Is your toothpaste making you sick? 3 ingredients it should not have

The first thing that most people do every morning is brushing their teeth.

But beware, the ingredients of your toothpaste might be doing more than just cleaning the teeth. Some ingredients commonly found in toothpaste can have serious risks to our health.

It’s time to look beyond the flashy labels and refreshing flavours and understand what’s in our toothpaste.

Following are 3 harmful ingredients everyone should avoid at all costs—and why!

Titanium dioxide is added to toothpaste to give it that clean, white appearance. While this might make the toothpaste look appealing, it’s a potential health hazard.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be absorbed by our body through our gums. Studies suggest these tiny particles may cause cellular damage, inflammation, and even disrupt your immune system. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified titanium dioxide as a “possible carcinogen” when inhaled, raising concerns about its long-term safety.

Do you love the foamy lather when brushing your teeth? All credit goes to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a chemical detergent used to create foam. But this ingredient can do more harm than good.

SLS is a known irritant that can cause issues like mouth ulcers, gum irritation, and even worsen existing oral conditions, This information has been mentioned in a study done in 2022. It strips the tissues in our mouth of their natural moisture, making our gums more vulnerable to infections.
Beyond oral issues, SLS can disrupt our body’s hormonal balance. Since it’s easily absorbed into the bloodstream through our mouth, longer exposure may contribute to problems such as skin irritation and organ toxicity. While the foam might feel like it’s cleaning your teeth better, it’s just a cosmetic effect that doesn’t actually improve oral hygiene.

Triclosan is an antibacterial agent once marketed as a hero ingredient in toothpaste. However, its harmful effects far outweigh any benefits.

Triclosan can be harmful for your hormones. This happens particularly to the hormones related to our thyroid. It is also linked to antibiotic resistance, meaning it could reduce your body’s ability to fight infections. The FDA has banned triclosan in certain products, but it can be still found in some toothpastes.

While triclosan’s main purpose is to reduce plaque and gum disease, it may end up harming the good bacteria in our mouth, which are important for maintaining oral health. It can also leach into your bloodstream, leading to potential long-term health effects such as endocrine disruption and weakened immunity.