When we hear the word plastic, we inevitably think of littered oceans and endless mountains of plastic that have long since become a global problem. But microplastics in toothpaste? Many people are unaware that we also have a plastic problem with our daily dental care, which is both harmful to our health and the environment.
Even though many cosmetics manufacturers are now committed to doing without microplastics, they have still not completely disappeared from the (dental care) market. Unfortunately, the problem has not yet disappeared completely due to a lack of legislation.
We therefore want to sharpen your awareness and show you how you can recognize a toothpaste or dental care product without microplastics.
What exactly is microplastic?
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are smaller than 5 mm. These particles, also known as polymers, can be found almost anywhere.
They exist in both solid and liquid form. They can be found in cosmetics, as granules in artificial turf or as abrasives in industry.
However, microplastic particles are also created by the decomposition process of larger pieces of plastic, for example when they float in the sea and are gradually eaten away by waves and wind.
Up to 12 million tons of plastic end up in the sea every year, where they gradually turn into microplastics. Our lakes and rivers are also facing an increasing problem.
Why is there microplastic in toothpaste?
But why are microplastics found in toothpaste of all things?
Until a few years ago, microplastic particles (microbeads) were deliberately added to toothpaste. They were supposed to act as cleaning particles and remove plaque from the teeth.
This has - actually - been banned since 2014. However, the problem is that many manufacturers only recognize the ingredient polyethylene (PE) as a microplastic, but not other substances such as
- Acrylates copolymer,
- acrylate crosspolymer
- or nylon-12.
The reason for this is that these ingredients are water-soluble, liquid or gel-like plastics. However, the Federal Environment Agency only classifies solid plastic particles as microplastics - a loophole that many manufacturers invoke.
This means that they officially produce their toothpastes “free from microplastics”.
However, environmental protection organizations see it differently and also classify the substances mentioned here as microplastics and questionable.
If you like, this is a kind of greenwashing at the expense of the customer and the environment.
In other dental care products such as
- whitening creams,
- dental care gels,
- adhesive creams
- or mouthwashes may still contain all forms of polymers.
And, even if the toothpaste does not officially contain microplastics: Plastic particles can also be introduced into dental care via the toothpaste packaging.
Other potentially harmful ingredients in toothpaste
Microplastics are not our only health-threatening problem when it comes to toothpaste.
They often contain other harmful ingredients.
We want to give you an overview.
Toothpaste with triclosan
Triclosan is an antimicrobial active ingredient.
It has an antibacterial and odor-inhibiting effect and is mainly used in hospitals for hygiene purposes.
Unfortunately, this is precisely why it can also be found in toothpastes:
- It kills bacteria
- and prevents bad breath.
Unfortunately with fatal side effects:
- Triclosan can trigger contact allergies
- and make it resistant to bacteria
- bacteria and antibiotics.
However, anyone who develops a resistance to antibiotics may no longer be able to be helped in emergencies - namely whenever the effect of antibiotics would be necessary for health reasons.
Triclosan is also suspected of
- damage the endocrine system
- and to form toxic dioxins under the influence of UV radiation.
Toothpaste with aluminum fluoride
Salt-like fluorides are generally said to kill caries bacteria and harden tooth enamel.
However, fluoride is controversial as it can be toxic to the body and especially to our bones.
Especially as aluminum fluoride. Here, fluoride forms a compound with aluminum. A regular and high intake of aluminum compounds can, it is assumed,
- Damage to bones,
- kidneys
- and liver
- and can also negatively
- and motor skills.
Aluminum is stored by our body for a particularly long time, which is why its intake is a particular concern for children and adolescents.
High levels of aluminum fluoride are mainly found in whitening toothpastes, as aluminum fluorides are not water-soluble and are therefore used as an additional abrasive.
Are there differences in the use of plastic-free toothpaste?
Plastic-free dental care products are mainly available in health food stores. They are available as
- Paste in a tube
- or in a jar,
- in the form of tooth powder
- or toothpaste tablets.
Of course, the application is unfamiliar at first.
Alternative toothpaste usually doesn't foam or only foams a little, which may feel strange the first few times you brush your teeth.
There are, of course, other differences in the use of tablets and powder.
- Tablets are chewed without water and then combined with your saliva to form a kind of paste.
- With the powder, you simply dip the dry toothbrush into it and then start brushing, also without adding water. Here too, the combination with your saliva creates the “toothbrushing effect”.
Is toothpaste with microplastics harmful to the environment?
In general, any product that contains microplastics is harmful to the environment. If you use toothpaste with microplastics, the polymers end up in the wastewater after the toothpaste is spit out.
Unfortunately, sewage treatment plants are not able to completely filter microplastics out of the water, so some of them end up back in the environment and collect in our rivers, lakes and oceans.
It also ends up in our tap water!
How can I recognize microplastic toothpaste?
A glance at the list of ingredients will tell you whether a toothpaste contains microplastics. The following names or ingredients are polymers:
- Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates Crosspolymer
- Allyl stearate/VA copolymer
- Butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer
- Ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer
- Ethylene/acrylate copolymer
- Ethylene/methacrylate copolymer
- Polyamides, nylon
- Polyacrylates
- Polymethyl methacrylate
- Polyquaternium
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG-) (poorly degradable from PEG-50)
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- Polypropylene terephthalate
- Polybutylene Terephthalate
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polypropylene Glycol (PPG) (poorly degradable from PPG-50)
- Polystyrene (PS)
- Polytetrafluoroethylenes
- Polyurethanes (PUR)
- Styrene acrylates coplymer
- Silicones, for example cyclotetrasiloxanes, cyclopentasiloxanes, cyclohexasiloxanes, cyclomethicones / silsesquioxanes / trimethylsiloxysilicates (silicone resin)
There are also some good apps that you can download to your smartphone.
If you then scan the relevant product with the app, for example in the supermarket, it will tell you which polymers and other harmful substances are in the item.
“Tox Fox” is one of the apps that also shows you microplastics.
Conclusion
It is worth paying attention to the ingredients in a product when shopping. With a little know-how and a little attention, many potentially harmful ingredients and packaging materials can be avoided.