Colgate Peroxyl is not toxic because of the presence of Hydrogen Peroxide in it. Viral claim is misleading.

Colgate Peroxyl, a well known dental and oral care mouthwash, also recommended by doctors has become the talk of the netizens recently. People were found to raise questions if using the Colgate Peroxyl mouthwash is safe to use or is it toxic? 

The controversy rose because of the presence of Hydrogen Peroxide as an ingredient in the Colgate mouthwash. Social media users are claiming that hydrogen peroxide is toxic in nature and as an ingredient in the Colgate Peroxyl mouthwash makes the product toxic as well. Even Colgate hides the truth by not packing the product in a brown bottle. 

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Hydrogen Peroxide is dangerous but it was approved by FDA and other bodies as a safe ingredient when used in right concentration.

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Apart from this in the comment section of the post few users had raised their concern about the use of propylene glycol in the product. 

Fact Check- 

First, we searched for the ingredients used to produce Colgate Peroxyl. As per the information available on Colgate’s website, Hydrogen peroxide 1.5% w/v. Purified Water, Sorbitol 70%w/w (non-crystalising), Propylene glycol, Poloxamer 338, Polysorbate 20, Methyl Salicylate, Levo-Menthal, Sodium Saccharin are the ingredients. 

Hence, it is clear that Hydrogen Peroxide is used to produce Colgate. But does the presence of Hydrogen Peroxide make the mouthwash toxic? Let’s find out. 

Colgate’s website also mentioned that there are instructions available with the products which uses Hydrogen Peroxide as an ingredient for domestic use. Dentists use higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide during treatments, which are safe under their supervision. It was recommended to use dentist-approved products with lower concentrations of the chemical. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing chemical found in many households and industrial settings. It is generally safe at household concentrations (usually about 3%) but can be dangerous if used inappropriately.

National Library of Medicine released a brief guideline for the use of Peroxyl. The product should not be used for more than 7 days unless directed by a dentist or physician. These products should be kept out of the reach of children.

According to a report of Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), Hydrogen peroxide has been used in products for oral wound healing and first aid, but its effectiveness for healing minor mouth injuries is not fully proven. For oral use, solutions with up to 3% hydrogen peroxide are considered safe for temporary cleaning and healing minor mouth wounds, but there isn’t enough evidence to confirm it helps wounds heal. The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food products (SCCNFP) recommends limiting hydrogen peroxide in teeth whitening products to 6% and no more than 50 mg daily. Products with over 0.1% hydrogen peroxide should only be used under a dentist’s supervision.

Another report stated that International Agency for Research and Cancer (IARC) has classified Hydrogen Peroxide as a substance with limited evidence of being carcinogenic in nature. In European Union countries, products with less than 5% concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide does not need any special packaging. If the concentration is 5 to 8%, then it should come with a warning saying ‘Irritating to eyes.’ More than 8% should be labelled as ‘Harmful if swallowed’ and ‘Risk of serious damage to eyes.’

As the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is 1.5% in Colgate Peroxyl, it does not need special packaging like in a brown bottle. 

Hence, it can be said that the presence of 1.5% Hydrogen Peroxide in Colgate Peroxyl does not make it toxic, but it should be used as prescribed by doctors. 

What is Propylene Glycol? 

As per the information available on CDC website, Propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water. It is also used to make polyester compounds, and as a base for deicing solutions. Propylene glycol is used by the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries as an antifreeze. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified it as an additive that is “generally recognized as safe (GRAS)” for use in food. It is used to absorb extra water and maintain moisture in certain medicines, cosmetics, or food products.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Hydrogen Peroxide has been approved to be used in many products but its concentration should be under prescribed limit. For dental care products like mouthwash etc. 3% concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide is considered as safe for a short period of time. As Colgate Peroxyl contains 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, it is safe to be used as prescribed by doctors.