Triclosan

What you use as part of your daily oral care routine really matters. That's why it's important to know and understand what ingredients are in your oral care products. Triclosan is an unnecessary and potentially harmful ingredient and should never be used in your oral care or personal care routine. 

What is Triclosan?

Triclosan is an antibacterial and antimicrobial chemical. Research by the FDA has shown that Triclosan can alter hormone regulation in animals, may contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs, and may be harmful to the immune system. It has been banned from hand soaps and body washes since 2016 by the FDA for this reason, and over-the-counter consumer antiseptic wash products containing triclosan have also been banned. Despite the fact that Triclosan is not an essential ingredient, it continues to be used in many other personal care products. 

What is Triclosan Used In/For?

Triclosan is used in cosmetics, toothpaste, and in a wide variety of materials including athletic clothing and food packaging due to its antibacterial properties. It is often included in oral care formulations as an antibacterial agent, but studies have not proven its efficacy. 

What Are The Effects Of Triclosan?

If Triclosan is present in a product, a small amount can be absorbed into the skin or mouth and then into the bloodstream. Studies have shown that, if absorbed over a prolonged period of time, Triclosan exposure may result in the development of antibiotic-resistant germs and could be harmful to the immune system and could create thyroid problems in humans. 

Knowing that our mouths are 50 times more absorbent than our skin means we must be very selective about what ingredients go into our oral care products. As a non-essential, potentially harmful ingredient, Triclosan should never be present in your toothpaste or mouthwash formulations. 

At Spotlight Oral Care, we use only the highest quality clean, active ingredients, and all of our oral care solutions are free from triclosan, sulphates, microbeads, palm oils, parabens DEA, and SLS.