American Dental Association Addresses Triclosan in Toothpaste

American Dental Association Addresses Triclosan in Toothpaste

Triclosan, an antibacterial agent used in Colgate Total toothpaste to fight plaque and gingivitis, recently made headlines when a news outlet questioned the rigor of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) process that approved its use in over-the-counter products, casting doubt upon triclosan’s safety in dentifrice. In an effort to quell any safety concerns, the American Dental Association (ADA), which has granted its Seal of Acceptance to Colgate Total, issued a statement regarding these reports.    

The statement offered assurances that the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs regularly monitors and evaluates the safety of each product granted the ADA seal. “If the council’s evaluation determines sufficient scientific evidence exists that an ADA seal-accepted product poses a health risk, the council has the authority to withdraw the seal from that product. There is no clinically relevant scientific evidence indicating that the seal should be removed from the Colgate Total product,” the statement asserts. “The FDA does not have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products that contain triclosan at this time,” the ADA concluded in its statement.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

September 2014