Check Your Toothpaste: Expiration Dates and What to Know

At Access Dental Care in Reno, we want you to know that we have your best interests at heart, especially when it comes to your teeth and gums. With that being said, did you know that your toothpaste can expire?

Wait, what? Yes, that is right. Toothpaste does have an expiration date and you need to check your tube now. Most people simply assume that toothpaste is a non-perishable item, but it is not. But, what really happens when you use expired toothpaste?

We know what you are thinking, maybe your teeth fall out or maybe your enamel will come off your teeth. It is not THAT bad. In fact, the toothpaste just won’t be as effective as it is supposed to be. Basically all of the claims made on the tube are no longer active once the paste is expired.

Any and all toothpaste that makes claims to contain fluoride MUST have an expiration date per the American Dental Association or ADA. If you find that your toothpaste tube does not contain a date of expiration, you should estimate its shelf life to be approximately two years.

Once the expiration date has passed, you can use it, but at Access Dental Care in Reno, we do not recommend it. In fact, the toothpaste will not work and will provide poor performance, which means that it will not clean your teeth properly.

You may notice that when you attempt to squeeze out expired toothpaste, it will separate or it may be much runnier than normal. While you may not notice an odd taste, toothpaste that is well past its expiration will have an odd taste.

The good thing here is that expired toothpaste does NOT provide any type of health risk to you, so if you do use it, you do not need to head to the emergency room – simply throw out the toothpaste.

You may be wondering how exactly you can avoid expired toothpaste and we have some tips to guide you. For starters, make sure that you purchase a trusted brand name that you know and love. If the brand manufacturer has a good rating and is well-known, you can likely trust them.

Next, check the tube for some type of date. Whether expiration or manufacture date, you can easily tell when the toothpaste will expire.

Lastly, look to see if the toothpaste contains any fluoride in it. You do want to use one that does, but if you choose a brand that does not, you do not have to worry as much about the expiration date, just remember to use it within two years.

When it comes down to it, make sure you check the dates on your tube of toothpaste. If you have purchased an expired toothpaste, take it back to the store and alert the company that they have ineffective toothpaste on the shelf.

If you do not feel confident when purchasing a tube of toothpaste, do not buy it and move on to the next brand. You also want to pay attention to toothpastes that claim to whiten or ones with anti-tartar and cavity protection as these can remove enamel from your teeth.

Remember, it is important to have a healthy mouth and clean teeth. Check the tube and know that your Reno, NV toothpaste is not expired.

If you have any questions about your toothpaste, contact the team at Access Dental Care in Reno today.