Don't buy toothpaste at DollarTree

[shatzjsl]

A story in our local paper last week said that the name brand toothpaste sold at DollarTree does not meet ADA requirements. It is made for other countries who do not limit flouride. Too much flouride can make children very ill.

I checked my tube and sure enough, it was made for South Africa.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Oh my! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[jizroc]

Thanks for the info. That is good to know.

 

[Naisy68]

Wow! That is VERY good to know because that IS something I would have bought there (especially if it was brand name.) I haven't bought it yet but I could see myself doing that and not reading the label. THANK YOU!

 

[Deb T.]

Wow - I'm surprised they can sell it here then. Thanks for the information!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by shatzjsl
A story in our local paper last week said that the name brand toothpaste sold at DollarTree does not meet ADA requirements. It is made for other countries who do not limit flouride. Too much flouride can make children very ill.

I checked my tube and sure enough, it was made for South Africa.

Only if they swallow it. Brushing with it causes no harm.

 

[ceecee]

You have to swallow (eat) a lot of fluoride to reach toxic levels. Crest and Colgate (all toothpaste with fl2) is toxic if eaten in excess.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, most dollar stores/salvage stores use product exports for stable shelf items.

I used to buy from a salvage store, and used exported products (cake mix from Jerusalem, Russian toothpaste, etc..) They were national brands (Duncan Hines, Crest, etc) and I was fine.

FLouride can kill anyone if ingested.

 

[Lewisc]

Many of the dollar type stores by me sell many items past the expiration date. I assume if the items with dates are old most of the other, undated, merchandise is also old.

Not a problem with paper goods that might be slightly yellowed but I don't think I'd buy asprin, sun tan lotion etc that are months past the expiration date.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I saw this on MSNBC not too long ago, too.

 

[poochie]

I checked the tube of toothpaste I got from Dollartree and no where on it is it marked another country?

 

[CheapMom]

I wish I knew which toothpaste had the high flouride content- I pay $10.00 per tube for prescription toothpaste with extra flouride because we are on well water here. The tube is tiny too- about the size of a travel tube.
Would love to pay $1.00 for a big tube of the stuff!

 

[rsschneck]

Gail is correct. Fluoride in higher concentrations should not be ingested. That is why your hygienist tells you not to swallow it. If it is swallowed your body within about 10 minutes will get ride of it ( Vomit).

Cindy B is incorrect. Fluoride cannot kill anyone. The amounts needed to kill people would be in such extreme doses. There has been no reported case of a death by fluoride to any person that I am aware of. Fluoride gets a bad wrap because of false statements. Fluoride is a necessary aid in the prevention of tooth decay.

shatzjsl Thanks for posting. For our use in this country always look for the ADA approval. I tell all my patients that because the approval tells us there has been testing done and the product is supposed to do what it states. There are products made and sold in this country that do not have the ADA approval. Many natural products like Toms of Maine (which is good). Pearl drops and Close-up to name a few. Check the labels and ask your Dental Professional if you have questions.

 

[jann1033]

about the past expiration date items...while drugs ect lose their effectiveness,in our area there was a big article recently that explained with food the expiration date is used to keep any "critter eggs" from hatching before the product is used...sick as that sounds I did inadvertantly buy a box of expired pancake mix and when i opened it bugs literally swarmed out of it ( those little flour beetles) disgusting to say the least!!! course we all "Know" they are allowed such and such% of bug parts, rodent droppings and ect, but I'd rather not "see" them in my pancakes! the company sent me a coupon for a new box btw which was nice of them since it was probably really the store's fault for not rotating their stock.