Scientists find toxic metals linked to autism in popular toothpaste
A startling new investigation has uncovered toxic heavy metals lurking in some of America's most trusted toothpaste brands, including those made for children.
Lead Safe Mama, a small business focused on lead-poisoning prevention, sent 51 toothpaste products to an independent lab for testing.
The lineup included household names like Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne, Orajel, Burt’s Bees, Tom’s of Maine, and Hello.
A staggering 90 percent tested positive for lead, 65 percent contained arsenic, 47 percent had mercury and 35 percent were found to have cadmium. Many products were found to have more than one of these toxins.
All four of these substances are known neurotoxins, capable of damaging brain cells and affecting cognitive development at certain levels.
Some research has linked prolonged exposure to these metals with learning disabilities and even autism. Beyond neurological effects, exposure to heavy metals has also been associated with cancer, kidney disease, birth defects, and cardiovascular dysfunction.
None of the tested products exceeded the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) limits for exposure to these toxins, though two did exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) limit, which is based on wastewater levels.
Still, the concern is especially troubling because these metals can easily enter the body not only through ingestion, but also through skin absorption or by being inhaled during brushing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no known safe level of lead or mercury exposure, raising serious concerns about the long-term safety of everyday oral care products.
Only five of the tested toothpastes did not contain any heavy metals, including one Orajel product made for kids: Orajel Training Toothpaste.
But Lead Safe Mama founder Tamara Rubin called the widespread presence of these toxins in toothpaste 'unconscionable, especially in 2025.'
'What's really interesting to me is that no one thought this was a concern,' she told The Guardian.
Rubin said the contamination appears to stem from certain ingredients commonly used in toothpaste, such as hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate and bentonite clay.
Hydroxyapatite, a mineral often derived from animal bones, is added to toothpaste for its potential to help teeth absorb calcium.
I use floss and toothpicks to get in between them fairly regularly, sometimes chew gum. Idk i don't notice any buildup of stuff to clean off so I don't really clean them. Maybe I'll regret it later but so far so good.
I did have a procedure done when I was younger to get caps over all my molars. Some have definitely fallen out maybe all of them by now. I'll give some credit to that for my lack of cavities
What is your diet like? Do you eat processed food or drink sodas?
Mostly I drink water, not a big soda or alcohol guy although a lot of energy drinks the past few years. Fairly crappy diet, lots of pizza and stuff.
But growing up on a dairy farm I had a lot of milk and beef every day which may have set me up with good teeth. Steak every day or burger or roast, now it was from old dairy cows so it wasn't tender and nice steak
Ah, I see. Thanks. It's hard to imagine not feeling anything yucky on your teeth after sleeping, but everyone is different, so maybe that's just you. (lucky.) After reading this, I'm going to have to look for an alternative as well. Thanks for the info. Glad it's working for you.