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Plastic beads being removed from toothpaste: What you need to kn

Plastic beads being removed from toothpaste: What you need to kn

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by: Sniper12 Active Indicator LED Icon 12 OP 
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 11:51am  
A new ingredient that has been cropping up in products ranging from toothpaste to facial cleansers —polyethylene microbeads — has been causing a stir ever since dental hygienists noticed the tiny blue bits embedded the gums of patients who use Crest toothpaste. The tiny beads were already on the radar of environmentalists who say that because polyethylene doesn’t break down, the microbeads are making their way into oceans and other bodies of water and causing problems there.In a statement, Procter and Gamble, which has included microbeads in some types of Crest toothpaste, says they are Food and Drug Administration-approved and not a health risk, but is planning to remove the ingredient in the next year and a half.Today, some of P&G's most popular products do not contain microbeads including Crest Whitening + Scope, Crest Baking Soda Peroxide, Crest Extra Whitening, Crest Cavity, and Crest Tartar + Whitening," the company said in a statement. "In those that do, P&G has begun removing them. In fact, the majority of Crest's product volume will be microbead-free by March 2015. Crest will complete removal process by March of 2016."The FDA, for its part, says it has never approved microbeads to be put in toothpaste, which it considers to be an over-the-counter drug. Polyethylene is allowed to come in contact with food, but there has been no ruling saying it is safe to consume.And since the microbeads are not considered to be an active ingredient in toothpaste, the FDA hasn’t been monitoring them. The agency puts the onus on manufacturers to determine the safety of inactive ingredients in OTC drugs.“For over-the-counter monograph drug products, such as Crest toothpaste, manufacturers have the responsibility to ensure that all inactive ingredients are safe and suitable for their intended use,” said FDA spokesman Jeff Ventura. “If a product’s inactive ingredients are determined by the agency to pose a health risk for consumers, the agency may have the manufacturer address the issue, or take other appropriate enforcement actions. FDA is not immediately aware of any safety issues with this product.”As for claims that the FDA has approved polyethylene’s use as an additive in foods, which would mean it’s OK to add it to toothpaste, the FDA responded that that is wrong on two fronts.“By definition, food additives are for their intended use in food,” Ventura said. “Toothpaste is regulated as a drug product and is not considered food.”“Polyethylene is the subject of several effective food contact notifications and is included in several food additive regulations for use in food contact materials. It is approved for use in several indirect or food contact applications, but not for direct addition to food. It is also approved for use as a protective coating on some certain fresh fruits and vegetables (such as bananas), and certain nuts in shells. Food contact substance applications for polyethylene include: plastic wraps, bags and food containers.”For its part, the American Dental Association said in a statement that it sees no harm in the microbeads.“At this time, clinically relevant dental health studies do not indicate that the Seal should be removed from toothpastes that contain polyethylene microbeads,” an ADA statement read. “Polyethylene microbeads are commonly used as scrub beads, such as in exfoliating products, but are also sometimes used in chewing gum and toothpaste, as part of the product design. Small quantities of the colored polyethylene specks are included in some of Crest’s toothpastes, including Crest Pro Health, which has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.”Ref:http://www.today.com/health/microbeads-toothpaste-safe-brush-1D80157769?__source=xfinity|mod&ampEmoticonar=xfinity 4951
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Francita Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 12:25pm  
Funny. I just had a regular cleaning this morning and my hygienist was telling me this happens all the time. She pulls blue beads out of gums everyday. Many times the area is very inflamed and can cause permanent gum recession. I have never used that type of tooth paste but they are warning all of their patients about using it. 4951
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FoFa Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 1:08pm  
They have been talking about this for a long time now.From JUN 2013Scientists have already found the particles, known as microplastic, floating in the oceans but recently reported the same contamination in the largest surface freshwater system on the Earth. The particles are often less than a millimeter (0.04 inch).A team of researchers with 5 Gyres Institute, a non-profit California-based environmental activist group, collected samples from lakes Erie, Superior and Huron last summer and found large quantities of round, plastic pellets. 4951
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FoFa Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 1:10pm  
Also talk about how they clog up some waste treatment plants, clog the finer filters or something like that because they don't break down, and the larger filters don't catch them. 4951
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angiekaye Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 1:58pm  
Saw a story about how billions of little beads are flooding our water ways too.  I am refusing to purchase anything with them in it now. 4951
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BooBear Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 2:01pm  
I just bought 3 tubes with those in it. As soon as I run out I may or may not buy that kind again. 4951
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FoFa Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 2:21pm  
Crest Pro-Health, that is the one that my wife said was removing her gum tissue, and stopped using it, and had me just stick to Colgate. 4951
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doddlebug Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 4:36pm  
Just threw out our Crest products and went and bought Colgate. 4951
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mgw300e Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 4:44pm  
Colgate is owned by pit bulls. Be careful! 4951
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topcat Active Indicator LED Icon 12
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 4:45pm  
@BooBear Im going to check my toothpaste stash. You may or may not be getting some free Crest. 4951
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fcabanski Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 9 years ago   Sep 19, '14 5:31pm  
I'm still using the toothpaste the hospital provided my dad during his many visits.  He died in 2010, so that should give you an idea of how much toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrushes they gave him.I use mouthwash twice a day.  I only had to buy some in April.  I finally went through all the toothbrushes at the end of 2013.I am now using the last tube of toothpaste.  I brush three times or more a day.  I do not use the mouthwash immediately after brushing.  I also chew gum, because when I stopped the Dentist said I had more plaque in between my teeth. 4951
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