Colgate Cavity Protection Fluoride Toothpaste, Great Regular Mint Flavor, 3 Pack, 6 oz
Lower concern. Standard toothpaste without known PFAS-risk ingredients.
Colgate's regular fluoride toothpaste contains common cosmetic ingredients with no known PFAS formulations. No brand disclosure on PFAS, but product category poses minimal fluorochemical risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
water, calcium carbonate, sorbitol, silica, cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium fluoride
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What Colgate Cavity Protection Fluoride Pack, is made of, ingredients and materials
This toothpaste is a water-based paste containing calcium carbonate (mild abrasive), silica (polishing agent), sodium lauryl sulfate (foaming detergent), sorbitol (sweetener), and sodium fluoride (0.24% fluoride ion, typical cavity-protection level). Cellulose acts as a binder. No coating, enamel, or ceramic components are present, eliminating concerns tied to glazes or surface degradation. The formula is designed for ingestion in small amounts during normal use, a key safety distinction from other cosmetics.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Fluoride toxicity (systemic, from ingestion)
Sodium fluoride is the active ingredient and is low concern at 0.24% in toothpaste under supervised use. Risk arises only if large quantities are swallowed, particularly in young children. This is not a product defect but a use-dependent hazard managed by age-appropriate guidance and packaging warnings.
Fragrance allergens (mint flavor)
The formulation includes mint flavoring, which may contain natural or synthetic menthol and essential oil derivatives. While broadly recognized as low concern for oral use, individuals with known mint or menthol sensitivity may experience mild irritation or contact allergy on lips or gums. Not disclosed at the component level on typical packaging.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) irritation
SLS is approved for oral use at this concentration by FDA OTC standards. No recalls or substantiated complaints of mouth irritation specific to this Colgate formulation are on record. Individuals with existing oral ulcers or sensitive mucosa may experience mild temporary irritation, a known property of the ingredient, not a product failure.
Heavy metals
Calcium carbonate and silica are inorganic minerals with no known lead, cadmium, or chromium contamination reported in Colgate toothpaste products. Neither ingredient requires special processing that would introduce metal impurities.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
The stated ingredient list does not include formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers (e.g., imidazolidinyl urea, dmdm hydantoin), or other known formalin-based preservatives. Toothpaste shelf stability is maintained through the paste matrix and low water activity rather than formaldehyde.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate-Palmolive has a long history of FDA compliance for toothpaste and publishes ingredient lists on packaging. The brand maintains no known major recalls or regulatory actions specific to this fluoride cavity-protection line. Colgate does not voluntarily disclose PFAS testing data or commitments, though no PFAS-risk ingredients are identified in the stated formulation. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a recognized safe-for-oral-use detergent at this concentration, per FDA OTC monograph.
How it compares in its category
Cavity-protection fluoride toothpastes are a mature, heavily regulated category. This product sits in the mainstream segment; ingredient profiles across major brands (Crest, Sensodyne, store brands) are chemically similar, all using approved abrasives, detergents, and fluoride salts. Colgate's formulation reflects standard practice and carries no distinguishing toxicological red flags relative to peers. Alternatives with charcoal, essential oils, or whitening agents may introduce additional processing but do not reduce core safety concerns here.
If you buy it
Use as directed, brush twice daily, spit out excess, and limit ingestion, especially for children under six, for whom fluoride overdose is a real concern. Store at room temperature in a sealed tube to prevent drying. Do not expose to prolonged heat (e.g., car dashboards) as it may affect consistency but not safety. Replace when depleted or if tube is damaged. No special maintenance is required between uses.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 85% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Colgate has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Colgate Cavity Protection Fluoride Toothpaste, Great Regular Mint Flavor, 3 Pack, 6 oz?
Tom's of Maine
Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque and Whitening Fluoride Free Toothpaste, Peppermint, 2 Pack, 4.5 Oz
- toothpaste base, mineral silica, essential oils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- water, saponified oils, essential oils, minerals
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fragrance/essential oil sensitization (peppermint)
- fluoride, glycerin, sorbitol, silica, cellulose gum
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Fluoride ingestion toxicity
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More toothpaste grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.