Is Triclosan Still in Toothpaste? Why the FDA Never Banned It There — and What Actually Made It Disappear
Last updated: 27 September 2026
The Ban Everyone Remembers Is Real — It's Just Not About Toothpaste
Search "is triclosan banned" and you'll find a genuine FDA rule, correctly reported, applied to the wrong product in half the headlines. Here's what actually happened.
Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal chemical that, as the Cleveland Clinic explains, works to "prevent or stop bacterial growth and contamination." Through the 1990s and 2000s it turned up everywhere — soaps, body washes, cosmetics, clothing, furniture, even kitchenware — typically at concentrations of "between 0.1% and 0.3%." At one point it was in roughly 40% of soaps sold in the US.
Then, in December 2016, the FDA issued a final rule on it — but read the rule's own description of its scope and the toothpaste question answers itself. The FDA's own Q&A on the rule states it covers "consumer antiseptic washes" — products "intended for use with water and are rinsed off after use, such as antibacterial soaps, antibacterial hand washes, and antibacterial body washes." The same document goes on to list what the rule doesn't touch: "consumer antiseptic rubs" such as hand sanitizers and antibacterial wipes, healthcare antiseptics, first-aid antiseptics, and food-industry antiseptics — all to be "addressed separately." Toothpaste isn't mentioned anywhere in the rule, in either direction, because it was never part of that regulatory category to begin with. Companies could no longer sell the soap; nothing in the same document said a word about the tube in your bathroom cabinet.
Two Different FDA Rulings — Not One
The cleanest way to see the mix-up is side by side. These are not competing opinions from two camps; they are two separate FDA regulatory tracks that happen to involve the same chemical.
| What was ruled on | Product category | FDA action | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTC antiseptic soaps & washes | Monograph drug (no individual approval needed, sold under a general OTC rule) | Manufacturers could no longer market them containing triclosan — the FDA said the safety and effectiveness case for daily antiseptic washing over plain soap and water hadn't been made | 2017 (rule issued Sept 2016) |
| Triclosan/fluoride toothpaste (e.g. Colgate Total's original formula) | Individually approved New Drug — NDA 020231 | Never withdrawn or banned. The FDA's own approval letter for a 2016 labeling supplement to this same product lists the active ingredients as "sodium fluoride, 0.24% and triclosan, 0.3%" — approved and current as of that letter | Original approval 1997; supplements continued through at least March 2016 |
Put plainly: the same year the soap rule made headlines, the FDA was still actively approving paperwork for a toothpaste that listed triclosan as an active ingredient. That is not a regulator quietly ignoring a banned substance — it is two different evidentiary standards for two different use cases, and the toothpaste one had already cleared its bar decades earlier.
What the Toothpaste-Specific Evidence Actually Showed
Colgate Total's triclosan formula wasn't approved on a shrug. Dental hygiene researcher Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD, FSCDH, summarizing the evidence base in Dimensions of Dental Hygiene, points to "more than 80 published clinical trials involving over 19,000 subjects" evaluating the product's safety and efficacy — an unusually deep evidence base for an OTC dentifrice. On the specific worries that circulate about the chemical, she notes that "triclosan does not accumulate in the blood or body tissues, and no adverse systemic effects have been documented," and that a four-year monitoring study "failed to produce any detectible effects on thyroid function" in users. She quotes the FDA's own 2013 position directly: "Triclosan in toothpaste has been shown to be effective in preventing gingivitis…use of Triclosan in that setting is safe and effective."
That is a genuinely different risk-benefit calculation than a daily antibacterial hand wash, where the FDA's soap ruling found no proof that triclosan out-performed ordinary soap and water for the average healthy person — meaning there was upside-free exposure with no demonstrated benefit. Toothpaste is the opposite case: a specific, measured concentration, applied for a defined therapeutic purpose, with a large trial base behind the approved claim.
None of that erases the concerns that drove scrutiny of triclosan generally. The Cleveland Clinic lists triclosan as "an endocrine-disrupting chemical" that can affect "proper hormone function," notes exposure "may make certain bacteria resistant to antibiotics," flags a possible role in "developing allergies and sensitivities," and cites animal studies showing a potential "decrease in certain thyroid hormones." Those are real, published concerns — they just come predominantly from a different exposure picture (chronic, low-dose, whole-population exposure across dozens of consumer and industrial products) than the specific toothpaste trials Spolarich describes. Both things are true at once: the toothpaste-specific trial record is unusually strong, and the chemical's broader safety profile still draws legitimate scientific attention. We'd rather show you both sides than pick the more dramatic one.
So Why Did It Disappear From US Shelves?
If it was never banned and the toothpaste-specific evidence held up in review after review, why can you no longer buy triclosan toothpaste in an American drugstore?
Because the company that made virtually the only one stopped selling it — for reasons it has never fully explained. Reporting from January 2019 covers Colgate's relaunch of Total without triclosan, and the notable thing is what Colgate didn't say. Asked directly "whether it was removing triclosan because of regulatory scrutiny or health concerns," spokesman Thomas DiPiazza simply didn't respond to the question. CEO Ian Cook's own explanation was entirely about new features, not safety: "The technologies in that product will see us replacing the ingredient we have in Total," adding benefits like "instant neutralization of odors to improve breath health" — reframed as a product upgrade, developed, the reporting says, over roughly ten years.
There's a precedent for reading this as a marketing and reputation decision rather than a safety finding. The same reporting notes Colgate had already pulled triclosan from its soaps back in 2011, "citing changing consumer preferences" — years before the FDA's 2016 soap rule made the ingredient a genuine regulatory liability there. And by the 2010s, competitor Procter & Gamble was actively marketing Crest as "triclosan free," turning the ingredient's absence into a selling point regardless of what the toothpaste-specific science said. Once the market leader's own hand-soap category had already gone triclosan-free for consumer-perception reasons, and a rival was campaigning against the ingredient by name, keeping it in a flagship toothpaste became a brand-risk question — separate from, and arguably larger than, the regulatory question the FDA had actually settled.
| Year | Event | Driven by |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Colgate removes triclosan from its soap line | Stated: "changing consumer preferences" — not a safety finding |
| 2013 | FDA states triclosan toothpaste is "safe and effective" for preventing gingivitis | Ongoing review of the toothpaste-specific trial record |
| Sept 2016 | FDA finalizes the ban on triclosan in OTC antiseptic washes | No proof of added benefit over plain soap and water for that use case |
| March 2016 | FDA approves a labeling supplement for Colgate Total still listing triclosan 0.3% as an active ingredient | Toothpaste NDA remained active and unaffected by the soap rule |
| Jan 2019 | Colgate relaunches Total reformulated without triclosan | Framed publicly as a features upgrade; company did not answer whether safety or scrutiny played a role |
| 2026 (current) | ADA states triclosan toothpaste is "no longer commercially available in the US" | Market withdrawal by the last major seller, not a subsequent regulatory ban |
Is It Really Gone? What to Actually Check
The most current, citable verdict comes from the American Dental Association's toothpaste guidance, which states plainly: "As of 2019, toothpaste containing triclosan is no longer commercially available in the US." That's about as clean a close to the story as you'll get from a single authority — but "no longer commercially available" describes the mainstream US retail market, not every tube that could conceivably still be on a shelf somewhere, and we haven't independently audited every current product label to confirm zero exceptions. If you want certainty on a specific tube in front of you rather than the market in general, the check is fast and doesn't require guesswork:
- Look for the Drug Facts box. Because triclosan toothpaste is regulated as an actual drug rather than a cosmetic, US law requires it to carry a Drug Facts panel listing "Active ingredient" by name and percentage — the same format you'd see on a pain reliever. If "Triclosan" doesn't appear there, it isn't in the tube.
- Check the full ingredient list too. Inactive ingredients are listed separately and in descending order of predominance; triclosan would appear as itself, not under another name.
- Don't assume from the brand name alone. "Colgate Total" today is not the same formula as "Colgate Total" in 2015. A product name surviving a reformulation is exactly why checking the label beats checking your memory.
If You'd Rather Skip Synthetic Antibacterials Altogether: Dental Pro 7
Dental Pro 7 was never a triclosan product and takes a fundamentally different approach to begin with. It's a 100% water-free botanical lipid concentrate, formulated by S. C. Aris, built around eleven named botanicals — including immortelle helichrysum, pomegranate seed, black cumin seed, wild clove and a peppermint–spearmint–wild mint freshness blend — rather than any synthetic antibacterial agent. There is no triclosan in it, no SLS or foaming agents, no fluoride, no preservatives or parabens, and no water at all.
The idea behind it is the Lipid-Lock mechanism: because the formula is water-free, it clings to the gum line for hours after brushing instead of rinsing away in seconds like a conventional paste or rinse — which is how it supports the appearance of firmer, pinker, healthier-looking gums and fresher breath over time. Use it in place of toothpaste: four drops on a dry toothbrush, brush gently for about two minutes, then spit — do not rinse with water, since rinsing washes the lipid layer straight off the gum line before it can do its work.
Dental Pro 7 is rated 4.9 out of 5 from 293 reviews, has sold more than 500,000 bottles, and carries a 90-day money-back guarantee. It's vegan, non-GMO, and free of the specific ingredient this article is about — but to be clear, it isn't a substitute for the cavity-prevention role fluoride plays, and it is a cosmetic product: it supports how your gum line looks and feels, and it is not a treatment for gingivitis, gum disease, or any diagnosed condition. If a dentist has recommended a specific therapeutic toothpaste for an active issue, follow that advice first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is triclosan banned by the FDA?
Only in one category: over-the-counter antiseptic washes such as antibacterial soaps and body washes, banned by a December 2016 FDA final rule that took effect the following year. That rule explicitly did not cover toothpaste, hand sanitizers, wipes, or healthcare and first-aid antiseptics — the FDA said those categories would be "addressed separately." Triclosan toothpaste was regulated on a completely different track, as an individually approved drug, and was never subject to the soap ban.
Is triclosan still legal in toothpaste?
Yes. The FDA never banned or withdrew approval for triclosan toothpaste. The FDA's own 2013 position, as summarized by dental hygiene researcher Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, was that "triclosan in toothpaste has been shown to be effective in preventing gingivitis…use of Triclosan in that setting is safe and effective." An FDA approval letter for Colgate Total dated March 2016 — the same year as the soap ban — still lists triclosan 0.3% as an approved active ingredient.
Can you still buy triclosan toothpaste in the US?
Not from mainstream retailers, as a practical matter. The American Dental Association states that "as of 2019, toothpaste containing triclosan is no longer commercially available in the US" — but that reflects Colgate's 2019 voluntary reformulation of Total, its last major triclosan toothpaste, not a subsequent legal ban. If you want to confirm a specific product, check its Drug Facts box for "Triclosan" listed as the active ingredient.
Why did Colgate remove triclosan if it wasn't banned?
Colgate has never given a clear safety-based reason. Reporting from the 2019 relaunch found the company's spokesperson did not answer directly when asked whether the change was about regulatory scrutiny or health concerns, and CEO Ian Cook described it only as a features upgrade adding new benefits. Colgate had already removed triclosan from its soap line in 2011 citing "changing consumer preferences," years before any soap-specific ban existed, which suggests brand and marketing pressure — not a new safety finding — as the more likely driver for the toothpaste change too.
Is triclosan toothpaste actually dangerous?
The evidence is genuinely two-sided, and both sides are worth knowing. The toothpaste-specific trial record is unusually deep — over 80 published clinical trials and 19,000-plus subjects, no detected blood or tissue accumulation, and a four-year study finding no measurable thyroid effect from dentifrice use. Separately, triclosan as a chemical class has drawn broader safety scrutiny: it's classed as an endocrine-disrupting chemical, has been linked to antibiotic-resistance concerns, and shows thyroid-hormone effects in some animal studies. Those broader concerns are largely why the ingredient became commercially unpopular, even though they were not what withdrew its toothpaste approval.
Does Dental Pro 7 contain triclosan?
No. Dental Pro 7 is a water-free botanical lipid concentrate built from eleven named plant actives with no synthetic antibacterial agent of any kind — and no SLS, fluoride, preservatives or parabens either. It's a cosmetic product that supports the appearance of healthy-looking gums; it isn't a treatment for gingivitis or gum disease.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic, "Triclosan: What It Is & Effects" (medically reviewed).
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration, "Consumer Antiseptic Wash Final Rule: Questions and Answers."
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Approval letter, NDA 020231 (Colgate Total), dated 24 March 2016; NDA history at Drugs@FDA.
- Spolarich AE, "Do we need to be concerned about triclosan in Colgate products?" Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.
- American Dental Association, "Toothpastes" (Oral Health Topics).
- The Jakarta Post (Bloomberg), "Colgate Total toothpaste to relaunch, this time sans triclosan" (16 January 2019).
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional dental or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. CallNature products are cosmetics and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have signs of gum disease or a dental concern, please see a dentist.