Study: One In Five Dentists Wouldn’t Put Colgate Brand Toothpaste Anywhere Near Their Mouth

Story by Ben Plowman 

| Published Nov 17, 2009

A recent survey by the American Dental Association found that while four out of five dentists would recommend Colgate toothpaste to their patients, approximately one in five dentists would rather have their patients skip brushing entirely than put the god-awful stuff near their mouths, let alone on their teeth.

The results of the survey were released yesterday as part of a report on dentists’ toothpaste preferences that the ADA puts out each year as a public service. Although the percentage of dentists not recommending Colgate has remained fairly constant for more than a decade, this was the first year the survey asked dentists to explain why they would not recommend a given brand.

“First thing that’s going to happen when that toothpaste hits your teeth is you’re going to realize what a terrible decision you’ve just made about your dental hygiene,” said local dentist Larry Schumacher, who said he too would not recommend Colgate to his patients. “Then you’re gonna be like, ‘Blech, what a terrible taste!’ And finally, you’re probably just gonna get a whole boat load of cavities.”

Despite this lukewarm reception among many of its dentists, Colgate still carries the ADA seal of approval. ADA president John Findley explained that “Technically, Colgate is still a fluoride-enhanced anti-cavity dentifrice and thus meets the standards for our seal. Personally, however, the stuff is so rank they should have called it Colg-Hate.”