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Toothpaste Allergy

By Reno Laser Dentistry

January 02, 2012

Category: dentist reno

Tags: Dentist Reno Laser Dentistry Reno Dentist Oral Care Dental Toothpaste Allergy Reno Family Dentistry

Are you ever confused on what toothpaste to buy? How could we not be with the huge selection on the market! Do you know which one is best for you? Well, did you know that you could actually be allergic to toothpaste? A topic many of us don’t discuss or hear about every day.

According to the editors at the National Magazine for Dental Hygiene Professional, toothpaste allergy is more common than we think.

"Toothpaste allergy is often attributed to the use of cinnamon flavoring agents (cinnamic aldehyde) that have been added to the toothpaste. Cinnamon is from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree or bush that grows in wet, warm climates at a low altitude. The bark is cut and dried into rolls or quills. Cinnamon is one of the most aromatic of the spices and has been used since ancient times as a medicinal treatment and as a type of preservative. Its oil, which is a type of phenol, has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Cinnamic aldehyde is the principal component of cinnamon oil, and cinnamic acid is another flavoring agent sometimes used in various products.

The flavor of cinnamon is often used in many current dental products such as toothpaste. Many of the tartar control toothpastes contain tetrasodium or tetrapotassium pyrophosphates that act as an anti-calculus agent. These products have a strong, bitter or salty taste. A flavor enhancer such as cinnamon is often used to make the product more desirable to the consumer. The cinnamon spice is not only used in dental products such as toothpaste and mouth rinse, but is also found in many food products as well. Often the patient is consuming cinnamon without even being aware of doing so. Flavoring agents in general are widely consumed by most individuals through not only dental products, but also mints, gums, salsa products, cola drinks, canned products, and even some cosmetics such as lipsticks and lip balms.

Flavoring agents such as peppermint, wintergreen, and spearmint have been reported to be problematic for some patients. It is thought that the sensitivity may be an accumulation of combined products and the development of sensitivity over time."

You can read the entire article at http://www.rdhmag.com/index/display/article-display/295519/articles/rdh/volume-27/issue-6/columns/oral-exams/toothpaste-allergy.html

If you have any questions or would like to set-up an appointment contact Dr. McElhinney’s dental practice located in Reno he is very professional and knowledgeable. So, why wait if you’re looking for the best in town look no further.