A year or two ago there was a big fuss about Triclosan, which was the main antibacterial agent in most toothpastes. The publicity resulted in many products being taken off the shelves and other agents being substituted for Triclosan.

Now, however, I’ve noticed Triclosan is back, at least in the cheaper own-brand products of the big supermarkets.

The original fuss occurred because it apparently reacted with the chlorine in normal domestic water to produce toxins that could be harmful over time. Despite that, it remains the best of the antibacterials.

On an individual level, we can simply use filtered water to brush our teeth. Popular filter systems, like Brita, do remove most of the chlorine in water, and osmotic systems are even better.

So, stick to Triclosan and eliminate the chlorine instead. That is the healthy alternative to reading every toothpaste label.