DISCLAIMER ALERT: This product was gifted by Colgate, but all views are my own.

This week I’m looking at toothpaste. I was approached by Colgate to review their Total Whitening Toothpaste Pump. I was quite pleased to oblige because, like many families, finding a toothpaste that pleases all out of the vast array of toothpastes available can be a minefield. I do my main grocery shopping online, so I purchased Colgate’s Total Whitening Toothpaste, the 100ml pump version, when I did my weekly shop at Morrisons.

WHO ARE COLGATE? A POTTED HISTORY

Colgate-Palmolive started life as a small soap and candle business, founded by William Colgate in 1806, in New York City. Toothpaste production began in 1873 – it was sold in jars! In 1896, Colgate introduced toothpaste in a collapsible tube. By 1911, Colgate had distributed 2 million tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes to schools in the USA and provided hygienists to demonstrate tooth brushing. In 1914, Colgate established its first international subsidiary in Canada; quickly followed by Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa in 1920. In 1968, MFP Fluoride was added to Colgate toothpaste, which is clinically proven to reduce cavities. In 1983, the Colgate Plus toothbrush was introduced. In 1992 Colgate Total Toothpaste was introduced and by 1997, it had become a market leader in the USA. In 2019 Colgate launched its first recyclable toothpaste tube along with the relaunch of Colgate Total Toothpaste.

WHAT CAUSES TEETH TO DISCOLOUR?

Like the picture of the stained mug above, the enamel on our teeth are susceptible to staining from our favourite dark coloured drinks such as tea, red wine, coffee and also through smoking. Foods such as curry, soy sauce and those with lots of food colouring can contribute too. Obviously, we can avoid discolouration by quitting smoking, limiting our consumption of dark drinks, eating plenty of raw fruit and vegetables such as carrots and apples to help clean the mouth, and after drinking a dark drink, my hygienist suggested a glass of plain water to swish around the mouth before the discolouration takes hold.

THE PUMP ITSELF

Although Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste can be found in a tube, I’m reviewing the 100ml pump version. I must say that I find having the pump on my bathroom shelf is more aesthetically pleasing than a tube that is contorted out of shape with remnants of dried toothpaste around the lid. Is it just my household or do you also find that the tube is often squeezed from the middle rather than the end? The pump looks neater, there’s no squeezing involved – just a small pump at the top that dispenses just the right pea sized amount onto your toothbrush – no mess, no wastage.

PRODUCT CLAIMS

• 12 Hour protection on teeth, tongue, cheeks and gums (after 4 weeks of continued use).
• Effective stain removal for a whiter and healthy smile.
• Reduces bacteria on teeth, tongue, cheeks, gums
• Antibacterial and Fluoride toothpaste

MY CONCLUSION

My teenage son has to wear a brace and obviously he has to be doubly attentive when it comes to tooth brushing. He wanted to try out the toothpaste and thought the pump was a bit of a novelty. His teeth definitely looked cleaner, and whiter ( see his photo above).

I found that the toothpaste was gentle on my gums and teeth; but the most overriding factor for me is that my teeth feel oh so clean – straight after brushing, yes – but hours afterwards too, even after eating. I liked the mild minty taste – enough to freshen your breath but not overpowering. My teeth get stained easily as I’m a bit of a tea addict – so a toothpaste that can help eradicate those stains gets a big plus for me – my teeth are not brilliant white but they are looking brighter. To be fair, I haven’t used the toothpaste for 4 weeks so I might be more blown away in another 2/3 weeks time – but I am happy with the current progress.

My score: 9/10

Thanks to Colgate for giving me the opportunity to try the toothpaste. The potted history of Colgate was my condensed version of the full history of Colgate, which makes fascinating reading, and can be found on https://colgate.com
All photographs are by Linda Hobden.

Linda x