, and cell damage. The CDC estimates that 32% of American children now have this condition, which is not only embarrassing for aesthetic purposes, but may actually be harmful to their bodies and causing more tooth decay as well.
Sodium Fluoride rates a 9 out of 10 (10 being the worst, like 1/4 Dioxane) on the Environmental Working Group's Cosmetics Database.
Why is fluoride used? Fluoride is said to make teeth stronger and more resistant to tooth decay.
This is an ingredient that has its pros and cons and, as parents, we need to make a decision for ourselves and do a bit of research to decide whether we'll use this ingredient or not.
Let's examine some other common ingredients in popular children's toothpastes:
PEG-12: You know where I stand on all PEG ingredients. Avoid them. This solvent and moisturizing agent may be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane.
Sorbitol-This is a skin conditioner and also gives flavor
Sodium Saccharin--Provides flavor. I personally refuse to use anything with ingredients containing saccharin because of the potential health risk.
FD & C Reds--While Red 40 is perhaps the safest of the Reds, avoid Red 33. It's been linked to cancer and is harmful to the eco-system.
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate--Not a horrible ingredient. It's used in most toothpastes and is a buffering agent.
Disodium Phosphate--See above.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate--You'll sometimes see companies say that this is natural because it is loosely derived from vegetable oils. This is used to clean garage floors at service stations and in the car wash as a cleansing agent. The effects shown in animal studies are very disturbing to say the least. When SLS is tested on young animals, their eyes can stop developing because of the harmful proteins absorbed. They have been shown to suffer severe damage to their nervous systems and even death. One study I read showed that children who get SLS in their eyes may get cataracts. Children! SLS is also very bad for the environment and has been shown to be lethal to fish. Even though SLS in itself is no longer believed to cause cancer, when it is combined with other compounds, it can be quite hazardous.
By the way, unless you directly contact the supplier, you may be getting an SLS derived from Palm Oil.
Hydrated Silica--used as an abrasive. Once called a possible carcinogen in large amounts, many studies have shown this to be very unlikely.
Cellulose Gum--a binder
Sucralose--flavoring agent, a popular brand is Splenda. While we do not use artificial sweeteners like this in our eating, it is shown to be safe.
What's Good?
Burt's Bees Dr. Burt's Children's Toothpaste
It is not on the BB site, though, so it may be discontinued. It really is great.
Tom's of Maine Sensitive Care SLS-Free Toothpaste
While not called a kid's formula, it is very gentle and free of SLS, unlike their actual children's formula
The Natural Dentist Sparkle Berry Blast
A line created by a dentist and SLS-free
