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

TOM'S OF MAINE NATURAL ANTIPLAQUE TOOTHPASTE, SPEARMINT

last updated: 03/15/09 brand: Tom's of Maine by Colgate-Palmolive Company

SCORE

low hazard (out of 10)

75%

data gap

BUY ONLINE/BETTER PRODUCTS

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6% 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: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards

Ingredients from packaging: CALCIUM CARBONATE, WATER, GLYCERIN, XYLITOL, SPEARMINT LEAF OIL (MENTHA VIRIDIS), PEPPERMINT OILS (MENTHA PIPERITA), CARRAGEENAN (CHONDRUS CRISPUS), SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, MYRRH (COMMIPHORA MYRRHA), PROPOLIS (PROPOLIS CERA)

Directions from packaging: Brush thoroughly, preferably after each meal but at least twice a day, or as directed by a dentist or physician.

user reviews & comments

snoopy99eb

"I decided to try this product because I couldn't find the SLS-free version in the stores near me. It is as effective as any other toothpaste I have us ..."

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL PEPPERMINT OILS (MENTHA PIPERITA)	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)
GLYCERIN	2	74%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
PROPOLIS	1	93%	none identified
MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL SPEARMINT LEAF OIL (MENTHA VIRIDIS)	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
COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (MYRRH) MYRRH (COMMIPHORA MYRRHA)	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 SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE, GLYCERIN

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

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

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		MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE

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, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) 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

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		PROPOLIS, 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		PROPOLIS, XYLITOL, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, GLYCERIN, COMMIPHORA MYRRHA (MYRRH), 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

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		GLYCERIN, XYLITOL
One or more animal studies show biochemical changes at moderate doses where the human health implications are not yet well understood		SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE