Heavy Metals in Toothpaste: A Hidden Health and Environmental Risk Brushing your teeth is a daily must, but could your toothpaste be toxic? A recent study by Chengappa et al. in Frontiers in Dental Medicine found heavy metals in over-the-counter toothpastes, raising alarms about toothpaste safety and environmental impact (Chengappa et al., 2025). As someone who trusts toothpaste for a healthy smile, it is shocking to learn that metals like lead might be in my tube. Let’s dive into why this study matters, how it was done, what it found, the health risks, and what’s next for safer dental products. Why Was This Study Needed? (Context) Heavy metals, like lead and zinc, are natural but have spiked in our environment due to industry and waste (Masindi & Muedi, 2018). Essential metals (e.g., zinc) are needed in small doses, but nonessential ones (e.g., cadmium) are toxic, causing health issues like cancer (Jan et al., 2015). Toothpastes, used daily by billions, may contribute to heavy...
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