Expiration date on ... toothpaste???

[Muse]

I'm running low on toothpaste, and I'm in Costco today and they have lots of it in quantity. My dentist used to recommend Sensodyne, but that was a long time ago, maybe it had the most fluoride at the time, I think. In around 5 big tubes/package it's selling at $0.76/ounce, has 0.15% fluoride. Costco's own brand is in 6 tubes/package at $0.22/ounce, has the same 0.15% fluoride.

Both packs have expiration dates around 2 years out. I saw March 2017.

So, I'm thinking "why would toothpaste become less effective with time?" I figure 6 big tubes of that stuff would last me a really really long time. My dentist says to use the volume of 1/2 a pea.

 

[cpacini]

Expired tooth paste will make your gums rot and your teeth fall out, everyone knows this.

 

[Matthiasa]

Some of them will actually start to separate leaving it close to unusable. Otherwise given what is in them not much else can happen.

 

[lxskllr]

My toothpaste "expired" years ago. BigLots had Toms of Maine cheap, and I over-bought; probably 10 years ago. Looks fine, and tastes fine. It "expires" so you can buy more.

 

[sdifox]

you buy Sensodyne for the Potassium Nitrate, not Chloride. Chloride is in all toothpastes. you can get cheaper toothpaste with Potassium Nitrate.


Since tootaste is a mixture, it will separate given time.

 

[Auric]

Fluoridated teefpaste is dubious anyway given municipal water, and unless keeping the paste on for exponentially longer than brushing time, it prolly has no effect (even less so whitening claims). So, brushing is beneficial (especially for gum health) but teefpaste is mostly for learned/subjective "fresh feeling/taste/smell".

 

[dave_the_nerd]

The active ingredient is the abrasive, which doesn't expire. The flavor can degrade over time, and sometimes ingredients will separate.

Incidentally, this question was answered in one of the Imponderables books by David Feldman.

http://www.imponderables.com/index.php

 

[destrekor]

My toothpaste "expired" years ago. BigLots had Toms of Maine cheap, and I over-bought; probably 10 years ago. Looks fine, and tastes fine. It "expires" so you can buy more.

It expires so you can't sue. FDA requires it on everything, even bottled water and canned goods. Store them right, you don't really have to worry about food safety, just taste.
Most medicines don't expire - some degrade faster than others. Most peptides are definitely losing effectiveness very fast if stored improperly, but otherwise most solid pills might lose a teensy bit of effectiveness 10 years past the manufacture date.

 

[destrekor]

Fluoridated teefpaste is dubious anyway given municipal water, and unless keeping the paste on for exponentially longer than brushing time, it prolly has no effect (even less so whitening claims). So, brushing is beneficial (especially for gum health) but teefpaste is mostly for learned/subjective "fresh feeling/taste/smell".

The abrasive agents, as well as the foaming action, are what make toothpaste what it is. Much like standard soap vs antibacterial soap: you don't need the latter, it does the same job as the former and the added chemicals are worthless. That may not be as true for toothpaste as it is for soap, but the analogy is close.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

I'm running low on toothpaste, and I'm in Costco today and they have lots of it in quantity. My dentist used to recommend Sensodyne, but that was a long time ago, maybe it had the most fluoride at the time, I think. In around 5 big tubes/package it's selling at $0.76/ounce, has 0.15% fluoride. Costco's own brand is in 6 tubes/package at $0.22/ounce, has the same 0.15% fluoride.

Both packs have expiration dates around 2 years out. I saw March 2017.

So, I'm thinking "why would toothpaste become less effective with time?" I figure 6 big tubes of that stuff would last me a really really long time. My dentist says to use the volume of 1/2 a pea.

Because since there is a date on a product/purchase/item, it means YOU MUST THROW IT AWAY AT THAT DATE IMMEDIATELY. And replace it with a new one


Don't you know these things? If you continue using expired toothpaste it can give you aids!

 

[OverVolt]

It expires so you can't sue. FDA requires it on everything, even bottled water and canned goods. Store them right, you don't really have to worry about food safety, just taste.
Most medicines don't expire - some degrade faster than others. Most peptides are definitely losing effectiveness very fast if stored improperly, but otherwise most solid pills might lose a teensy bit of effectiveness 10 years past the manufacture date.

Depends.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'd imagine it's probably fine, but since the tube may not be 100% air tight it might dry out over time or chemicals will loose their potency. (is that a word?)

To play it on the safe side I would just avoid depending on expired toothpaste for too long so don't buy so much that you know it will eventually all expire. I would not really be so worried about immediate ill effects as it's not really a product you consume like food, I'd be more worried about the fact that it's effectiveness may no longer be present, and you'll get cavities.

 

[1sikbITCH]

This stuff lasts like 50 years:

 

[mikeford]

Fake sugar, especially splenda types in liquids go bad pretty fast. Diet soda more than a few months old can have a very off taste.

 

[JEDI]

Expired tooth paste will make your gums rot and your teeth fall out, everyone knows this.

BRING BACK THE FLYING PIG!

Everyone knows this!

 

[JEDI]

Fake sugar, especially splenda types in liquids go bad pretty fast. Diet soda more than a few months old can have a very off taste.

I hope this is shens?

I have YEARS worth of Coke Zero when my supermarket had it on sale for 10 cases to $10 after coupon.
I literally bought out the pallet. (separate purchases)

 

[Muse]

It expires so you can't sue. FDA requires it on everything, even bottled water and canned goods. Store them right, you don't really have to worry about food safety, just taste.
Most medicines don't expire - some degrade faster than others. Most peptides are definitely losing effectiveness very fast if stored improperly, but otherwise most solid pills might lose a teensy bit of effectiveness 10 years past the manufacture date.

Not being "knowledgeable" I couldn't explain it like that, but I have for years stored a lot of my meds in the refrigerator, even freezer if not taking them regularly. I have some 10 year old omeprazole in the freezer, for instance. I got over it, but figured it wasn't cheap and who knows, someday I may have an upset stomach problem that needs that stuff. I have old vicodin in the fridge.

Fake sugar, especially splenda types in liquids go bad pretty fast. Diet soda more than a few months old can have a very off taste.

That, I did discover for myself. I used to have a can with dinner but one day the Costco guy who checks you as you leave the store commented to me that diet soda isn't good for you! :biggrin: Yea, he was that cool. I stopped buying it then, switched to Wine! I had some Diet Pepsi at home and popped a can a year or more later and it didn't taste sweet at all, and of course I poured the rest down the drain.

I hope this is shens?

I have YEARS worth of Coke Zero when my supermarket had it on sale for 10 cases to $10 after coupon.
I literally bought out the pallet. (separate purchases)

You are in for a rude surprise.

 

[Muse]

Fluoridated teefpaste is dubious anyway given municipal water, and unless keeping the paste on for exponentially longer than brushing time, it prolly has no effect (even less so whitening claims). So, brushing is beneficial (especially for gum health) but teefpaste is mostly for learned/subjective "fresh feeling/taste/smell".

I hope this is true. Half the time I brush without toothpaste, just run an electric toothbrush for two minutes. My dentist told me that this lacks the benefit of fluoride, but judging from your statement and others here I have to think that the detriment is mostly just that the abrasive and foaming float-stuff-off action of toothpaste is missing when I brush that way. Anyway, my teeth feel pretty clean afterwards.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

By the way, John Oliver did a segment on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8xwLWb0lLY

 

[Puppies04]

It has a 2 year "use by" date on it because they could only be bothered to store some for 2 years and check it was still ok. If they had kept it on a shelf in a testing facility for 5 years then it would have a 5 year "use by" date on it.

 

[DCal430]

Expiration dates are decided on by the FDA, they are based on the average date toxins will begin to form in the product. These toxins can by very deadly.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Expiration dates are decided on by the FDA, they are based on the average date toxins will begin to form in the product. These toxins can by very deadly.

I know it's true because I read it on the internet.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Expiration dates are decided on by the FDA, they are based on the average date toxins will begin to form in the product. These toxins can by very deadly.

The BS is strong in this one.

 

[Muse]

Toxins forming in toothpaste, that's a good one. Don't know about you guys but I spit mine out.

 

[Murloc]

Expiration dates are decided on by the FDA, they are based on the average date toxins will begin to form in the product. These toxins can by very deadly.

Not really, it's probably a date so early that nothing bad can occur even when storage isn't appropriate.

I hope this is shens?

I have YEARS worth of Coke Zero when my supermarket had it on sale for 10 cases to $10 after coupon.
I literally bought out the pallet. (separate purchases)

lol you better start selling that shit, might even make a profit.