Our take
Why It’s on Our Radar
The current Colgate Total no longer contains triclosan (reformulated 2019). We flag the historical triclosan formula for the endocrine and antibiotic-resistance concerns that drove the change.
What's inside
Ingredients & Safety
The original formula paired fluoride with triclosan (removed 2019), plus sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and synthetic blue dye.
Worth a closer look — 3 ingredients we flag:
Triclosan
Antibacterial agent linked to hormone disruption, banned in many products.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — sometimes listed as SLS
Strong surfactant linked to skin irritation, strips natural oils.
FD&C Blue 1 — sometimes listed as Blue 1
A synthetic petroleum-derived certified color (a "lake" pigment) used to shade lip and cheek makeup; clean formulas replace it with mineral or plant pigments and some batches can carry trace heavy-metal impurities.
Full Ingredient List
- Sodium Fluoride
- Triclosan Caution
- Water also listed as Aqua, Purified Water
- Sorbitol
- Hydrated Silica
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate also listed as SLS Caution
- Flavor
- Sodium Saccharin
- Titanium Dioxide also listed as Non-Nano Titanium Dioxide, CI 77891
- FD&C Blue 1 also listed as Blue 1, CI 42090 Watch
Prefer a spotless pick? Davids in Oral Care is Clean Verified — every ingredient clean, with no recalls or lawsuits on record.
Who owns it
Ownership & Independence
Colgate Total is a Colgate-Palmolive product.
Where to buy
Key Products
- Colgate Total (original, triclosan) View on Amazon →
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