The main purpose of toothpaste is to clean and provide fluoride to protect the teeth from decay, according to Hcd2.bupa.co.uk. Today's toothpastes contain a variety of active ingredients to protect the teeth from decay and sensitivity, to whiten the teeth and prevent bad breath, also called halitosis. Colgate Palmolive Company is one of many companies that provide dental care products to the consumer.
History
William Colgate pioneered the Colgate Company in 1806. In 1873, the first Colgate toothpaste, an aromatic dental cream, was sold in jars. In 1896, Colgate Company ushered in the first collapsible packaged dental cream. By 1932, Colgate toothpaste became the first oral care product to win the Golden Medal authorized by the American Dental Association, according to Colgate.51jobs.com.
Significance
In 1998, Colgate Total toothpaste was launched. Colgate Total toothpaste contains Triclosan, an antibacterial agent that actively works up to 12 hours after use. Triclosan works to fight bacteria and prevent or reduce bad breath. Colgate Total toothpaste was the first to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and to be accepted by the American Dental Association to fight plaque and gingivitis, according to DentalGentleCare.com.
Ingredients
The active ingredients in Colgate Total toothpaste are sodium fluoride, 0.24 percent, and Triclosan, 0.30 percent. The inactive ingredients are hydrated silica, water and glycerin, flavor and sorbitol, PVM/MA or poly vinyl methyl ether maleic anhydride copolymer, sodium lauryl sulfate, cellulose gum, sodium hydroxide, propylene glycol, along with carrageenan, sodium saccharin and titanium dioxide. This combination of ingredients helps Colgate Total toothpaste to fight bacteria and prevent tooth decay.
Types
Colgate has 13 types of toothpaste available. They are: Colgate Total Advanced, Colgate Total, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate Sensitive, Colgate Tar Tar Protection, Colgate Cavity Protection, Ultra Brite, Colgate ProClinical, Colgate Luminus, Colgate 2 in 1, Colgate Sparkling White, Colgate Baking Soda and Peroxide Whitening Oxygen Bubbles and Kids Toothpastes.
Warning
An FDA report for July 25, 2010, states that the Office of Regulatory Affairs conducted field exams in 2008 to monitor the safety of products being imported into the United States. They found 518,000 tubes of counterfeit toothpaste that failed to contain fluoride and in some cases contained microorganisms, such as bacillus spores and diethylene glycol, a product used as a coolant for hydraulics and brake fluids. Two individuals and two corporations pleaded guilty in New York to charges of trafficking in counterfeit Colgate toothpaste from China.
If you suspect that you have a counterfeit product, do not use it. Visit the FDA's website, www.fda.gov, for more information or call Colgate's customer service line at 1-800-468-6502.
