If your toothpaste has little beads in it, expect those to disappear no later than next spring. Those aren't flavor crystals; they're actually plastic microbeads. Multinational consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble, the makers of Crest toothpaste, has said it will remove them from all their toothpastes by March 2016.
The company recently released a statement that said, "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 to remove this ingredient. So we will."
Some dental professionals complained that the plastic microbeads, made of a material called polyethylene, can act almost like popcorn kernels and get stuck in the gums and teeth, which prompted the company to begin removing them from their dental hygiene products.
The American Dental Association released a statement in September that said "At this time, clinically relevant dental health studies do not indicate that the Seal should be removed from toothpastes that contain polyethylene microbeads." The Seal refers to the seal of approval the ADA gives to some dental products.
This is a somewhat complex issue as polyethylene is used in a variety of products. There are ongoing studies and investigations into potential risks of using it in skincare and dental products, and there are passionate arguments on both sides. If you're interested in reading more about it, there is a wealth of information available on the web.
Thanks for Reading
We hope you enjoyed our dental news update and thanks for stopping by. If someone you know prefers to use polyethylene toothpastes, please share this post with them and let them know that their brand will be changing in the future.