Toothpaste maker under fire for using prescription drug in herbal product

A company in China that sells toothpaste marketed as a herbal remedy to prevent gum bleeding has been questioned over its use of a drug that is commonly prescribed to control bleeding, thepaper.cn reported on Tuesday.

Yunnan Baiyao Toothpaste [File photo: VCG]

Questions were raised about the product after a supermarket customer, who is a hematologist, noticed that Yunnan Baiyao Toothpaste contained tranexamic acid, a common prescription medication to control bleeding. She posted an article online, asking whether the herbal ingredients in the toothpaste prevents gingival bleeding, or whether the effect is due to the use of tranexamic acid.

Yunnan Baiyao Toothpaste responded on Monday, admitting that their toothpaste formula included tranexamic acid. The company said that their behavior was not deceptive.

Dental experts have warned that bleeding gums are a sign of periodontal disease that should be treated by a dentist. They warn that using toothpaste containing drugs that stop the bleeding, but don't address the underlying problem, might encourage people to delay seeking the treatment necessary for their disease.