Total Toothpaste
Toothpaste formulation has lower concern for PFAS contamination.
Colgate Total is a conventional toothpaste with standard mineral and cellulose ingredients. No PFAS-associated coatings, treatments, or claims found; brand offers no PFAS disclosure.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
silica, calcium carbonate, sorbitol, sodium fluoride, cellulose
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Total Toothpaste is made of, ingredients and materials
Colgate Total contains silica and calcium carbonate as the primary abrasive agents, which are common low-concern minerals in toothpaste formulations. Sorbitol serves as a humectant to retain moisture; sodium fluoride is the active fluoride compound at a standard therapeutic dose. Cellulose acts as a binder. None of these ingredients are known to leach or degrade into toxic byproducts during normal use in the mouth.
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 systemic dose (ingestion risk)
Sodium fluoride at therapeutic concentration is low concern at label-directed dosage; risk is primarily ingestion of large amounts by young children. This is a category-wide concern for all fluoride toothpastes, not specific to Colgate Total.
Allergic reaction to flavor or minor ingredients
Toothpaste flavoring and surfactants can trigger sensitivity in susceptible individuals, but this is not specific to Colgate Total and is a category-wide consideration. Ingredient transparency on the label allows pre-use screening.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Abrasive wear on tooth enamel
Silica and calcium carbonate are standard mild abrasives; no evidence that Colgate Total causes abnormal enamel erosion at normal brushing intensity. Individual susceptibility varies with brushing force and frequency.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-releasing preservatives or suspected formaldehyde donors are listed in Colgate Total's known ingredient set. Standard toothpaste preservative systems in this product carry no established concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Silica and calcium carbonate sourcing in major brands like Colgate is subject to FDA oversight for contaminants; no recalls or contamination events for Total toothpaste are on record. Standard QA applies.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Colgate is a major multinational oral care manufacturer with longstanding FDA compliance in the US market. The brand does not publicly disclose a detailed PFAS stance, though available evidence suggests the formulation itself carries lower concern for PFAS contamination. No significant product recalls or safety controversies specific to Total toothpaste's base formulation are on record.
How it compares in its category
Colgate Total is a mainstream fluoride toothpaste with a decades-long safety profile. It sits in the middle of the category, more heavily regulated and ingredient-transparent than budget brands, but without the premium or specialty positioning that often drives marketing around 'natural' or 'sensitivity' claims. The mineral abrasive system is typical for standard paste formulations.
If you buy it
Use as directed on the label; standard toothpaste application (pea-sized amount for adults, grain of rice for young children under 3) minimizes ingestion risk. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat; toothpaste does not require special maintenance. Replace the tube when empty or if the contents separate visibly. Do not use if you have known allergies to any listed ingredient.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% 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 Total Toothpaste?
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.
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.