Oral care products (toothpaste, mouthwash) — safety profile

What is this product?

Toothpaste and mouthwash are applied to oral mucosa twice daily throughout life — the oral cavity has high vascularization and mucous membrane permeability, making it an efficient absorption surface for dissolved chemical compounds. The chemical concerns in oral care products span three recent areas: (1) triclosan in toothpaste — Colgate Total contained triclosan as an active antimicrobial ingredient for 35 years, until Colgate reformulated in 2019 following FDA scrutiny and consumer campaigns; (2) PFAS in whitening toothpaste — a 2023 litigation against Colgate Optic White alleged PFAS (specifically PTFE microparticles from Teflon-brand polytetrafluoroethylene used as a whitening polishing agent) in the product, which Colgate did not deny; and (3) parabens as preservatives in toothpaste and mouthwash formulations, particularly affecting products intended for children. Children who swallow toothpaste (a common occurrence for ages 2–6) receive a concentrated oral dose of all toothpaste ingredients. The FDA's 2016 rule that eliminated triclosan from rinse-off soaps specifically exempted triclosan in toothpaste — creating a regulatory asymmetry where the product applied to oral mucosa retained the ingredient banned from hand soap.

What's in it

Click any compound name for its full safety profile, regulatory consensus, and exposure data.

Who's most at risk

• Pregnant Women — Dermal absorption of endocrine disruptors; fetal exposure
• Children — Thinner skin, higher surface-area-to-body-weight ratio

How to use it more safely

• Use only recommended amount (pea-sized for children under 3)
• Rinse mouth thoroughly after use to minimize swallowing
• Keep out of reach of children under 6 years old
• Do not swallow; spit out after brushing or rinsing

Red flags — when to walk away

• Whitening toothpaste with PTFE listed in ingredients or 'advanced whitening' without ingredient transparency — PTFE in toothpaste ingredients indicates PFAS polymer microparticles used as a polishing agent. The 2023 Colgate Optic White litigation brought this to consumer attention. PTFE ingestion via swallowed toothpaste is the primary concern — PTFE microparticles in oral care represent a PFAS ingestion pathway that had not previously been characterized.
• 'Antibacterial' toothpaste without disclosed active antimicrobial ingredient — Post-2019 Colgate Total reformulation, most 'antibacterial' toothpaste on the US market uses stannous fluoride (SnF₂) as the antimicrobial, not triclosan. However, some formulations, older inventory, or international products may still contain triclosan. Verify the active ingredient.

Green flags — what to look for

• EWG Green-rated toothpaste; or ADA Seal of Acceptance + verified paraben-free, PTFE-free, triclosan-free — EWG Skin Deep's Green rating for toothpaste addresses ingredients safety including parabens, triclosan, PTFE, and other concerns. ADA Seal of Acceptance confirms fluoride efficacy and safety. Together, a Green-rated ADA-Seal product provides both efficacy and lower-concern ingredient verification.

Safer alternatives

• Natural/fluoride-free toothpaste — Reduces fluoride ingestion risk for young children
• Water-based mouthwash or salt rinse — Eliminates alcohol content and toxicity concerns
• Xylitol-based oral care products — Natural antimicrobial with lower toxicity profile

Frequently asked questions