Concerns About Tricolsan

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has revealed that there could be a causal connection between the ingredients of certain toothpastes and the spread of superbugs, the people of London are now learn.

The committee stated that toothpastes containing a chemical known as triclosan could be facilitating the spread of superbugs because the chemical makes bacteria more resistant to antibiotics.  Similar concerns about triclosan have also been raised by the US Food and Drug Administration who have advocated further research on the matter.

Triclosan has been in existence for over five decades, historically being used as a surgical scrub.  The plaque and gum disease prevention properties of tricolsan have been extensively trialed and are well documented. Contemporary applications of the ingredient include toothpastes and cleaning products for use in cosmetic dentistry.

Research has shown that triclosan can trigger bacterial gene mutations which enable them to withstand traditional antibiotics. Studies have already revealed that certain bacterial mutations, including salmonella, E coli, and listeria have a degree of resistance to antibiotics; and some commentators, by analogy, have drawn similar comparisons between tricolsan and strains of MRSA, the well-known hospital superbug.

GlaxoSmithKline has recently taken triclosan out of its range of oral hygiene products, including its Aquafresh, Corsodyl and Sensodyne dental hygiene products amid concerns raised by consumers.

Colgate Total, ranked amongst the best-selling oral hygiene products in the UK has defended the use of tricolsan in its toothpaste. A spokeswoman from Colgate Palmolive stated that the benefits of triclosan far outweigh the risks; triclosan has been proven to reduce plaque and harmful bacteria when compared with fluoride-only substitutes.

Posted in: News
Tags: London, Oral Hygiene, Oral hygiene London
| October 18, 2010 at 2:56 pm | No comment

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