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Are there any alternatives to toothpastes with titanium dioxide?

Lithopone is rather nontoxic, due to the insolubility of its components. It has been used in medicine as a radiocontrast agent. Lithopone is allowed to be in contact with foodstuffs in the US and Europe.^[1]

Lithopone

The Journal of the American Institute for Conservation (JAIC) is an international peer-reviewed periodical for the art conservation profession. The Journal publishes articles on treatment case studies, current issues, materials research, and technical analyses relating to the conservation and preservation of historic and cultural works. The topics encompass a broad range of specialties including architectural materials, archeological objects, books and paper, ethnographic materials, objects, paintings, photographic materials, sculpture, and wooden artifacts. Started as the Bulletin of the International Institute for Conservation-American Group (IIC-AG), in April 1961, the Journal matured into its current form in 1977. Since that time JAIC has become a repository for the core body of conservation information through its documentation of new materials, changing methods, and developing standards in the conservation profession. The four-color publication is distributed three times a year to AIC members and museum, library, and university subscribers.

In short, no, research demonstrates that E171 is safe when consumed in normal situations.

Moreover, how we're exposed to an ingredient matters significantly in terms of our health and potential toxicity.   

Research shows that inhaling titanium dioxide particles in significant quantities over time can cause adverse health outcomes. Unless you work in an industrial setting, inhaling substantial amounts of titanium dioxide is highly unlikely. 

Research supports that applying titanium dioxide to the skin in the form of sunscreens, makeup, and other topical products does not pose a health risk. 

Overwhelmingly, research that's relevant to human exposure shows us that E171 is safe when ingested normally through foods and drugs (1,2).

Again, other research suggests that E171 could cause harm; however, those research processes did not design their studies to model how people are exposed to E171. Research that adds E171 to drinking water, utilizes direct injections, or gives research animals E171 through a feeding apparatus is not replicating typical human exposure, which occurs through food and medicine consumption.

Read more in-depth about the titanium dioxide risk at go.msu.edu/8Dp5. 

The MBR9668 coating offers a range of advantages for manufacturers in the coatings industry. Primarily, its high hiding power allows for the efficient application of thinner layers, reducing material consumption and operational costs. This cost efficiency does not come at the expense of quality; the coating ensures a uniform finish with excellent opacity and gloss. Furthermore, the durability imparted by MBR9668 means that coatings will not only maintain their aesthetic appeal but also resist environmental stresses such as weathering, moisture, and chemical exposure.

Europe

In a 2017 study published in Scientific Reports, researchers exposed rats to human-relevant levels of E171 to examine the effects of intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis. They saw that “a 100-day E171 treatment promoted colon microinflammation and initiated preneoplastic lesions while also fostering the growth of aberrant crypt foci in a chemically induced carcinogenesis model.” They continued: “Stimulation of immune cells isolated from Peyer’s Patches [which are clusters of lymphoid follicles found in the intestine] showed a decrease in Thelper (Th)-1 IFN-γ secretion, while splenic Th1/Th17 inflammatory responses sharply increased,” researchers wrote. “A 100-day titanium dioxide treatment promoted colon microinflammation and initiated preneoplastic lesions.” The scientists concluded: “These data should be considered for risk assessments of the susceptibility to Th17-driven autoimmune diseases and to colorectal cancer in humans exposed to TiO2 from dietary sources.”

TiO₂ possesses different qualities depending on whether it is produced as a pigment or a nanomaterial. Both forms are tasteless, odourless and insoluble.

In order to evaluate the penetration of the nanoparticles, eight adult male Wistar rats (3 months old) were used for the in vivo experiments. The protocol was approved by the local University Committee for animal testing and is in accordance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CICUAL-RD-2021–892-E-UNC-DEC#FCQ).