Times of India
17 April 2010
Ahmedabad, India

Consumer Education and Research Centre tested 18 variants of eight brands of toothpastes and found most of them flouting norms of warning about fluoride content, even in the toothpastes meant for children. Of the variants tested, 15 were for adults and three for children.

In the fluoridated toothpaste category, the maximum fluoride was found in Colgate Advanced Whitening (797 ppm) followed by Close Up (738 ppm). The minimum fluoride was found in Colgate Super Shakti Dental Cream (527 ppm).

At a press meet on Friday, trustee of CERC CJ Shishoo said, “Fluoride at low concentrations (0.3–0.4ppm) in water is essential for formation and strengthening of dental enamel, especially for children, but at concentrations above 1.5 ppm, it can be toxic, cumulative and a serious health hazard.”

He added that in India, since there were many sources of fluoride, especially in Gujarat, where 18 of 26 districts reported endemic fluorosis, there was no need for extra fluoride consumption.

“Dabur, which manufactures non–flouridated toothpastes, has captured only 10 per cent share in the Indian market. Colgate and HUL (Pepsodent) must not thrust flouridated toothpastes on Indian population who are already victims of fluorosis, without giving them other alternatives. The current specified limit of not more than 1,000 ppm fluoride should be brought down to 500 ppm,” added Shishoo.

The tests also found that Colgate was the only brand that mentions directions for use in the case of children.