We cleaned out my grandma’s house after she moved to an assisted living place. She had a drawer full of toothbrushes and travel size toothpaste that she said she got from the dentist. She got a small box of toothpaste every time she went to the dentist. There are probably 50 to 70 tubes of toothpaste. She was just saving them but never used them. My sister put them in a bag and said we can use them or give them away. I think they are no good, but my sister says toothpaste doesn’t go bad. Is that true? Thanks. Avis
Avis – Toothpaste has an expiration date. You should be able to see a date on the box or on the lower edge of the tube.
The expiration date is approximately two years after it’s manufactured. You can still use the toothpaste, but it won’t be as effective—particularly if the toothpaste contains fluoride. As the toothpaste ages, the binding agent that helps fluoride stick to your teeth starts to crystallize and the fluoride separates from it. You might find that the consistency of the toothpaste is different, that the toothpaste doesn’t squeeze out as easily, or that it doesn’t foam in your mouth.
You can check the dates of the toothpaste and determine whether or not you want to use it. You can also look online for practical uses of toothpaste, other than brushing your teeth, and determine if you want to keep it.
According to an online Readers Digest article, non-gel toothpaste can clean:
- Crayon from walls
- Ink or lipstick stains from fabric
- Scuffs from shoes
- Piano keys
- Sneakers
- Clothes iron
- Diamond rings
- Bathroom and kitchen chrome
And it can be used to:
- Remove watermarks from furniture
- Prevent goggles from fogging
- Prevent bathroom mirrors from fogging
- Clear up pimples
- Clean smells from hands
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.