Tom's of Maine Natural Care Fluoride Toothpaste, Anticavity, Spearmint || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

TOM'S OF MAINE NATURAL CARE FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE, ANTICAVITY, SPEARMINT

last updated: 02/01/08 brand: Tom's of Maine by Colgate-Palmolive Company

SCORE

moderate hazard (out of 10)

71%

data gap

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16% of toothpastes have lower concerns

COMPANY POLICIES

Compact for Safe Cosmetics
Non-compliant: This company has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and made progress toward compliance, but has not met all requirements: they have not yet fully listed all ingredients on product labels.

Animal Testing Policy
This company does not test on animals.

Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to one or more ingredients in this product -- not the product itself -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.

Ingredients in this product are linked to:
	Cancer
	Developmental/reproductive toxicity
	Violations, restrictions & warnings
	Allergies/immunotoxicity
	Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards, Biochemical or cellular level changes

Ingredients from packaging: Active: Sodium Monofluorophosphate (Fluorspar [Calcium Fluoride], an Ore). Calcium Carbonate (Purified Calcium Bicarbonate), Water (Maine Aquifer), Glycerin (Vegetable Oils), Xylitol (Birch Trees), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Derived from Coconut Oil), Spearmint and Peppermint Oils (Spearmint and Peppermint Leaves), Carrageenan (Seaweed).

Directions from packaging: Adults and children 2 years of age and older: Brush teeth thoroughly, preferably after each meal or at least twice a day, or as directed by a dentist or doctor. Instruct children under 6 years of age in good brushing and rinsing habits (to minimize swallowing), Supervise children as necessary until capable of using without supervision. Children under 2 years: Consult a dentist or doctor, Children under 6: Use a pea sized amount.

Warnings from packaging: For external use only. Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE	6	69%	Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
CARRAGEENAN	2	75%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (DEGRADED CARRAGEENAN), Biochemical or cellular level changes
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL PEPPERMINT OILS (SPEARMINT	3	73%	Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (LIMONENE, MENTHOL, MENTHONE)
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (PLANT-DERIVED)	3	68%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
GLYCERIN	2	74%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
XYLITOL	1	88%	none identified
CALCIUM CARBONATE	1	87%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Occupational hazards
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) PEPPERMINT LEAVES)	1	75%	Enhanced skin absorption
MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT)	0	100%	none identified
WATER	0	0%	innocuous

Cancer*

*This table includes all possible cancer concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results		MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, GLYCERIN
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humans		CARRAGEENAN

Developmental/reproductive toxicity*

*This table includes all possible developmental/reproductive toxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at high doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses		GLYCERIN
Human nervous system toxicant - moderate evidence		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE

Violations, restrictions & warnings*

*This table includes all possible violations, restrictions & warnings concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Use is restricted in Canadian cosmetics		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE
Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications		MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT)

Neurotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible neurotoxicity concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses		XYLITOL, GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, CARRAGEENAN
Strong evidence of human neurotoxicity		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE

Endocrine disruption*

*This table includes all possible endocrine disruption concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show endocrine system disruption at high doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, GLYCERIN

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)*

*This table includes all possible organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		XYLITOL, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show sense organ effects at very low doses	products for use around the eyes, mouth, or lips	CALCIUM CARBONATE
One or more animal studies show kidney or renal system effects at very low doses		GLYCERIN, SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE, CARRAGEENAN

Ecotoxicology*

*This table includes all possible ecotoxicology concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Suspected to be an environmental toxin		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)*

*This table includes all possible irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at moderate doses		GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses		CALCIUM CARBONATE

Data gaps*

*This table includes all possible data gaps concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		XYLITOL, SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT), GLYCERIN, CARRAGEENAN, CALCIUM CARBONATE

Occupational hazards*

*This table includes all possible occupational hazards concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to moderate doses		GLYCERIN, CALCIUM CARBONATE
Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE

Biochemical or cellular level changes*

*This table includes all possible biochemical or cellular level changes concerns for the ingredients used by this manufacturer. Some categorizations depend on how the product is used or formulated.

type of concern	product conditions	ingredient(s)
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at very low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		CARRAGEENAN
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at moderate doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		GLYCERIN, XYLITOL