Winter Park Family Dentistry and Prosthodontics voices concerns about toothpaste additive:
The use of triclosan as an antibacterial agent needs more study, says local dentist.
Orlando, FL —Winter Park Family Dentistry and Prosthodontics, PA, one of Orlando’s leading dental practices, is advising its patients to avoid using toothpastes containing triclosan, an antibacterial chemical which has been linked to cancer in animals.
Triclosan is listed as an active ingredient in some top selling brands of toothpaste, including Colgate Total.
“I’m advising my patients to go with toothpastes which do not include this ingredient,” says the practice’s Dr. Ramzi Matar. “At least, until we have time to do more research, it would seem best to avoid toothpastes that have triclosan in them.”
As a clinician, Dr. Matar keeps up to date with research and makes recommendations based on the best information available, he says. But he also points out that when new research is published it takes time for the professional community to fully evaluate it—and to make recommendations to patients.
Triclosan does have benefits, especially for people who are susceptible to gingivitis, a common dental problem, he notes.
“But people’s sensitivity to certain additives varies with the individual, and because we have evidence triclosan may be linked to an increased risk of cancer it’s better to take a more conservative approach,” he says. “We should wait until research has fully evaluated the overall risk versus the benefits.”
A Bloomberg News article on August 11, 2014 outlined triclosan’s tumultuous path in and out of healthcare products dating back to 1968.
Winter Park Family Dentistry and Prosthodontics is a group dental practice that been providing family dentistry and prosthodontic specialty care to central Florida for 37 years. Its staff includes Board certified prosthodontist Dr. Jon S. Wilkins, DDS, MSD, Dr. Malcolm Hawley DDS and Dr. Ramzi Matar, DMD.
For more information, questions, or comments you can reach Dr. Ramzi Matar at any of the contacts below.
call or text 407-473-1118
email: ramzidmd@gmail.com
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