Question:

Is it common to be allergic to toothpaste? My husband can`t use certain toothpastes because he is allergic to papaine(sp?). Do you know which toothpastes contain this ingredient and how common is it to be allergic to such a thing. I never heard of this before.

Thanks.

Answer:

Papain is obtained from the papaya plant. It is included in toothpastes because it has digestive properties (enzyme activity) that can prevent, reduce or break-up plaque build-up around the teeth.

Papain is often a complex mix of many different ingredients (molecules) and some of these are thought to induce allergic reactions in certain, susceptible individuals (like your husband).

While I do not know which toothpastes contain papain, my advice would be to read the labels carefully and check with your pharmacist. I would also recommend avoiding special formulations for `tartar-control` or `tooth-whitening` in favor of good old, regular paste formulas which still work well. To insure that he doesn`t run across any hidden papain, another alternative would be to use plain baking soda for brushing.

Good luck!

For more information:

Go to the Mouth Diseases health topic.