"This toothpaste is so cheap, there is no risk of cancer, right?"
Uncle Zhou is 65 years old this year. He usually pays more attention to health care and likes to read some medical science popularization. In the past two days, my toothpaste at home has almost been used up, so Uncle Zhou went to the supermarket to buy toothpaste. After
arrived, Uncle Zhou saw all kinds of toothpastes, and he felt confused and didn't know what toothpaste to buy. I saw that the price of toothpaste ranged from a few dollars to a few dozen dollars. Uncle Zhou recalled that he saw some views on the Internet some time ago that some toothpastes contain carcinogenic ingredients, so he asked the salesperson the question at the beginning of the article.
After hearing Mr. Zhou’s question, the salesperson explained: The toothpaste we here is purchased from regular channels and has been quality-checked by authoritative departments. The safety is guaranteed, so you can use it with confidence! After hearing the salesperson's explanation, Uncle Zhou's doubts were dispelled. Considering the cost-effectiveness, he bought a cheap toothpaste and went home.
On the market, the price difference between of toothpaste is indeed quite different. Why does this phenomenon occur? Are some toothpastes really risky of cancer? In order to solve everyone's doubts, today the doctor will have a good talk about the relevant knowledge.
1. Why do different toothpastes have big differences in prices? Before
, the Beijing Consumer Association had tested toothpastes on the market, and found that the basic ingredients of these toothpastes were almost the same, and there was not much difference in quality. As for why toothpaste is expensive, the possible reasons are mainly as follows:
❶ Brand premium:
Some friends with some life experience should know that the same thing may have a relatively large difference in price, with different brands.
For example, for the exact same clothes, many people are willing to spend hundreds of dollars to buy brands. In fact, this non-branded clothing is exactly the same as the branded clothing.
Many people are willing to pay for the brand premium, which mainly includes emotional factors. Many businesses take advantage of this mentality of consumers, so they spend a lot of money to shape their own brand image higher than other brands.
At the same time, the brand also represents the identity of consumers to a certain extent. is also a car, driving Mercedes-Benz and Chery . This value is immediately revealed.
❷ claims that toothpaste has certain functions:
Many merchants claim that their toothpaste has certain specific effects. Common mainly include whitening, anti-allergic, hemostasis, anti-Herrelicobacter pylori, etc.
Regardless of whether these toothpastes really have the above effects, as long as they are applied with this specific effect, the price will not be cheap.
In fact, some toothpastes may not necessarily play a claiming role, and some toothpastes may have safety hazards. Let’s talk about it with hemostatic toothpaste. Although it can relieve symptoms, it cannot cure the root cause. Short-term hemostasis may delay treatment.
❸Differences in ingredient:
The basic ingredients of toothpaste are mainly friction agents. In order to reduce costs, some businesses may use calcium carbonate as a friction agent. The particles of calcium carbonate are relatively large and have irregular shapes. The experience may not be very good when used.
Some expensive toothpastes may use better friction agents, such as hydrated silica. Compared with calcium carbonate, hydrated silica has relatively small particles and is spherical in shape. Toothpaste with hydrated silica as a friction agent is smoother to use and has a better experience.
2. Can toothpastes against Helicobacter pylori really play a corresponding role?
In recent years, toothpastes against Helicobacter pylori have appeared on the market, and some sales staff even claimed that this toothpaste can prevent cancer. In fact, both statements are a bit exaggerated.
Helicobacter pylori is a relatively stubborn bacteria. Although there are more in the stomach and are more acidic and have strong acidity, Helicobacter pylori can still survive. The fundamental reason is that Helicobacter pylori has its own "unique skills".
Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria. If you want to kill it, the most reliable thing is to use antibiotic . However, using antibiotics alone is not enough. In clinical practice, in order to kill Helicobacter pylori, combined medication is needed, that is, 1 proton pump inhibitor + 2 antibiotics + 1 gastric mucosa protective agent. The time for taking medicine should not be too short, it usually takes 10 to 14 days. Even if is quadruple therapy, it does not necessarily kill Helicobacter pylori 100%.
Just imagine, using 4 combinations of therapy may not necessarily completely kill Helicobacter pylori. Is it reliable to rely on toothpaste to kill this bacteria? The answer is obvious!
When we are infected with Helicobacter pylori, the best way is to go to the hospital for regular treatment. If you just want to find psychological comfort, it is not bad to use this so-called toothpaste that can resist Helicobacter pylori.
3. Which two types of toothpastes have a risk of carcinogenicity?
At present, toothpaste containing two ingredients may have carcinogenic risks. The specific summary is as follows:
❶ Toothpaste containing titanium dioxide :
Titanium dioxide is a whitening agent . The main purpose of adding titanium dioxide to the toothpaste is to make the toothpaste whiter.
However, titanium dioxide is a carcinogen. In 2017, EU listed titanium dioxide as a grade 2B carcinogen. In other words, there is currently sufficient evidence for titanium dioxide carcinogenicity in animal experiments, but insufficient evidence in humans.
Although the content of titanium dioxide in toothpastes on the market is within the safe range, many of the products we usually use contain titanium dioxide. In this case, we will be exposed to a larger amount of titanium dioxide, which will undoubtedly increase the potential risk of cancer.
❷ Toothpaste containing triclosan :
In essence, triclosan belongs to an antibacterial agent . Because it is not expensive, it is widely used in a variety of products, such as some toothpastes and cosmetics.
At present, there is still some controversy regarding the safety of triclosan. However, in 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluated triclosan. results found that triclosan can react with chlorine gas remaining in tap water to form chloroform, and chloroform belongs to the 2B carcinogen . After
, some studies have found that triclosan has the potential to induce colitis , and it can also have an adverse effect on intestinal bacterial flora . At the same time, some people have used triclosan to do animal experiments, and found that it increases the risk of colon cancer in animals.
Although there is currently controversy about the safety of triclosan, for the sake of its own safety, you should try to use this type of toothpaste as little as possible.
4. How should we choose toothpaste?
❶ Choose toothpaste according to your needs:
There are many types of toothpaste on the market. When we choose toothpaste, we don’t have to buy expensive ones. Besides, expensive toothpaste is definitely good.
When we buy toothpaste, we should make choices according to our needs. If your teeth are yellow, you can choose toothpaste containing silicone . If your teeth are sensitive, you can choose anti-allergic toothpaste. If you buy toothpaste for the elderly, you can buy milder toothpaste. If you want to prevent tooth decay , you can buy toothpaste containing fluorine.
❷ Try to choose big brands of toothpaste:
Big brands invest a lot of money in product research and development, so relatively speaking, their product quality is relatively guaranteed, and the experience is better when used. Although some toothpastes are cheaper, their experience is not good.
Many people think that big brands of toothpaste must be expensive, but in fact this may not be necessary. When we buy toothpaste, we can choose to buy it at discounts or promotions.
