These are the 4 worst toothpastes you can buy at the supermarket

To orient ourselves in this sea of ​​colored tubes, the new test by Altroconsumo comes in handy, which tested 15 of the most popular toothpastes in Italian large-scale retail trade. The products have been analyzed in the laboratory, evaluated by over 700 consumers and also examined for their environmental impact.

The most eloquent data from the test is this: no toothpaste was considered to be of excellent quality, and only 4 out of 15 achieved good quality. The majority, eight products, stop at medium quality, while three end up in the low range. A situation that should give pause for thought, especially considering the often high prices of certain brands.

Some products were penalized by the presence of controversial ingredients: titanium dioxide (a white dye not considered safe for a product that comes into contact with mucous membranes) and some potential endocrine disruptors, substances suspected of altering the hormonal system.

The worst toothpastes

The most sensational negative surprises of the test concern products with a strong commercial appeal, often sold at prices that are anything but low. At the bottom of the ranking we find three toothpastes with low quality:

Pasta del Capitano Placca e Carie ranks last overall with just 27 points, a clear failure for a historic brand that many still buy out of habit or nostalgia.

Oral B Pro-Expert Active Microgranules scores 44 points, compared to a price of 4.13 euros per pack. Spending more, even in this case, does not guarantee a better product.

Marvis Classic Strong Mint, the toothpaste with retro packaging that has become almost a cult object, stops at 45 points with low quality at 4.20 euros. An accurate image says nothing about the real effectiveness of the product.

Even Sensodyne Complex Daily Care, often recommended for sensitive teeth, does not particularly shine: it stops at 55 points with average quality, despite costing 4.37 euros per pack.

The best toothpastes

At the top of the ranking is Mentadent Professional Protect + Caries with 65 points, voted best in the test, available at 3.43 euros.

Immediately behind we find Aquafresh Triple Protection Fresh Mint at 64 points, which earns the title of best purchase thanks to the low price of just 1.55 euros per pack – less than a third compared to some competitors who however obtain much lower scores.

The group of four promoted with good quality is completed by Colgate Total Original (62 points, €3.10) and Elmex Cavity Protection (61 points, €5.13).

How the test was conducted

The researchers analyzed each product considering 5 main aspects. The available fluoride accounts for 15% of the final judgment: it is the substance that protects the enamel from wear and its effective concentration must fall between 1,000 and 1,500 ppm.

Abrasiveness, on the other hand, is the most important parameter of the entire test, with a weight of 30%: too aggressive toothpaste risks damaging the teeth with prolonged use. The ability to remove stains from coffee and wine accounts for 20%, while the environmental impact — ingredients and packaging — accounts for 10%. Labeling (10%) and consumer testing (15%) come next.

The complete ranking

This test also confirms an uncomfortable truth: spending more does not guarantee a better product, and attractive packaging or a historic brand say nothing about the real quality of the individual references.