Triclosan Banned From Soaps, But Not Toothpaste

In September, the Food and Drug Administration placed a ban on soaps and certain antibacterial chemicals which contain 19 different chemicals, one of them being triclosan. The FDA has given companies one year to remove the chemicals from their products and get the ones containing it off the shelves.

So why did the FDA ban triclosan from soaps and other antibacterial products? According to an article from New York Times, “Studies in animals have shown that triclosan and triclocarban can disrupt the normal development of the reproductive system and metabolism, and health experts warn that their effects could be the same in humans.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the chemicals in the urine of three quarters of Americans.

Triclosan is a chemical pesticide that has been a known endocrine disruptor and has shown to weaken heart muscle function, alter the shape of sperm, impair brain development, and contribute to bone deformation in animal studies.

You might think this is a huge win for consumers, and it is, but the ban didn’t reach all products. Unfortunately triclosan is still present in many drugstore toothpastes.

If this product is so dangerous that it’s now been banned from products that get washed off our skin, why is it still allowed in products that go into our mouths? According to the FDA, the benefits of triclosan in toothpastes still outweigh the risks. These benefits include reducing plaque and gum disease.

However, there are natural alternatives to using this chemical to protect your oral health. Xylitol, for instance, has been shown to reduce plaque. The bacteria that creates plaque cannot metabolize xylitol allowing for less plaque buildup and the decay causing bacteria cannot stick to the teeth.

To think you need triclosan or other chemicals in your toothpaste in order to prevent plaque is a naïve way of thinking. There are plenty of natural toothpastes that contain xylitol that can be even more beneficial to your oral health. Visit our page of xylitol products and find the best natural toothpaste option for you and your family.