That minty-fresh feeling might come with a hidden cost. A recent study has found that popular toothpaste brands are contaminated with dangerous heavy metals like lead and mercury, posing unexpected health risks every time you brush.
Is Your Toothpaste Safe? Study Finds Heavy Metals in Toothpaste
A new U.S. study has uncovered a disturbing truth about the products many rely on for daily oral care. The study discovered that popular toothpaste brands, including those marketed for children and as “natural” or “eco-friendly,” are contaminated with toxic heavy metals.
The investigation, led by consumer advocacy group Lead Safe Mama, tested 51 toothpaste products and found that approximately 90% contained lead. Even more concerning, 65% had traces of arsenic, nearly half tested positive for mercury, and about one-third showed cadmium contamination.
Many of these toothpastes contained multiple heavy metals, intensifying health concerns. While the highest detected levels violated safety standards set by Washington State, they still fell within federal limits—limits that public health experts argue are dangerously outdated and insufficient.
“It’s unconscionable—especially in 2025,” said Tamara Rubin, founder of Lead Safe Mama. “What’s really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern.”
Despite proposed legislation like the stalled Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which seeks to cap lead levels in children’s food at 10 parts per billion (ppb), and California’s stricter 6 ppb limit, no such regulations currently exist for toothpaste.
Rubin suggests the contamination may be linked to ingredients commonly found in toothpaste formulations like hydroxyapatite (often derived from cow bone), calcium carbonate, and bentonite clay. These substances are typically included for their whitening or cleansing properties and dental benefits, but may inadvertently introduce dangerous levels of heavy metals into the product.
Major Toothpaste Brands Caught in Heavy Metal Controversy
Several well-known toothpaste brands—including Crest, Sensodyne, Tom’s of Maine, Dr. Bronner’s, Davids, and Dr. Jen—were flagged in the recent study for containing concerning levels of heavy metals. Despite the serious findings, none of the named companies have taken action to remove lead from their products, according to Tamara Rubin of Lead Safe Mama.
Rather than addressing the contamination, some companies responded with legal threats. Rubin revealed that she received cease-and-desist letters from certain manufacturers, which she publicly shared on her blog. In defense, some brands claimed that lead is naturally present in the environment and, therefore, impossible to eliminate entirely. Others dismissed the study’s findings as insignificant or unworthy of concern.
Neither the U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor Procter & Gamble, the parent company of Crest, has issued a statement regarding the study.
On a more positive note, not all toothpaste brands tested showed contamination. Products such as Dr. Brown’s Baby Toothpaste were found to be free from lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Notably, these safer options also avoided the three high-risk ingredients—hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate, and bentonite clay—suggesting a potential link between formulation choices and contamination levels.
The Hidden Dangers of Heavy Metals in Toothpaste
The presence of heavy metals in toothpaste poses serious health threats, especially for children. Lead exposure, even at low levels, can impair cognitive development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral issues. It can also harm kidney function and raise the risk of heart disease over time.
Worryingly, all four metals detected in the study—lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic—are classified as carcinogens. Their presence in everyday hygiene products like toothpaste adds to growing concerns over long-term exposure and the cumulative effects on children’s health and development.