Closeup · Toothpaste
Close-Up Toothpaste Cinnamon Sparkle Gel 6 oz
Lower PFAS concern; typical toothpaste formulation without water-resistant or stain-resistant treatments that would trigger PFAS use.
Close-Up Cinnamon Sparkle Gel is a standard gel toothpaste with no documented PFAS-prone ingredients or surface treatments. Toothpaste formulations rarely require Teflon-family coating or water-repellent coating coatings.
Shop Closeup on Amazon →Material
Aqueous gel base with standard cosmetic actives; no PFAS-prone coatings or water-repellent treatments typical of toothpa
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 Cinnamon Sparkle is an aqueous gel toothpaste, meaning it's water-based with standard cosmetic actives (fluoride, abrasives, humectants, flavoring agents). Gel formulations are inherently lower-risk than some powder forms because they eliminate dust inhalation and typically use lower abrasive mineral loads. The cinnamon flavoring and sparkle effect (likely mica or titanium dioxide colorant) are cosmetically inert at the concentrations used in toothpaste and pose no systemic absorption risk through oral mucosa.
The brand's record and disclosure
Closeup is owned by Unilever, a multinational with established safety protocols and regulatory compliance in personal care. The brand does not publicly highlight PFAS or heavy metal testing on this product specifically, nor are there documented recalls or safety alerts for Close-Up toothpaste formulations on record. Unilever products generally meet FDA and EU cosmetics regulations, though the company does not voluntarily disclose full ingredient sourcing or third-party safety certifications beyond regulatory minimum.
How it compares in its category
Close-Up is a mass-market fluoride toothpaste with no claims of natural, charcoal, or whitening actives that might introduce heavy metals or problematic additives. It sits in the middle tier for transparency and ingredient simplicity compared to premium brands (which often publicize third-party safety testing) and budget alternatives (which may use less-vetted suppliers). The gel base is a stable, conventional choice that avoids some of the variability seen in powder or whitening gel formulations.
If you buy it
Use as directed (pea-sized amount for children under 6, normal brushing for adults). Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent gel degradation, though toothpaste is stable at normal room temperatures. Replace when nearly empty or every 3 months after opening. Do not ingest; swallowing large amounts can cause mild gastrointestinal upset due to fluoride and abrasives, but normal brushing use poses no acute risk.
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 exposure (swallowing)
All fluoride toothpastes carry a low but real risk if swallowed in quantity, especially by young children. Close-Up does not specify fluoride concentration on publicly available labeling, making personal risk assessment difficult. Normal brushing use (spitting out) eliminates this hazard; supervision of children under 6 is standard practice.
Abrasive mineral content and enamel wear
Gel formulations typically have lower relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) than whitening or powder pastes. No specific RDA data for Close-Up Cinnamon Sparkle is published, but the brand's standard formulation is not flagged as high-abrasion. Risk is low for normal twice-daily use in adults with healthy enamel.
Artificial sweeteners and flavorings (cinnamon)
Cinnamon flavoring in toothpaste is typically cinnamaldehyde or cinnamon oil extract, both approved food additives with long safety history at cosmetic concentrations. No established allergic or toxicological hazard is documented for Close-Up's formulation. Individuals with cinnamon sensitivity should rinse thoroughly or switch to unflavored alternatives.
Heavy metals in colorants (mica, titanium dioxide)
Mica and TiO2 used for the 'sparkle' effect are FDA-approved colorants in cosmetics and do not bioaccumulate via oral route. Neither has known contamination hazards in products from major manufacturers like Unilever. Public testing data specific to Close-Up is absent, but this material class poses minimal risk.
1,4-dioxane as processing contaminant
Some cosmetic gels can contain trace 1,4-dioxane as a byproduct of ethoxylation in surfactants or emulsifiers. Unilever products are generally below voluntary limits, but Close-Up does not disclose 1,4-dioxane testing. The hazard is low-level and non-cumulative via toothpaste (no ingestion assumed), but vulnerable populations (children, pregnant users) may prefer brands with published third-party
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.
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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.