Tom's of Maine Natural Anti-Plaque plus Whitening Clear Gel Toothpaste, Peppermint (old formulation) || Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Reviews

TOM'S OF MAINE NATURAL ANTI-PLAQUE PLUS WHITENING CLEAR GEL TOOTHPASTE, PEPPERMINT (OLD FORMULATION)

last updated: 05/01/06 brand: Tom's of Maine by Colgate-Palmolive Company

SCORE

low hazard (out of 10)

75%

data gap

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8% of tooth whitenings have lower concerns
12% 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: Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards

Ingredients from packaging: WATER, GLYCERIN, WITCH HAZEL (NON-ALCOHOLIC), ALOE VERA JUICE, POLOXAMER 335, CINNAMON & PEPPERMINT OIL (W/ OTHER NATURAL FLAVORS), ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C). DIRECTIONS: BRUSH THOROUGHLY, PREFERABLY AFTER EACH MEAL BUT AT LEAST TWICE A DAY, OR AS DIRECTED BY A DENTIST OR PHYSICIAN. WARNINGS: KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OF AGE. IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOW MORE THAN USED FOR BRUSHING, CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER IMMEDIATELY OR SEEK PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE

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

Warnings from packaging: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age.

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ingredients

	score	data gap	concerns
UNSPECIFIED FLAVOR OTHER FLAVORS	4	100%	Miscellaneous
POLOXAMER 335	2	82%	Persistence and bioaccumulation, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL	3	73%	Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns (LIMONENE, MENTHOL, MENTHONE)
GLYCERIN	2	74%	Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Occupational hazards
HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) WITCH HAZEL (NON-ALCOHOLIC)	1	97%	none identified
ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)	1	91%	none identified
CINNAMOMUM CASSIA (CINNAMON) LEAF OIL CINNAMON OIL	1	88%	Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) JUICE	1	73%	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		ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), GLYCERIN
One or more in vitro tests non-mammalian cells show positive mutation results		CINNAMOMUM CASSIA (CINNAMON) LEAF OIL, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL)

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 moderate doses		GLYCERIN,
One or more animal studies show any effects at moderate doses		ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) JUICE

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		MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) JUICE

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		POLOXAMER 335, GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show brain and nervous system effects at moderate doses		MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL

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		GLYCERIN

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 bioaccumulative		POLOXAMER 335

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 kidney or renal system effects at very low doses		GLYCERIN
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses		POLOXAMER 335
One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL
One or more animal studies show cardiovascular effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient)		CINNAMOMUM CASSIA (CINNAMON) LEAF OIL

Miscellaneous*

*This table includes all possible miscellaneous 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)
Ingredient not fully labeled - identity unknown		UNSPECIFIED FLAVOR

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		POLOXAMER 335

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		CINNAMOMUM CASSIA (CINNAMON) LEAF OIL

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)
Safety assessment was based on related chemical		ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review		POLOXAMER 335
Safety assessment was based on related chemical		POLOXAMER 335
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		POLOXAMER 335
Missing safety data noted by cosmetic industry review		ALOE BARBADENSIS (ALOE VERA) JUICE
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		ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Not assessed for safety in cosmetics by industry panel		UNSPECIFIED FLAVOR, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL), GLYCERIN, CINNAMOMUM CASSIA (CINNAMON) LEAF OIL

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

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