Colgate Total Antibacterial & Whitening Toothpaste Ingredients

Both the Food and Drug Administration and the American Dental Association recommend Colgate Total toothpaste. One reason is that this was the first toothpaste to contain the antibacterial ingredient triclosan, which has been proven effective in combating gum disease. Triclosan and sodium fluoride are the only active ingredients in this toothpaste.

Triclosan

• Triclosan is the ingredient that gives Colgate Total toothpaste its antibacterial properties. Triclosan has been proven effective at killing the bacteria that can lead to gingivitis. Toothpastes containing triclosan are not recommended for children under 6 because they have not been tested on young children.

  There is some concern that triclosan could cause cancer, but there are no known cases to support this. The concern is based on when triclosan is mixed with chlorinated water in a laboratory setting it produces chloroform gas, which is considered a probable carcinogen. The risk has not been deemed great enough to ban its use.

Fluoride

• Fluoride is an anticavity ingredient. The form used in Colgate Total toothpaste is sodium fluoride. The American Dental Association's rules about whether a toothpaste is considered clinically effective relates to whether the toothpaste contains fluoride. If it does, the ADA considers it clinically effective. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities by strengthening tooth enamel.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

• Sodium lauryl sulfate is an inactive ingredient found in Colgate Total. It is a chemical compound that acts as a foaming agent. It is also found in shampoos and detergents. Those with sensitive mouths may find the compound to be an irritant in toothpaste.

  Like triclosan, there a concerns that sodium lauryl sulfate can cause cancer, but the very small quantity that is in toothpastes is considered safe and has been rated non-carcinogenic by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Toxicology Program.

Saccharin

• Saccharin is another inactive ingredient in Colgate Total. It is an artificial sweetener that is used to help give the toothpaste a pleasant taste. There is some controversy surrounding saccharin, as it has been found to cause bladder cancer in laboratory rats. Rather than ban its use, the FDA requires that products containing saccharin are labeled to show this risk. The amount in toothpaste is very small, and since the toothpaste is spit out rather than swallowed, it should pose little or no risk to consumers.