Plastic in your Toothpaste?

By now you’ve probably heard that what you’ve all along assumed to be flavor beads in your favorite toothpastes may actually be small beads of plastic! Due to the growing concern from dentists and consumers, toothpaste companies will be removing these little gems from your toothpaste tube. It turns out plastic isn’t great for your health or for that of marine life either. Crest, a product of Proctor and Gamble, has pledged to have the beads removed by March 2016:

“While the ingredient in question is completely safe, approved for use in foods by the FDA, and part of an enjoyable brushing experience for millions of consumers with no issues, we understand there is a growing preference for us to remove this ingredient. So we will,” the statement noted. (source: Yahoo) Crest will begin removing the beads from their from their products within six months and they will be completely off the shelves by March 2016. (source: Fox)

The debate about these little beads began when dentists started noticing them lodged in their patients’ gums, much like you might find a popcorn kernel. While there’s no proof that the beads are causing damage to people’s gums, the industry is asking for removal of the plastic just the same. Dental Hygienists spend much of their time cleaning the gums around your teeth and hopefully after this product change, their job will become a bit less daunting.

As always, we are ready to assist you with your dental health!

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