Bubble and Bee Toothpaste vs Colgate: An in-depth look at the ingredient lists
1. Bubble & Bee Peppermint Toothpaste
Ingredients: Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Saponified Organic Coconut Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Peppermint Essential Oil, Organic Vanilla Extract (in Organic Sunflower Oil), Organic Stevia.
Organic Vegetable Glycerin
What is it?Glycerin (glycerol) is a clear, odorless, slightly sweet liquid used to attract and retain moisture.
Naturally derived: Yes — this product uses vegetable glycerin
Synthetic/manufactured: It can also be manufactured synthetically, although that doesn't appear to be what Bubble & Bee is describing here.
Purpose: Humectant. It helps keep the toothpaste from drying out and contributes to its texture.
Known carcinogen: No established classification as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: No significant carcinogenic concern has been established for glycerin at normal cosmetic/toothpaste exposures.
Health concerns: Generally considered low concern. Large oral amounts can cause gastrointestinal effects such as nausea or diarrhea, but the amount encountered from normal toothpaste use is much smaller.
Evidence: Human safety data, toxicology studies, and regulatory assessments have not identified a significant carcinogenic concern.
Resource: PubMed — Safety Assessment of Glycerin
Saponified Organic Coconut Oil
What is it? Coconut oil that has undergone saponification, meaning it has reacted with an alkaline substance to form soap. The result is essentially coconut-oil-derived soap.
Naturally derived: Yes — the starting material is coconut oil
Synthetic/manufactured: The soap itself is manufactured through a chemical process.
Purpose: Cleansing agent and helps create the toothpaste's texture/lather. Soap can help loosen oils and debris.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern.
Health concerns: Because soap is alkaline, it can potentially cause dryness, irritation, or burning in people with sensitive oral tissues.
Evidence: Ingredient chemistry and general toxicology/oral exposure considerations.
Resource: NCBI Bookshelf — Soap Chemistry
Calcium Carbonate
What is it? A naturally occurring mineral also found in limestone, chalk, and shells.
Naturally derived: Yes Synthetic/manufactured: It can also be manufactured.
Purpose: Mild abrasive. It helps mechanically remove debris and polish the tooth surface.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern for calcium carbonate itself.
Health concerns: The main toothpaste-related consideration is abrasivity. Excessive mechanical abrasion from a toothpaste, particularly with aggressive brushing, can contribute to tooth-surface wear.
Large amounts swallowed can also cause gastrointestinal/calcium-related effects.
Evidence: Toxicology and dental-material research.
Resource: PubChem — Calcium Carbonate
Organic Peppermint Essential Oil
What is it? A concentrated mixture of volatile compounds extracted from peppermint plants. Major constituents include menthol and menthone.
Naturally derived: Yes Synthetic/manufactured: Genuine essential oil is plant-derived, although individual constituents can also be manufactured synthetically.
Purpose: Flavor, cooling sensation, breath freshening, and potentially antimicrobial activity.
Known carcinogen: No established classification as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic classification for peppermint essential oil.
Health concerns: This is one of the ingredients where “natural” does not necessarily mean irritation-free.
Possible concerns include:
Mouth irritation or burning
Allergic/contact reactions
Skin/mucosal irritation
Toxic effects with sufficiently large swallowed doses
Sensitivity in some individuals
There are documented reports of allergic reactions involving peppermint-containing products, including toothpaste.
Evidence: Human case reports, animal toxicology, and experimental studies.
Resources: PubMed — Peppermint Safety Assessment
Organic Vanilla Extract (in Organic Sunflower Oil)
What is it? A plant extract containing numerous naturally occurring vanilla compounds, carried in sunflower oil.
Naturally derived: Yes Synthetic/manufactured: The vanilla flavoring industry can also manufacture individual vanilla flavor compounds, but an actual vanilla extract is plant-derived.
Purpose: Flavoring. Bubble & Bee also describes the vanilla component as providing antioxidant properties.
Known carcinogen: No established classification.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern for normal toothpaste exposure.
Health concerns: The primary concern would be individual sensitivity or allergy to botanical constituents.
Because an extract contains multiple compounds, its safety isn't necessarily represented by one chemical alone.
Evidence: Ingredient safety assessments and toxicology data.
Organic Stevia
What is it?A plant-derived sweetener from Stevia rebaudiana. Its sweetness comes primarily from steviol glycosides.
Naturally derived: Yes
Synthetic/manufactured: The plant extract is processed, but the stevia itself is plant-derived.
Purpose: Sweetener. It makes the toothpaste taste less bitter.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern for approved steviol glycosides at permitted exposure levels.
Health concerns: Stevia has been extensively evaluated for genotoxicity and other toxicological endpoints. Some people may experience digestive or taste-related effects.
It's also worth distinguishing purified steviol glycosides from less-refined whole-leaf preparations, because they aren't necessarily identical products.
Evidence: Regulatory toxicology assessments, animal studies, and other safety data.
Resource: EFSA — Safety of Steviol Glycosides
2. Colgate Optic White Advanced Enamel Strength
Active ingredient: Sodium Monofluorophosphate 1.14% (0.19% fluoride ion)
Inactive ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Calcium Pyrophosphate, PVP, PEG/PPG-116/66 Copolymer, PEG-12, Glycerin, Flavor, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Silica, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Sodium Saccharin, Disodium Pyrophosphate, Sucralose, BHT.
Sodium Monofluorophosphate
What is it? A fluoride-containing compound used to provide anticavity protection.
Naturally derived: No, the toothpaste ingredient is manufactured.
Purpose: Helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities.
Known carcinogen: No established classification as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: Fluoride is not classified as a human carcinogen. The principal concern is excessive exposure rather than cancer.
Health concerns: Swallowing excessive amounts of fluoride can cause toxicity. Repeated excessive fluoride ingestion during tooth development can cause dental fluorosis.
Resources: FDA — Fluoride Toothpaste Safety Information
Propylene Glycol
What is it? A synthetic liquid used as a solvent and moisture-retaining ingredient.
Naturally derived: No, commercially it is generally manufactured.
Purpose: Humectant, solvent, and texture stabilizer.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic classification.
Health concerns: Can cause irritation or contact sensitivity in susceptible individuals, particularly with repeated exposure.
Resource: PubChem — Propylene Glycol
Calcium Pyrophosphate
What is it? An inorganic calcium/phosphate compound.
Naturally derived: Can occur naturally, but the toothpaste ingredient is manufactured.
Purpose: Abrasive and polishing agent.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established concern.
Health concerns: The primary concern is the abrasive nature of the ingredient and potential contribution to tooth wear depending on the overall formulation and brushing behavior.
Resource: PubChem — Calcium Pyrophosphate
PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone)
What is it? A synthetic polymer used to control texture and help ingredients stay evenly distributed.
Naturally derived: No.
Purpose:Binder/stabilizer/film-forming agent.
Known carcinogen: No established classification.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern for PVP itself.
Health concerns: The larger theoretical concern with some manufactured polymers is the presence of impurities or residual manufacturing materials, rather than the polymer itself.
Resource: PubChem — Polyvinylpyrrolidone
PEG/PPG-116/66 Copolymer
What is it? A synthetic polymer made using polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol chemistry.
Naturally derived: No.
Purpose: Helps control texture, stability, and ingredient distribution.
Known carcinogen: No — the polymer itself is not classified as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: Potential manufacturing-contaminant concern.
Ethoxylated ingredients can potentially contain trace 1,4-dioxane, a manufacturing byproduct. This does not mean PEG/PPG itself is 1,4-dioxane or that the toothpaste necessarily contains a harmful amount.
Health concerns: The relevant concern is primarily manufacturing purity and residual contaminants.
PEG-12
What is it? A polyethylene glycol polymer.
Naturally derived: No, manufactured.
Purpose: Humectant/solvent and texture-control ingredient.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: PEG itself is not classified as a human carcinogen. However, PEG manufacturing can potentially involve trace 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct.
Health concerns: Potential sensitivity/irritation and manufacturing impurity considerations.
Resources: FDA — 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics
Glycerin
Same ingredient category as the Bubble & Bee glycerin above.
Naturally derived: Can be
Purpose: Humectant
Known carcinogen: No
Possible carcinogen: No established concern.
Resource: PubMed — Glycerin Safety Assessment
Flavor
What is it? “Flavor” is an umbrella term that can represent a mixture of flavoring substances.
Naturally derived: Can be either.
Synthetic/manufactured: Can be either.
Purpose: Provides the toothpaste's flavor.
Known carcinogen: Cannot determine from the word “flavor” alone.
Possible carcinogen: Cannot fully assess without knowing the specific flavoring substances and concentrations.
Health concerns: Flavoring compounds can cause irritation or allergic/sensitivity reactions in some individuals.
Important for ingredient transparency: This is one of the ingredients where the consumer cannot determine the complete chemical composition from the label alone.
Hydrogen Peroxide
What is it? H₂O₂, an oxidizing compound.
Naturally derived: It can be produced naturally in biological systems, but toothpaste-grade hydrogen peroxide is manufactured.
Purpose: Whitening/oxidizing agent.
Known carcinogen: No established human carcinogen classification.
Possible carcinogen: High concentrations/exposures can cause cellular oxidative damage, but this does not establish ordinary toothpaste use as carcinogenic.
Health concerns: Higher concentrations can irritate or damage oral tissues. Even lower concentrations may cause sensitivity or irritation in some people.
Resource: PubChem — Hydrogen Peroxide
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
What is it? A synthetic surfactant/detergent.
Naturally derived: No, commercially manufactured.
Purpose: Creates foam and helps disperse/clean away oils and debris.
Known carcinogen: No established classification as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: No established evidence that SLS itself is a human carcinogen.
Health concerns: The more relevant concern is oral irritation. Studies have examined whether SLS can irritate oral tissues and influence recurrent aphthous ulcers/canker sores. Evidence varies, but irritation is a legitimate consideration for sensitive individuals.
Silica
What is it? Silicon dioxide, used as an abrasive.
Naturally derived: It can be naturally occurring or manufactured.
Purpose: Helps clean and polish teeth.
Known carcinogen: Form/exposure dependent.
Respirable crystalline silica dust is classified by IARC as Group 1 — carcinogenic to humans, primarily through inhalation exposure.
The silica used in toothpaste is generally not equivalent to occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust.
Possible carcinogen: The cancer classification should not automatically be applied to hydrated/amorphous silica in toothpaste.
Health concerns: Abrasivity and tooth wear are more directly relevant to normal toothpaste use.
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
What is it? An inorganic phosphate salt.
Naturally derived: No, manufactured.
Purpose: Helps control tartar and stabilize the toothpaste.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern.
Health concerns: Can cause irritation in concentrated amounts. Large dietary phosphate exposure is a separate issue from the small amounts associated with toothpaste use.
Resource: PubChem — Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
Sodium Saccharin
What is it? An artificial sweetener.
Naturally derived: No.
Purpose: Adds sweetness without sugar.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: Historical animal research, particularly involving high-dose rat exposure, raised bladder-tumor concerns. However, saccharin is currently classified by IARC as Group 3 — not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
Health concerns: The historical cancer concern is primarily an animal/high-exposure issue rather than evidence that ordinary toothpaste exposure causes cancer.
Resource: IARC — Agents Classified by the IARC
Disodium Pyrophosphate
What is it? An inorganic phosphate salt.
Naturally derived: No, manufactured.
Purpose: Stabilizer and tartar-control ingredient.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic classification.
Health concerns: Primarily irritation at sufficiently high concentrations.
Resource: PubChem — Disodium Pyrophosphate
Sucralose
What is it?A highly sweet artificial sweetener made by chemically modifying sucrose.
Naturally derived: No.
Purpose: Sweetener.
Known carcinogen: No established classification as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: Some experimental research has examined sucralose-6-acetate, a related compound/intermediate, for genotoxic effects. That should not be presented as evidence that ordinary sucralose itself is a carcinogen.
Health concerns: Research on potential long-term biological effects continues, but there is not an established cancer classification for sucralose itself.
Resource: FDA — Sucralose Information
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
What is it?A synthetic antioxidant that helps prevent oxidation and deterioration of other ingredients.
Naturally derived: No.
Purpose:Preservative/antioxidant.
Known carcinogen: No established classification as a human carcinogen.
Possible carcinogen: Animal studies have produced various findings involving tissue effects and tumor-promotion mechanisms under certain experimental conditions.
Health concerns: High-dose animal studies have identified effects on organs such as the liver.
Resource: PubChem — BHT
3. Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening Toothpaste — Brisk Mint
Active ingredient: Sodium Monofluorophosphate 0.76% (0.14% fluoride ion)
Inactive ingredients: Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Water, Sorbitol, Sodium Bicarbonate, PEG-12, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Flavor, Sodium Hydroxide, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Saccharin, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Peroxide, Titanium Dioxide.
Sodium Monofluorophosphate
Same considerations as above.
Purpose: Anticavity fluoride
Known carcinogen: No
Primary concern: Excessive fluoride ingestion/dental fluorosis.
Resource: FDA — Fluoride Toothpaste Safety Information
Glycerin
Same as above.
Purpose: Humectant
Naturally derived: Can be
Known carcinogen: No.
Resource:PubMed — Glycerin Safety Assessment
Hydrated Silica
What is it? A form of silicon dioxide containing water associated with its structure. It is commonly used as a toothpaste abrasive.
Naturally derived: Can be, but commercial toothpaste grades are processed/manufactured.
Purpose:Abrasive for cleaning and polishing teeth.
Known carcinogen: The cancer classification for respirable crystalline silica dust does not automatically apply to hydrated/amorphous silica in toothpaste.
Possible carcinogen: No established cancer classification for normal toothpaste exposure to hydrated/amorphous silica.
Health concerns:Abrasivity and potential tooth wear are more relevant to everyday use.
Resource:IARC — Agents Classified by the IARC
Water
What is it?H₂O.
Naturally derived: Yes
Synthetic/manufactured: No in the normal sense.
Purpose: Solvent/base for the toothpaste formulation.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No.
Health concerns: None at normal toothpaste exposure.
Resource:PubChem — Water
Sorbitol
What is it? A sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and moisture-retaining ingredient.
Naturally derived: It occurs naturally in some fruits, but commercial sorbitol is manufactured.
Purpose:Sweetener and humectant.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern.
Health concerns:Large swallowed amounts can cause bloating, gas, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal effects.
Resource:PubChem — Sorbitol
Sodium Bicarbonate
What is it? Baking soda.
Naturally derived: It can occur naturally, but commercial material is manufactured.
Purpose:Mild abrasive, pH buffer, cleansing ingredient, and odor-neutralizing ingredient.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern.
Health concerns:Large amounts swallowed can cause excessive sodium intake and metabolic disturbances.
Resource:PubChem — Sodium Bicarbonate
PEG-12
Same as above.
Primary consideration: PEG itself is not classified as a human carcinogen; manufacturing can potentially produce trace 1,4-dioxane.
Resources:FDA — 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Same as above.
Primary consideration: Oral irritation/sensitivity rather than cancer.
Flavor
Same considerations as above.
Primary limitation: The label does not identify every flavoring substance.
Sodium Hydroxide
What is it? Sodium hydroxide, commonly called lye or caustic soda.
Naturally derived: No, manufactured.
Purpose: pH adjuster.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic classification.
Health concerns: Concentrated sodium hydroxide is highly caustic and can cause severe chemical burns. The relevant distinction is concentration: the tiny controlled amount used in a finished toothpaste is very different from concentrated industrial sodium hydroxide.
Resource:PubChem — Sodium Hydroxide
Cellulose Gum
What is it? A modified form of cellulose, a plant-derived polysaccharide.
Naturally derived: Yes, from cellulose
Synthetic/manufactured: It is chemically processed/modified.
Purpose:Thickener and stabilizer.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic concern.
Health concerns:Large oral amounts can cause gastrointestinal effects.
Resource: PubChem — Cellulose Gum
Sodium Saccharin
Same as above.
Primary consideration: Historical high-dose animal findings; currently not classifiable as carcinogenic to humans.
Resource:IARC — Agents Classified by the IARC
Xanthan Gum
What is it? A polysaccharide produced through microbial fermentation.
Naturally derived: The starting biological process is fermentation, although the commercial ingredient is processed/manufactured.
Purpose:Thickener and stabilizer.
Known carcinogen: No.
Possible carcinogen: No established concern.
Health concerns: Large amounts can cause gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
Resource: PubChem — Xanthan Gum
Calcium Peroxide
What is it?An inorganic peroxide compound.
Naturally derived: No, manufactured.
Purpose:Oxidizing/whitening ingredient.
Known carcinogen: No established classification.
Possible carcinogen: No established carcinogenic classification.
Health concerns:Concentrated exposure can cause irritation because of its oxidizing properties.
Resource: PubChem — Calcium Peroxide
Titanium Dioxide
What is it? A white mineral pigment used to give products a bright white appearance.
Naturally derived: It occurs naturally as a mineral, but commercial titanium dioxide is manufactured/refined.
Purpose:Colorant/whitening pigment.
Known carcinogen: IARC classifies titanium dioxide as Group 2B — possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Important qualification:The classification is primarily associated with inhalation of titanium dioxide particles, particularly occupational exposure. It does not establish that normal use of titanium dioxide-containing toothpaste causes cancer.
California's Proposition 65 listing is specifically for airborne, unbound particles of respirable size, which is an important distinction from titanium dioxide bound in a toothpaste.
Possible carcinogen: Yes, under the specific exposure conditions considered by IARC.
Health concerns:The major established concern is inhalation of respirable particles rather than ordinary oral exposure.
EFSA also concluded in 2021 that genotoxicity concerns surrounding titanium dioxide as food additive E171 could not be ruled out, which contributed to its subsequent regulatory treatment in food.
Resources:IARC — Agents Classified by the IARC
Resources
🧪 General Ingredient Safety
PubChem — National Library of Medicine Chemical Database — Chemical identity, properties, toxicology and scientific references.
PubMed — National Library of Medicine — Peer-reviewed biomedical and toxicology research.
FDA — Cosmetics & Ingredient Safety — U.S. regulatory information.
EFSA — European Food Safety Authority — Scientific risk assessments for food ingredients and additives.
IARC — International Agency for Research on Cancer — Cancer-hazard classifications.
🎗️ Cancer-Specific Resources
IARC Monographs — Agent Classifications — Useful for checking whether an ingredient or substance has an established IARC cancer classification.
NTP — Report on Carcinogens — U.S. National Toxicology Program cancer-hazard evaluations.
California Proposition 65 — OEHHA — California's list of chemicals known to cause cancer, reproductive harm, or developmental toxicity.
🧴 Manufacturing Contaminants
FDA — 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetics — Explains why 1,4-dioxane can occur as a manufacturing byproduct in some ethoxylated ingredients.
NTP — 1,4-Dioxane — Toxicology/carcinogenicity information.
🦷 Oral Health / Toothpaste
American Dental Association — Oral Health Topics — Dental-health information and evidence.
FDA — Fluoride Toothpaste Safety — Fluoride toothpaste safety information.
PubMed — SLS and Oral Health Research — Research concerning sodium lauryl sulfate and oral tissues.
🌿 Botanical Ingredients
How we evaluate ingredients: In an effort to be fully unbiased and transparent our ingredient reviews distinguish between established human evidence, animal research, laboratory/in-vitro findings, occupational exposure data, and theoretical or manufacturing-related concerns.
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