1- Titanium Oxide
This additive gives toothpaste its "whiter than white" color. It is found in food under the name E171 or CI 77891.
In Europe, since 2022, this ingredient has been banned in food additives due to its potential carcinogenicity for the lungs and intestines.
Moreover, an investigation by "Agir pour l'environnement" counted 408 toothpastes (among which 59 for children, and 25 organic certified) containing titanium dioxide (source: TF1).
Of course, we have listed it as the number 1 ingredient to avoid, as the risk of children ingesting toothpaste is far too high.
2- Synthetic Preservatives
To preserve toothpaste effectively, the cosmetic industry often adds Sodium Benzoate E221 (a preservative we've already discussed in this article).
In summary, its use in cosmetics is regulated and limited:
2.5% in rinse-off products (shower gels, shampoos, etc.)
1.7% in oral care products (toothpastes, mouthwashes, etc.)
0.5% in leave-on products (creams and moisturizing lotions, etc.)
However, sodium benzoate is also used in sodas, ready meals and medicines: it is found everywhere.
Although its use is limited in each of these areas, by combining these products in daily life, one risks suffering from the "cocktail effect" and exposing a child to an overdose.
Sodium benzoate overdose is dangerous for children due to its neurotoxic activity, suspected of being linked to hyperactivity in children (1).
3- Aggressive Surfactant (Sulfate)
Sulfates are a family of surfactants, the most well-known of which is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), considered an irritant. (If you want to know more, read this article)
For your information, a product containing 2% SLS can burn a child's delicate skin.
For several years, over 16,000 scientific studies have already demonstrated the harmful effects of sulfates. All molecules in this family have the particularity of destroying the protein structure of the skin.
It's as if acid were poured on the skin; one doesn't feel the burn because our skin quickly produces new proteins. However, in the long term, the effects can be terrible.
According to a German study, after 8 days of applying a 7.5% SLS solution to the skin of candidates (for 20 minutes a day), the skin was literally chemically burned.
We believe it is too dangerous to use in an oral hygiene product...
4- Colorants
We mentioned above the issue of white toothpastes, which contain titanium oxide (really not ideal...)
But know that there are also other colorants, such as iron oxide to obtain a more rosy/red color.
As its name suggests, iron oxide comes from minerals, so it presents a risk of exposure to heavy metals, a risk that seems avoidable, especially if it's "just" for a color...
From a more playful and educational point of view, a child who has learned to brush their teeth with pink toothpaste may be destabilized when transitioning to an "adult" toothpaste (colorless or whitened).
A quick PS: an essential factor when choosing a toothpaste is also to check the fluoride dosage. We had already written an article on this topic.
I hope our article can help you choose a good toothpaste for your children. Do not hesitate to send us your questions at coucou@lilikiwi.fr.
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