Tom's of Maine Whole Care Fluoride Toothpaste - Spearmint || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

TOM'S OF MAINE WHOLE CARE FLUORIDE TOOTHPASTE - SPEARMINT

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

SCORE

moderate hazard (out of 10)

72%

data gap

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15% of tooth whitenings have lower concerns
17% 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, Persistence and bioaccumulation, 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 Ingredient: Sodium Monofluorophosphate (0.13% w/v Fluoride Ion). Inactive Ingredients: Glycerin, water, calcium carbonate, hydrated silica, xylitol, carrageenan (Chondrus crispus), spearmint (Mentha viridis) leaf oil and peppermint (Mentha piperita) oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, zinc citrate trihydrate, sodium bicarbonate.

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 of age: 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 (Active Ingredient)	6	69%	Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Violations, restrictions & warnings, Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
ZINC CITRATE TRIHYDRATE	2	80%	Allergies/immunotoxicity, Persistence and bioaccumulation
CARRAGEENAN	2	75%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Contamination concerns (DEGRADED CARRAGEENAN), Biochemical or cellular level changes
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL	3	73%	Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (LIMONENE, MENTHOL, MENTHONE)
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE	3	68%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
SODIUM BICARBONATE	2	80%	none identified
HYDRATED SILICA	2	79%	Persistence and bioaccumulation
GLYCERIN	2	74%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL	1	88%	Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
XYLITOL	1	88%	none identified
CALCIUM CARBONATE	1	87%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Occupational hazards
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 SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, GLYCERIN
Not likely to be carcinogenic in humans		CARRAGEENAN
Cancer - not classifiable/not likely to be human carcinogen		HYDRATED SILICA

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, SODIUM BICARBONATE, ZINC CITRATE TRIHYDRATE
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

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, SODIUM BICARBONATE
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at high doses		GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		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

Allergies/immunotoxicity*

*This table includes all possible allergies/immunotoxicity 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)
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity		ZINC CITRATE TRIHYDRATE

Persistence and bioaccumulation*

*This table includes all possible persistence and bioaccumulation 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 suspected to be persistent		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife		ZINC CITRATE TRIHYDRATE
Persistent, bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans		HYDRATED SILICA

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, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL
One or more animal studies show cardiovascular effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		SODIUM BICARBONATE,
One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		ZINC CITRATE TRIHYDRATE
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		SODIUM BICARBONATE, GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at low doses		MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, CALCIUM CARBONATE
One or more animal studies show skin irritation at very low doses		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

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		SODIUM MONOFLUOROPHOSPHATE, HYDRATED SILICA
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product		SODIUM BICARBONATE
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		XYLITOL, ZINC CITRATE TRIHYDRATE, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, 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 high doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		XYLITOL, GLYCERIN, SODIUM BICARBONATE
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 very low doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		CARRAGEENAN