Closeup · Toothpaste
Close-Up Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste Gel Cinnamon
Lower PFAS concern for typical toothpaste gel; no waterproofing or Teflon-family coating coatings expected.
Close-Up toothpaste gel is a rinse-off oral-care product with no inherent need for water-repellent or non-stick coatings where PFAS additives are commonly used. Standard formulations of fluoride toothpaste do not require PFAS chemistry.
Shop Closeup on Amazon →Material
aqueous gel toothpaste with fluoride and cinnamon flavoring
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Close-Up Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste Gel is a water-based gel formulation containing sodium fluoride (anticavity active), cinnamon flavoring, abrasive silica or similar polishing agents, thickeners, and preservatives. Gel toothpastes are generally simpler chemically than pastes and lack the heavy mineral content of traditional formulations, reducing leaching risk. The cinnamon flavoring is a known allergen in sensitive individuals but poses no systemic toxicity at trace concentrations in oral products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Closeup (owned by Unilever) maintains standard fluoride disclosure on packaging and follows FDA/ADA guidance for anticavity claims. The brand has not faced major recalls or regulatory action for toothpaste safety in recent public record. Closeup does not explicitly market PFAS-free or free-from claims, consistent with industry-wide silence on PFAS in oral care; this reflects typical practice rather than evasion.
How it compares in its category
Close-Up sits in the mid-market segment with standard formulation complexity. Gel toothpastes like this carry lower chemical burden than whitening or sensitivity-targeted variants, which often contain additional actives (peroxide, potassium nitrate) and surfactants. Fluoride concentration and abrasivity are within expected ranges for general-use products; no data suggests this formulation differs materially from competitors like Colgate or Crest gels.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve thickener and preservative stability; gel formulas are more sensitive to heat than pastes. Use standard pea-sized amount for adults, rice-grain size for children under 3 per ADA guidance to manage fluoride ingestion risk. Replace every 2-3 months or when tube empties to minimize bacterial or mold growth in the tube opening. Discontinue if mouth irritation or allergic reaction (swelling, rash) occurs, particularly if cinnamon sensitivity is known.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fluoride systemic toxicity (ingestion)
Toothpaste fluoride is safe at labeled concentration when used as directed (pea-sized amount, minimal swallowing). Risk escalates only in children under 3 or if large quantities are ingested; no product-specific recall on record for this variant.
Cinnamon flavor allergenicity
Cinnamon is a known oral allergen; individuals with cinnamaldehyde sensitivity may experience mouth irritation, angular cheilitis, or allergic contact dermatitis. Incidence is low but documented in dermatological literature; Closeup's cinnamon variant carries this inherent risk.
Preservative-related sensitization (methylchloroisothiazolinone or sodium benzoate)
Common toothpaste preservatives can trigger irritation in sensitive individuals after repeated contact. No recall specific to Closeup gel on record, but users with history of oral preservative reaction should patch-test or switch.
Abrasive silica wear on enamel
Gel formulation abrasivity is typically moderate and within ADA standards when used with normal brushing pressure. No published data flags Close-Up gel as unusually abrasive; standard toothbrush technique minimizes wear risk.
Heavy metals in pigments or colorants
Gel toothpastes contain minimal colorant load compared to paste formulations. No regulatory action or published testing has identified heavy metal contamination in Closeup products; standard manufacturing oversight applies.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Toothpaste
Davids
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⚠Risky category by default
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Natural Toothpaste Peppermint Charcoal
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Lower-concern toothpaste; charcoal formulation has no inherent PFAS risk and carries third-party safety certification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Native
Fluoride Free Toothpaste
toothpaste base: glycerin, xylitol, silica; fluoride-free formula
Lower PFAS concern; fluoride-free formulation and standard toothpaste ingredients present negligible PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
More toothpaste grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.