Crest · Toothpaste
Crest Clean Mint Pro-Health Toothpaste
Lower PFAS concern for typical toothpaste; no evidence of intentional PFAS use in oral care formulations.
Crest Clean Mint Pro-Health is a standard aqueous toothpaste with no known history of PFAS contamination or intentional PFAS ingredients in this category. Toothpastes rarely use Teflon-family coating coatings or water-resistant treatments that would introduce PFAS.
Shop Crest on Amazon →Material
aqueous gel toothpaste base with standard cosmetic excipients
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
Crest Clean Mint Pro-Health is a water-based gel toothpaste containing fluoride (typically 1000-1500 ppm), abrasive silica or calcium carbonate, humectants (glycerin), thickeners, and mint flavoring. The aqueous gel matrix is standard across mass-market toothpastes and poses minimal leaching or degradation risk since the product is expectorated rather than swallowed. Fluoride itself is well-established as safe at standard toothpaste concentrations when used as directed (pea-sized amount for adults, smaller for children).
The brand's record and disclosure
Crest (owned by Procter & Gamble) maintains ADA recognition for multiple toothpaste lines and publishes ingredient lists transparently. The brand has no documented recalls for contaminants or undisclosed ingredients in recent years. P&G does not publicly detail PFAS usage across all products, though no evidence suggests intentional PFAS addition to oral care formulations. Crest meets FDA standards for over-the-counter oral care drugs.
How it compares in its category
Crest Pro-Health sits in the mainstream fluoride toothpaste segment, comparable to Colgate Total and Sensodyne in formulation approach and safety profile. Unlike some natural or charcoal toothpastes, it contains established antimicrobial actives (often stannous fluoride or zinc compounds) rather than unproven botanicals. Abrasive load is moderate and within ADA guidance (typically under 200 RDA units), making it suitable for daily use without elevated enamel wear risk for most users.
If you buy it
Use a pea-sized amount for adults; supervise children under 6 and use a rice-grain size to minimize swallowing. Do not exceed twice-daily brushing unless recommended by a dentist, as chronic excess fluoride exposure can cause dental fluorosis in developing teeth. Store at room temperature away from direct heat. Discontinue use if gingival irritation or allergy symptoms occur; mint flavoring can trigger sensitivity in a small subset of users.
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 (developmental toxicity at excessive ingestion)
Standard toothpaste fluoride concentrations (1000-1500 ppm) are safe when used as directed and expectorated. Risk only materializes with chronic ingestion of large quantities; incidental swallowing of small amounts poses no established hazard.
Formaldehyde releasers (preservatives)
Crest toothpastes typically use sodium benzoate or other non-formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. No public information indicates use of imidazolidinyl urea or DMDM hydantoin in this line.
Heavy metals in colorants/pigments
This toothpaste contains no intentional colorants (clear/translucent gel) and therefore minimal risk of lead or cadmium contamination from synthetic dyes. Minor trace metals may exist in mineral-derived abrasives but are not bioavailable in toothpaste form.
Fragrance allergens and irritants
Mint flavoring can provoke contact irritation or allergic sensitivity in sensitive individuals, particularly those with aphthous ulcers or gingivitis. This is product-inherent, not a manufacturing defect, and is addressable by switching to unflavored alternatives.
Abrasive-induced enamel wear
Crest Pro-Health abrasive load is within ADA standards for daily use. Enamel wear risk is low for standard brushing technique; risk escalates only with aggressive brushing habits or use in combination with acidic beverages.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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
Toothpaste
natural mineral-based formula (calcium carbonate, hydroxyapatite)
Lower PFAS concern; natural formula toothpaste with clean ingredient transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
Davids
Natural Toothpaste Peppermint Charcoal
Charcoal, glycerin, hydrated silica, natural flavor, mineral base
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.