Toothpaste has an Expiration Date

By: Kaitlyn Meyer, Aspiring Dental Hygienist
Toothpaste has an expiration date? This may not be much of a surprise, but if you are like me, I tend to buy toothpaste in bulk and not pay much attention to the expiration dates. Why does the expiration date matter?

The American Dental Association reports that the cavity-fighting ingredient found within most toothpastes, called fluoride, is active for up to two years from the date of manufacture. After two years, fluoride will no longer bond to and strengthen the enamel. Therefore, it is recommended to keep toothpaste only within the shelf-life for the best oral care, and to discontinue use of any expired tubes. The expiration date can be found on the crinkled edge of the tube.

[Edited by: Carly Peterschmidt, DMD]

Sources:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/toothpaste

https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/toothpastes