What kind of toothpastes do you prefer to use? The pure white ones? The glittery ones? How about those that have beads? They say that these beads and flakes can contribute to better dental and oral hygiene. But some just makes things worse.
This dental hygienist noticed something strange in her patients’ mouths and took an immediate action. Now a major toothpaste manufacturer is making some changes.
Trish Walraven has seen lots of things as a dental hygienist, but when she started noticing little blue specks in her patients’ gum lines a few years ago, she didn’t know what she was dealing with.
“We thought it was a cleaning product or something people were chewing,” she said.
Walvaren started asking around and found out that other hygienists have noticed this too.
It took awhile, but they say they finally figured out what it was, polyethylene. It’s a plastic used in all kinds of things: garbage containers, grocery bags, bullet proof vests, even knee replacements.
It’s also in some toothpastes.
Walvaren says one brand appears to use the plastic microbeads more than others, “Pretty much everyone was saying that they were using some form of Crest toothpaste.”
Valley dentist Justin Phillip says when the microbeads get trapped in your gum line, they can let in more bacteria.
According to Phillip, that can lead to even bigger problems including gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Walvaren wrote a blog that has gotten national attention. It even caught the eye of Procter and Gamble.
Source: Healthy Tips World
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