Common Toothpaste Ingredient Breeds Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Strains
According to researchers, the levels of triclosan in toothpaste and other household products are increasing, making it that much more difficult to combat bacteria. Triclosan is used in many brands of toothpaste, yet it has been banned from other personal hygiene and home products such as body washes. The issue with triclosan is that it has the potential to make even a brief stay in a hospital a fatal one.Furthermore, research shows that triclosan in toothpaste and mouthwash might also decrease the efficacy of certain antibiotic drugs, potentially even spurring inflammation in the gut. The pressing question is whether consumer product manufacturing companies should continue to be allowed to use triclosan and other antimicrobial chemicals in toothpaste and other products.
Are Health Authorities Paying Attention to the Growing Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance?
The researchers noted triclosan generated resistance to a plethora of antibiotics. However, one of the antibiotics was particularly notable. Cipro, also known as ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic regularly used for the treatment of urinary tract infections, was the most recognizable antibiotic with resistance after triclosan was introduced. This resistance is meaningful as Cipro is becoming more popular as urinary tract infections occur fairly frequently.There’s no doubt, antibiotic resistance is a serious health problem. Unfortunately, the mainstream media has ignored this crisis, focusing on more “acceptable” public health issues like, COVID-19. The shift away from so-called antibacterial products and a reduced dependency on prescription antibiotics would greatly help in the ongoing quest to overcome antibiotic-resistant bacteria.