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Everyone’s Complaining About Toothpaste!

Over the past several months, we have received more complaints about toothpaste than any other product category.

The first complaints are about the consistency getting thinner.

I believe that toothpaste has been diluted from how I remember it to be. My recollection is having to use some effort squeezing the paste out of the tube. Now it seems like it’s barely a paste… –Ralph

CREST toothpaste pro-health 4.6 oz doesn’t say PASTE anymore and its consistency is more liquid and diluted than before. –Danilo D.

And of course, there are examples of shrinkflation.

*MOUSE PRINT:

We had purchased a multi-pack of Crest brand toothpaste at Costco, probably over a year ago. We did so again recently. Note the difference in net weight. –Paul R.

Crest shrinks

Verner E. also had a complaint about the new smaller Crest tubes from Costco.

I purchased a package of 5 tubes from Costco. When I used the first tube it felt like there was a lot of air in it. Same with the 2nd tube. The next tube I did an experiment by weighing the full tube and then subtracting the weight of an empty tube. I discovered that the contents only weighed 4.5 oz. while the tube advertises a net 5.2 oz. This is only 86.5 % of what is advertised on the tube. I called P&G to notify them of this rip-off but all they wanted to do was send me a coupon .

Here are additional “more air in tubes, less paste” complaints.

The photo attached is of a Crest Toothpaste tube after one squeeze which released about a pea sized amount of paste. It took many squeezes to get the toothpaste to the opening. Apparently the top third was filled with air. –CV

Crest empty space

When half used, you will notice air pocket in center of tube. — Kevin & Margaret C.

I’ll add my own complaint about a sample of Crest Gum Detoxify that I got from my dentist. It made the soft bristles on my toothbrush stiff!

We asked P&G, the maker of Crest, to comment on these complaints, but they did not.

Feel free to chime in with your toothpaste gripes in the comments.

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24 thoughts on “Everyone’s Complaining About Toothpaste!”

  1. I totally agree. I found this tip to get more out of the tube: slit it open. On top of everything the “new” tubes leave a lot unused. It’s a bit messy, but store it in a small plastic bag.

  2. Your commenter above that weighed the “empty” tube may not have taken into consideration what remains in the tube when we think it is empty.

    I now cut the perceived “empty” tube open. The cut is about 1″ above the cap and done after I have rubbed all the remaining contents down to the cap area. It always amazes me how much is left in there — at least ten days of brushing (twice a day, one person) remains in the tube.

    I put a small bathroom paper cup over the opening to keep it from drying out and to keep it sanitary. I use my own toothbrush to wipe out a bit each time I brush my teeth. (The cut-open-tube is not shared with anyone else.)

    Hopefully this frugal tip with help others.

  3. I use Parodontax, so I’ve just submitted to the idea that I’m going to be over charged and under-delivered on toothpaste. I would recommend everyone get a toothpaste roller though. I’ve never used Crest, nor bought toothpaste at Costco, so I couldn’t say for sure on that.

  4. The toothpaste doesn’t seem to mix well or effervesce. A chunk of “paste” always comes out of the toothbrush at the end of my tooth-brushing regime. What a waste.

  5. I’ve noticed that new Crest tubes are smaller, feel lighter, have a lot of air in them, and the toothpaste is watery. Plus there’s barely a feeling of freshness after brushing. After a cleaning visit, my dentist has recommended switching to a different toothpaste.

  6. Traditionally, I used Colgate toothpaste, but I decided to try Crest a few years ago for some forgotten reason. Crest caused an allergic red, itchy rash whenever it dribbled down my arm. I returned the tube and the customer service rep told me the same thing happened to her.

    Also, it should be noted that Colgate uses titanium dioxide as a whitener, which has recently been linked to cancer. I stopped using Colgate.

  7. I just noticed this week, before I saw this story, that the toothpaste tube I just opened seemed a lot smaller so I compared it to the outgoing tube and it was the same size. I thought it was just me. It must have been happening for a while.

  8. The small print on the back of tubes of Colgate toothpaste under Other Information says “products containing stannous fluoride may produce surface staining of the teeth. Adequate toothbrushing may prevent these stains which are not harmful or permanent and may be removed by your dentist”. Why should a product made to clean your teeth stain them? Maybe to sell more product?

    • Fluoride helps prevent cavities. The key word in that warning you’re fixating on is “may”. If there is the slightest chance that this might happen to some person under some set of circumstances they have to list it as a possibility. That doesn’t mean that it’s a common occurrence. How many years have you been using fluoride toothpaste? Has it stained your teeth? Probably not. Has it helped you prevent cavities? Probably. If you are really worried about it there are non-fluoride toothpastes on the market that you can switch to. Perhaps the higher dentist bills will be worth the peace of mind.

  9. I use Colgate Sensitive. The new tube is stiffer so when I use my tube roller to squeeze out as much toothpaste as possible, it won’t stay rolled up. It also seems to have more air in it.

  10. P&G did the same shrinkflation with Old Spice deodorant – .25 oz less in new packaging🙄

  11. I guess I’m lucky I use Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. I haven’t noticed a difference in its consistency.

  12. For the past year, I’ve noticed these changes in the toothpaste consistency, meaning more air pockets and runnier product, as well as smaller amounts in the tubes.

    Why is it that in an effort to keep the shareholders happy, the only remedy these companies come up with is to cheat the consumer? Do they really think we’re not going to notice that the product has been diluted, or that the package is smaller. The price is the same, or higher, though. Odd, isn’t it?

  13. I just bought Colgate from Costco and it’s full of air and you need both hands to squeeze it out which makes a mess. The tube won’t roll up either so the air stays in. Need to find a different brand. Not Crest. I tried that and lost my sense of taste. I didn’t know it was the toothpaste till I ran across an article online. My taste came back a week or so after I stopped using it.

  14. My toothpaste gripes include not only what has already been discussed, but I do believe the holes in the tubes have been made larger over the years too, so more of it comes out than you need. Between that and the other issues it’s gotten so bad it’s like you’re getting half the toothpaste you used to get and wasting what you do get. I’m finding that I have to buy two tubes to last me as long as one used to 20 years ago and I can’t find any large sized tubes that were as big as they were back then.

  15. Perhaps I just haven’t been observant enough, but I haven’t noticed any of these issues with the toothpaste I use. I have not used Crest for many years so I can’t speak to that. My usual toothpaste is Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Fluoride gel which I highly recommend. Not only does it leave a nice taste in my mouth, but it cost about half of what the other Colgate toothpastes cost and is often on sale making it even cheaper. Occasionally I suffer from tooth sensitivity and then I use Colgate Sensitive gel. I have no complaints about that other than the price. If the toothpastes have become thinner or the tubes filled with more air or the openings become larger I haven’t noticed and I do tend to be somewhat persnickety about these sort of things. I have not noticed any problem with squeezing out just the amount I want and no more. Also I’m one of those people who will continue to squeeze every last bit of paste out of the tube way past the point that most people would have tossed it and I haven’t noticed any change there.

  16. To tell you the truth, I see NO difference in different brands of toothpaste i.e. whitens teeth, strengthens enamel, prevents decay, helps gums, relieves sensitivity etc. etc. etc. Have ANY of these claims been proven true? Are they worth the price?

  17. Same here- I bought the 5 pack of Crest from Costco. Didn’t have an old tube to compare sizing with but is currently 5.2oz. It didn’t click until I read this article that the toothpaste is definitely watered down. Drips out of the tube when I open it!

  18. Complaining to Costco would probably be more effective. Costco passing that on to P&G has more leverage than the consumer. They buy a lot more toothpaste than we do individually.

  19. You might also comment on the toothpaste ads which show, at least, four times the amount of toothpaste that is required to brush your teeth. No wonder you look like a rabid dog after brushing your teeth.

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