Regulation

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies toothpaste with products like cosmetics that should follow current good manufacturing practices. This means the FDA expects manufacturers to test and confirm products are safe and include the advertised ingredients. The FDA requires manufacturers to include an expiration date. For toothpastes, the FDA concludes they should be tested for fluoride if they are advertised as such. FDA publications indicate a concern with the effectiveness of the product rather than any health danger.
  
  

ADA

• Toothpastes that receive the American Dental Association seal of acceptance must display an expiration date for similar reasons. To receive the seal, in addition to an expiration date, dental products must list the date of manufacture and any information about temperature and humidity and possible effects on the product.
  
  

Danger

• Using toothpaste past the expiration date poses no danger. Instead, the issue involves the effectiveness of the ingredients, particularly fluoride, beyond that date. The fluoride in older toothpaste may not bind to tooth enamel, making it useless for the prevention of cavities. Even then, there is the potential for loss of fluoride, not a guarantee, according to Dr. Joel H. Berg, Seattle's University of Washington chairman of pediatric dentistry and representative of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
  
  

Signs

• Most toothpastes have a shelf life of two years after manufacture, although some may be longer. The date may be printed on the crimped end of a tube or on the carton. Changes in texture also indicate that a fluoride paste may have lost its efficacy. If the product has separated, become hard to get out of the tube or lost its original foaminess, it might be time to toss it.