Colgate (toothpaste)
Colgate is an American multinational brand principally used for oral hygiene products such as toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes and dental floss. Manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive, Colgate's oral hygiene products were first sold by the company in 1873, sixteen years after the death of the founder, William Colgate. The company originally sold soap.
History
Colgate toothpaste was sold in glass jars since 1873. Tubes, as pioneered by Kalodont, Johnson & Johnson and Sheffield, were introduced in 1896.Colgate became popular in the 1950s, with the slogan "It Cleans Your Breath While It Cleans Your Teeth", written by copywriter Alicia Tobin.
In 2007, the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK told Colgate that it could no longer make the claim that four out of five dentists recommended Colgate. The investigation showed that the study had telephone surveyed dentists to list the toothpaste they recommended, and their competitors were recommended at similar rates. The claim was deemed deceptive.
In 2015, oral care products were the Colgate-Palmolive company's largest source of income, making up around US$7.5 billion, or 47% of net sales globally. It also commanded approximately 70% of the oral care market in Brazil.
In 2018, Colgate licensed Kolibree technology from Paris-based Baracoda Daily Healthtech, launching the Colgate Smart Electric toothbrush. They offer connected toothbrushes for children and adults under the Hum brand umbrella.
Colgate previously used triclosan as the active anti-bacterial agent in Colgate Total toothpaste, since its introduction in 1997. No other toothpaste brand in the USA used triclosan when Colgate Total was introduced, Colgate pioneered the use of triclosan in toothpaste. The FDA ruled on September 6, 2016, that triclosan is not generally recognized as safe and effective. Due to health and environmental concerns, triclosan was phased out, and by 2019 it is no longer used.
In January 2020, Colgate registered the label for toothpaste containing hemp seed oil with the U.S. government.
In February 2020, Colgate's parent company announced an agreement to purchase Hello Products, a New Jersey company that had earlier in the month introduced toothpaste, mouthwashes, and lip balms containing cannabidiol.
Colgate Tooth Powder is still being manufactured and marketed.