Toothpastes for children: 60 million consumers warn about the presence of sugar: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

To ensure good dental hygiene and maintain good breath, it is advisable to brush your teeth at least twice a day, explains Health Insurance. A ritual which limits the appearance of cavities, and which also applies to young people. In fact, the use of toothpaste most often begins between the ages of 2 and 4, when the child knows how to spit. To make it easier to learn how to brush your teeth, many toothpastes for children are available on the market. Packaging inspired by cartoons, more playful colors, more attractive tastes, these types of toothpaste are popular with young people. However, an investigation carried out by 60 million consumers highlighted the presence of sugars in the composition of certain children’s toothpastes. A substance which, in the long term, would represent a risk of developing cavities.

How to detect the presence of sugar in children’s toothpaste?

In his investigation, 60 million consumers indicates having “observed the mentions ‘caramel’, ‘glucose‘ or even ‘fructose’ in the composition of several organic toothpastes for children”. Components that reflect the presence of sugars in these products. As Dr Christophe Lequart, spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health (UFSBD), points out in the columns of the magazine, these different substances are “fermentable sugars, broken down by bacteria present in the mouth”. These sugars, then transformed into acids, are responsible for the “demineralization of enamel” And “promote the formation of cavities”, as the doctor explains. While the main objective of brushing your teeth is to limit the appearance of cavities, this surprising discovery highlights the importance of choosing your child’s toothpaste carefully. Thus, it seems wise to inspect the composition of toothpastes when you wish to obtain one.

Sugar in children’s toothpaste: what are the risks?

According to the Body Nature brand which spoke in the magazine 60 million consumers, “glucose helps stabilize a gelling agent of natural origin and provides a less liquid and smoother texture”. This would be present at 0.05% in the total formula depending on the brand. However, Dr. Lequart indicates that “even in small quantities, long-term repetition of this exposure increases the cariogenic risk”.

Find the entire survey of 60 million consumers in issue 601 of the magazinepublished on March 28, 2024.

Sources:

• Sugar in children’s toothpaste! – Magazine n°601 of 60 million consumers
• How do you brush your teeth well ? – Health Insurance