Colgate Optic White Stain Fighter Toothpaste Is Safe To Use.

Colgate Optic White Stain Fighter is a stain removal whitening toothpaste with micro-polishing action to remove stains. It is a mint toothpaste that has a clean mint flavor that freshens breath. This tooth stain remover toothpaste contains clinically proven technology that safely removes surface stains and the formula helps prevent new stains from forming, as claimed by the company. 

However, consumers are concerned about the ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-12, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Benzyl Alcohol and Titanium Dioxide used in the product claiming these to be harmful for humans which leads to many health issues.

Fact Crescendo found the claim in the post to be misleading. All the ingredients meet safety standards and are approved to be used in the product by regulatory bodies.

What’s the claim? 

Social media users are claiming that the ingredients Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-12, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Benzyl Alcohol and Titanium Dioxide used in the product give rise to gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, central nervous system depression, including dizziness, confusion and impact immune system. 

Facebook | Archive

Fact Check- 

First, we checked if Colgate Optic White toothpaste contains all the ingredients mentioned in the post. As per the information provided in Colgate’s website, the product does contain PEG-12, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Benzyl Alcohol, and Titanium Dioxide.

Let’s check the safety of each ingredient.

Sodium lauryl Sulfate (SLS): 

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is used as an ingredient in many cosmetics, cleaners, toothpastes etc. It’s a very common ingredient used to create foam for deeper cleaning. This foam makes it easier to break down and wash away plaque and other particles. 

Groups like FDA and EPA studied SLS and the risk it might pose to people, especially children. It declared SLS as safe and non-carcinogen. However, people with mouth sores may find SLS toothpaste causes more irritation, so using toothpaste without SLS can help reduce pain. When used correctly, SLS is safe. The FDA considers SLS as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and allows it to be used in foods in small quantities. 

FAQs on SLS can be read here. 

PEG-12: 

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) expert panel had studied the PEG Dilaurate and PEG Laurate and found them safe for use in cosmetics and personal care products at levels up to 25%. The body can absorb and digest them. In animal studies, PEG Laurate caused some irritation in the stomach but didn’t cause severe harm.

Apart from this PEG-12 is listed as one of the approved inactive ingredients in Colgate Optic White toothpaste. According to the FDA report, some people may experience tooth sensitivity or gum discomfort when using whitening products. This discomfort is temporary and not harmful. If you experience more than mild tooth sensitivity, stop use and consult your dentist.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine:

According to the National Institute of Health, Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is a cleaning ingredient used in many personal care products like shampoos, toothpastes, soaps, and skin cleansers because it causes only mild skin irritation for most people. Some people were found to develop skin allergic reactions after using products with this ingredient. However, the products were made safe by removing the impurities from the ingredients during the manufacturing process.

Medical News Today reported that Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is a mild ingredient that is safe for most people when used properly. Some people may feel tightness, itching, redness, or get a rash after using it. These issues usually go away. 

The Environmental Working Group had also confirmed that CAPB is non-carcinogenic and is not associated with problems with development or reproduction. The group even categorized Colgate toothpaste as ‘Low Hazard’.

Benzyl Alcohol: 

Benzyl alcohol is used in many products as it helps to stop bacteria from growing and has very low toxicity. It occurs naturally in foods like apricots, cranberries, and cocoa. Manufacturers use it in foods, drinks, and cosmetics as a flavor enhancer, solvent, or preservative. Besides health and beauty products, it is used in developing photos, paints, inks, and coatings. It is also approved for use in food packaging materials.

According to the National Institute of Health, the World Health Organization declared Benzyl Alcohol as safe when consumed in small amounts- up to 5mg/kg of body weight daily. Apart from this, no serious health issues were found from long-term exposure to the ingredient during animal studies. It is non-carcinogenic and genetic safety tests were found to be negative. 

Up to 1% of Benzyl alcohol has been permitted by the European Union to be used as preservative in cosmetic and personal care products and 1.7% in oral care products (in case of Benzoic salts).

Titanium Dioxide: 

The US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has allowed the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive in foods according to the specifications and conditions. According to FDA regulations the quantity of titanium dioxide should not exceed 1% by weight of the food. You can read the details here.

On 24 November 2023, World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) released an assessment of the health impacts of titanium dioxide. According to the report, TiO₂ is poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. JECFA found no evidence of carcinogenic, reproductive, or developmental toxicity effects from long-term exposure to TiO₂.

However, some concerns were there for the genotoxicity of TiO₂ nanoparticles. JECFA highlighted the limitations of current testing methods, which may not be suitable for nanoparticles. Despite some uncertainties, JECFA reaffirmed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for TiO₂ as “not specified,” maintaining its safety for use in food.

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. All the ingredients meet safety standards and are approved to be used in Colgate Optic White toothpaste by regulatory bodies.