Colgate Counterfeit Toothpaste - is This the Tip of the Iceburg

The Colgate counterfeit toothpaste scare has people alarmed and outraged, as they rush to their bathrooms to determine if they too might be using this potentially harmful product. For many others who have been asking for and even demanding safer products, this does not come as such a shock. Indeed, the toothpaste we use daily is riddled with potentially harmful ingredients. By conducting a simple exercise, most people will begin questioning what they are putting into their mouths and why.

Whether it is Colgate, Crest, or another brand that you use, go to your bathroom, get the toothpaste and bring it back to your computer. You will likely find a warning label on the product. I chose two brands to look at, Kid's Crest and Colgate Total.

The warning label on Kid's Crest read:

"Keep out of the reach of children under 6 yrs. of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away."

Aside from the fact that the warning is awkwardly written, giving one only the vaguest of ideas as to what is harmful (If more than used for brushing . . .), did they take into account the fact that small children actually eat this stuff because it is manufactured to taste good? So how much does your child have to eat before you need to contact a poison center?

However, before we rush to judgment, did the company cover that question further down on the label underneath directions? Under the directions, you will find that it states, "to minimize swallowing use a pea-sized amount in children under 6." Are we now supposed to discern that if more than a pea-sized amount is consumed that we should rush our child to the nearest poison control center?

Most frequently, the warning label on toothpaste is there because of the use of fluoride for cavity prevention. However, fluoride is not the only potentially harmful ingredient that manufacturers put into toothpaste. Sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial sweeteners, and dyes can also pose a threat. Sodium lauryl sulfate has been linked to skin problems and canker sores. Though you may not know it, this chemical is a strong industrial detergent and consists of small molecules that are readily absorbed into the tissues.

Now for the Colgate Total warning label:

"Keep out of the reach of children under 6 yrs. of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Ask a dentist before use if you have

bleeding or redness lasting more than 2 weeks

pain, selling, us, loose teeth, or more spacing between teethThese may be signs of periodontitis, a serious gum disease."

Isn't it wonderful that the company shows such concern for your oral healthy by identifying the things that may be signs of poor oral health? On the other hand, are they simply covering themselves from accusations of liability if you use the product and react to the myriad of potentially harmful chemicals that they are using? Could it be that these chemicals can cause damage to the sensitive gum tissues? So what is a consumer to do? Do we have any recourse and if we do, where do we find a safer alternative?

Tom's of Maine is a toothpaste manufacturer that has been around a while and prides itself on using safer products. While their products may contain fluoride, they have removed the other potentially harmful chemicals and replaced them with safer alternatives. However, Tom's is no longer a privately held company. On March 21, 2006, Colgate-Palmolive Co. announced their intent to acquire the company for a $100 million-dollar cash deal.

Cleure™ is another privately held company that offers chemically safe toothpaste. Cleure™ Toothpaste does not use sodium lauryl sulfate or sweeteners. They have replaced this harsh detergent with a gentle cleanser called sodium lauryl sarcosinate; a chemical that consists of large molecules that are not readily absorbed by the skin and which poses little if any danger to sensitive tissues. Cleure™ offers both fluoride-free toothpaste and toothpaste that contains fluoride. The reason Cleure™ continues to offer toothpaste with fluoride is clearly posted on the company website at www.cleure.com in their education section.

"There is much controversy regarding the use of fluoride in water and toothpaste. Because fluoride is clearly useful in preventing tooth decay and treating sensitive teeth, it can be beneficial to Fibromyalgia sufferers, as wells as others that struggle with sensitive teeth. Fluoride also makes teeth harder. It is also accepted by the ADA as an effective decay preventative. Because of the special needs of some, we have chosen to offer a choice to our consumers. Only our Original flavor contains fluoride and is recommended for adults with sensitive teeth. All of our other flavors contain xylitol, which has been shown to be effective towards decay prevention with proper oral hygiene home care."

It looks like consumers have more to be looking at when they purchase their next tube of toothpaste than whether it is counterfeit.