Dear Patients,

“Marry an orphan, you’ll never have to spend boring holidays with the in-laws” ~ George Carlin

Some of you may have noted the chemical triclosan in the news. This chemical is commonly found in toothpaste, deodorant, and antibacterial soaps. Recent studies have linked this chemical to heart disease, heart failure and liver cancer. Another study out of the University of California Davis has shown that triclosan impairs muscle function and skeletal muscle contractility in mice. Researchers said the effects of the chemicals on cardiac function were “really dramatic”. Another study by Toxological Sciences found that triclosan affected estrogen-mediated responses, and that chemicals that imitate estrogen are known to increase breast cancer risks.

Given this new research information, I would strongly recommend that anyone using Colgate Total discontinuing it until further research can be completed. Should you or someone you love have questions regarding the safety of triclosan please contact my office.

Happy Holiday,

Michael W. Dagostino, DDS