FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chris Martin, [email protected]
Jann Ingmire, [email protected]
312/440-2806
ADA Calls Toothpaste Warning Labels Unnecessary
CHICAGO - The American Dental Association (ADA) is advising parents
that they should be aware of but not overly concerned about one part of
a warning label the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires on
fluoride toothpastes. Beginning April 7, fluoride toothpastes were
required to indicate: "If you accidentally swallow more than used for
brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center
immediately."
"Our position was that they went too far," said Dr. Cliff Whall,
director of evaluations criteria for the ADA's Council on Scientific
Affairs. "There wasn't really a need for such an extreme cautionary
statement about the danger of poisoning if you've ingested too much."
"There's very little evidence that ingestion of fluoride toothpaste
causes significant adverse health effects under most circumstances," Dr.
Whall said.
An analysis of more than 4,000 calls to poison control centers involving
fluoride toothpaste ingestion found that those swallowing the toothpaste
did not suffer major adverse health effects. The report was published
in the September 1996 issue of American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Dr. Whall indicated that through its Seal of Acceptance program, the ADA
has attempted to prevent children from swallowing toothpaste. All
fluoride toothpastes with the ADA Seal must have the following warning
label: "Do not swallow. Use only a pea-sized amount for children under
six. To prevent swallowing, children under six years of age should be
supervised in the use of toothpaste."
This advice is meant to reduce the occurrence of mild dental fluorosis,
a reversible cosmetic defect that appears as light spots on developing
permanent teeth and can be diagnosed only by a dentist or hygienist.
Additionally, the ADA has worked with toothpaste manufacturers over the
past 30 years to limit the size of tubes of toothpaste so that the
amount of fluoride available in any one tube does not exceed a fraction
of a dangerous amount.
"This label issue does help remind parents that they should supervise
the tooth brushing habits of children so they are using the appropriate
amount of fluoride toothpaste and brushing properly," Dr. Whall said.
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