People are realising what the 'secret codes' on toothpaste actually symbolise

Yes, these coloured markings have a purpose!

2 min read

February 28, 2024 - 9:14AM

Lifestyle

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A conspiracy is circulating online that the coloured markings on the back of toothpaste tubes symbolise whether the product was made with natural or chemical ingredients.

If you don't know what we're talking about, go to your bathroom drawer now, turn your toothpaste over and look at the marking on the rigid part at the bottom of the tube.

You'll likely see one of four colours; black, green, red and blue.

The theory, circulated on TikTok, claims that green means the toothpaste is made from all-natural ingredients, blue means it's a mix of natural ingredients and medication, red marks show it contains both natural ingredients and chemical ingredients and black marked tubes contain only chemical ingredients.

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Image: @dentist.tasli,i

What the coloured marks on toothpaste mean

Users believe that only a select number of 'in-the-know' people, including dentists, are privy to this information, but it turns out the whole thing is completely unfounded.

Even dental professionals have come out to quash these rumours, including orthodontist @dr.natecoughlin.

"There's some claims that the marks all relate to what is actually in the toothpaste. When in reality toothpaste brands tell us that these little marks on the end are dyes that allow them to know when the cut is going to happen so that they actually make proper sized toothpaste tubes," he said.

The 'cuts' he's talking about refer to the machines in the toothpaste factories that cut the tubes to size.

Colgate responds saying they're not trying to trick consumers

Meanwhile, even Colgate joined the chat and confirmed that the marks have to do with the manufacturing process.

On their website, the company wrote: "The truth is: the toothpaste colour-coding system simply doesn’t exist. Oral care companies don’t mark their toothpaste with coloured squares to try to trick consumers and hide ingredients from them.

"We’re happy to report that they do, in fact, have a purpose! They actually help in the manufacturing of the toothpaste tubes by telling light sensors where the end of the tube is so that it can be cut and sealed properly.

"We know, it’s not as exciting as a secret code, but we think the truth is pretty cool too."

They encouraged people to look at the ingredients list on the back of the packaging if they wanted to find out what's in their toothpaste.

Case closed!