Why dentists are speaking out about the plastic beads in your toothpaste

[n2doc]

By Abby PhillipThe tiny plastic beads found in many popular toothpaste brands are approved by regulators, but dentists are becoming increasingly alarmed that the beads could cause more dental hygiene problems than they solve.

Polyethylene plastic beads became all the rage in personal care products -- including toothpastes, face washes and body scrubs -- a few years ago. And the Food and Drug Administration says they're safe.

But the beads do not disintegrate and are not biodegradable, and dentists are concerned that they're getting suck in the tiny crevices of teeth.

"They’ll trap bacteria in the gums which leads to gingivitis, and over time that infection moves from the gum into the bone that holds your teeth, and that becomes periodontal disease," dentist Justin Phillip said, according to Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV. "Periodontal disease is scary.”

The beads are similar to the slightly larger exfoliating beads the Illinois legislature banned this year because the products can't be sifted out of the water supply and can end up in large bodies of water, where they can harm marine life.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/09/18/why-dentists-are-speaking-out-about-the-plastic-beads-in-your-toothpaste/

[riversedge]

1. umm.. my dentist promotes Crest with free samples....

.....But that same substance is in widespread use in toothpaste products, including a variety of Crest products such as Crest 3D White and Crest Pro-Health. And according to Crest, the product is really used only to provide color to toothpaste.

[n2doc]

2. You might pass this along to them

I didn't know about this issue, and I thought I had been keeping up on the microbeads problem.

[riversedge]

3. I already made a copy. I have a cleaning appt. next month. Have

to admit--I vaguely heard about a few months ago but did not follow up.

Will be interesting to see what the hygienist says and I will ask to pass onto the dentist.

[riversedge]

4. oh, and thanks for the post. Much appreciated

[cbayer]

5. This is the first I have ever heard of this.

I wonder if it's listed as an ingredient or whether you don't know if you are getting it or not.

[Warpy]

6. I just bought a huge tube of Crest in anticipation of the ban

Those little plastic nasties do a great job of removing fog from plastic headlight covers.