Frogs and Toothpaste

Amphibians have a cute and iconic place in our hearts... but your toothpaste may be killing them

By Greg LeBreton

Warmer weather is almost upon us. Soon I’ll be able to sit at anchor in one of my favourite bays and listen to the lake come alive with sounds that make a summer evening – loons, the quiet crackle of a campfire on shore and frogs.

No one dislikes frogs. You just have to look at Kermit or the fairytales about frogs and toads to see amphibians have a cute and iconic place in our hearts. In addition, they eat a lot of mosquitoes, which make them heroes in most people’s minds. They are food for fish, birds and snakes. And, as if that wasn’t enough, the occasional pollywog catches the scientific interest of thousands of children at the water’s edge each summer. Everyone loves frogs.

The problem is your toothpaste might be killing them.

Now, if you are like me, you have no idea what kind of toothpaste you use. Go get it right now. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

Got it? Now take a look at the active ingredients listed right on the tube. If you find Triclosan on the list, there is a pesticide in your toothpaste. This is a chemical added to toothpaste to kill bacteria and is thought to prevent gingivitis. And it’s not just in your toothpaste. It’s in some anti-bacterial soaps, body washes, antiperspirants and cosmetics. It’s known to be a hormone disrupting chemical and has a serious impact on the health and well-being of frogs.

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