Animal testing is obviously a key issue for any personal care products. The following brands received our best rating for animal testing policy because they were either certified by Cruelty Free International (Leaping Bunny) or they had a fixed cut-off date for animal testing: While the company has made some improvements since we last updated the toothpaste guide such as bringing out a vegan and organic certified toothpaste and removing triclosan from all its products, with a score of 3.5 it still has a long way to go. Triclosan is an anti-bacterial agent, first used by surgeons to sterilise their hands, which is still in use in health settings. Triclosan and other antibacterial agents have been in widespread use in a surprising array of consumer products including sports clothing, children’s clothing, soft toys, mattresses, deodorant, make-up, skincare lotions, chopping boards, pencils, and kitchen tools.

The most common causes of intrinsic stains are some medications, using too much fluoride, and tooth decay. Tobacco and some beverages, such as coffee, tea, and red wine, can cause extrinsic stains. SLS is a foaming agent, that dissolves and disperses dirt, widely used in toothpastes. Its use has been controversial as a number of consumers have voiced concerns over its alleged effects on human health. It’s also worth saying that while Truthpaste’s toothpastes as a whole were not certified, it did provide full ingredients lists with its products and the majority of these were marked as certified organic. When rating companies for their policies on toxic chemicals, we looked specifically at policies relating to the use of triclosan, parabens and phthalates. Rating

In this guide, we investigate, score, and rank the ethical and environmental record of 39 brands of toothpaste and mouthwash.

When I started Kingfisher in 1988 I asked the advice of one of the health advisers to the Labour Party. He gave me a lot of reading to do and strongly recommended that we make our toothpaste with fluoride. This we did but after a year or so, when we could afford it, we introduced a fluoride-free alternative. Broadly, the dental profession is almost completely in its favour and recommends the use of fluoride especially by young people. There is a small but vociferous lobby against fluoride and they believe that its use is both unnecessary and motivated by business interests. You can find lots of information about both views on the web. Anti Malaria Malaria is a serious tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. If it isn’t diagnosed and treated promptly, it can be fatal. A single mosquito bite is all it takes for someone to become infected. Symptoms of malaria It’s important to be aware of the symptoms of malaria if you’re travelling to areas where there’s a high risk of the disease. Symptoms include: 1. A high temperature of 38C or above 2. Feeling hot and shivery 3. Headaches 4. Vomiting 5. Muscle pains 6. Diarrhoea Symptoms usually appear between 7 and 18 days after becoming infected, but in some cases the symptoms may not appear for up to a year, or occasionally even longer. When to seek medical attention Seek medical help immediately if you develop symptoms of malaria during or after a visit to an area where the disease is found. You should still seek medical help even if it’s several weeks, months or a year after you return from travelling. If there’s a possibility you have malaria, a blood test will be carried out to confirm whether or not you’re infected. You should receive the results of your blood test on the same day. If you have malaria, treatment will… Smoking Cessation Local stop smoking services are free, friendly and can massively boost your chances of quitting for good. These services staffed by expert advisers provide a range of proven methods to help you quit. They’ll give you accurate information and advice, as well as professional support, during the first few months you stop smoking. They also make it easy and affordable for you to get stop smoking treatments, such as: * Varenicline (Champix) * Bupropion (Zyban) * nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and gum One-to-one and group stop smoking sessions You’ll normally be offered a one-to-one appointment with an adviser, but many areas also offer group and drop-in services as well. Depending on where you live, the venue could be a local GP surgery, pharmacy, high-street shop, or even a mobile bus clinic. Jennifer Percival, who trains stop smoking advisers, says that using both treatment and specialist support is proven to give you the best chance of stopping smoking. “The majority of people who see an adviser will get through the first month after quitting without smoking a cigarette. “Overall, you’re up to 4 times more likely to stop smoking for good if you use a combination of stop smoking…

JASÖN, Weleda, Lavera, Kingfisher, Georganics, Truthpaste, Nothing Wasted, A.Vogel*, Green People*, Colgate* Colgate-Palmolive, the US company behind Colgate, Sanex and Palmolive, is one of the world’s biggest cosmetics and personal care companies and has recently come under severe criticism for its palm oil sourcing.Both toothpaste and tooth powder have benefits for tooth health. Both may also contain ingredients that may be of concern for people when it comes to overall health. These include: Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.