BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuToothpaste overdoseToothpaste is a product used to clean teeth. This article discusses the effects of swallowing a lot of toothpaste.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with has an overdose, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Poisonous ingredients include:Sodium fluoride Triclosan Where Found Ingredients are found in:Various toothpastes Symptoms Swallowing a large amount of regular toothpaste may cause stomach pain and possible intestinal blockage.These additional symptoms may occur when swallowing a large amount of toothpaste containing fluoride:Convulsions ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diarrhea Difficulty breathing Drooling Heart attack Salty or soapy taste in the mouth Slow heart rate Shock Tremors Vomiting WeaknessWeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. Seek immediate medical help.If the product was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless told otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow. Before Calling Emergency Determine the following information:The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strengths, if known) The time it was swallowed The amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room If you swallow toothpaste that does not contain fluoride, you may not need to go to the hospital.Those who swallow a lot of fluoride toothpaste, especially if they are small children, may need to go to the hospital emergency department.At the emergency room, the provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood and urine tests will be done. The person may receive:Activated charcoal to prevent the rest of the poison from getting absorbed into the stomach and digestive tract. Airway and breathing support, including oxygen. In extreme cases, a tube may be passed through the mouth into the lungs to prevent aspiration. A breathing machine (ventilator) would then be needed. Calcium (an antidote), to reverse the effect of the poison. Chest x-ray. Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing). ECGAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopy: a camera down the throat to see burns to the esophagus and stomach. Fluids through a vein (by IV). Medicines to treat symptoms. Tube through the mouth (rare) into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage). Gastric lavageGastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) People who swallow a very large amount of fluoride toothpaste and survive 48 hours usually recover. Very large amount of fluoride toothpastFluoride is a chemical commonly used to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Most nonfluoride toothpastes are nontoxic (nonpoisonous). People are very likely to recover.Open ReferencesReferencesDhar V. Dental caries. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 338.Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.AllVideoImagesTogTooth anatomy - illustration The structure of the tooth includes dentin, pulp and other tissues, blood vessels and nerves imbedded in the bony jaw. Above the gum line, the tooth is protected by the hard enamel covering.Tooth anatomyillustrationTooth anatomy - illustration The structure of the tooth includes dentin, pulp and other tissues, blood vessels and nerves imbedded in the bony jaw. Above the gum line, the tooth is protected by the hard enamel covering.Tooth anatomyillustrationRelated Information Review Date: 10/6/2022 Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Toothpaste overdoseToothpaste is a product used to clean teeth. This article discusses the effects of swallowing a lot of toothpaste.This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose. If you or someone you are with has an overdose, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or the local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. Poisonous Ingredient Poisonous ingredients include:Sodium fluoride Triclosan Where Found Ingredients are found in:Various toothpastes Symptoms Swallowing a large amount of regular toothpaste may cause stomach pain and possible intestinal blockage.These additional symptoms may occur when swallowing a large amount of toothpaste containing fluoride:Convulsions ConvulsionsA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diarrhea Difficulty breathing Drooling Heart attack Salty or soapy taste in the mouth Slow heart rate Shock Tremors Vomiting WeaknessWeaknessWeakness is reduced strength in one or more muscles.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Home Care DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care professional. Seek immediate medical help.If the product was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless told otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the person is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow. Before Calling Emergency Determine the following information:The person's age, weight, and condition The name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strengths, if known) The time it was swallowed The amount swallowed Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.Poison control centerFor a POISON EMERGENCY call:1-800-222-1222ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATESThis national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. This ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. What to Expect at the Emergency Room If you swallow toothpaste that does not contain fluoride, you may not need to go to the hospital.Those who swallow a lot of fluoride toothpaste, especially if they are small children, may need to go to the hospital emergency department.At the emergency room, the provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Blood and urine tests will be done. The person may receive:Activated charcoal to prevent the rest of the poison from getting absorbed into the stomach and digestive tract. Airway and breathing support, including oxygen. In extreme cases, a tube may be passed through the mouth into the lungs to prevent aspiration. A breathing machine (ventilator) would then be needed. Calcium (an antidote), to reverse the effect of the poison. Chest x-ray. Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ECG (electrocardiogram, or heart tracing). ECGAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Endoscopy: a camera down the throat to see burns to the esophagus and stomach. Fluids through a vein (by IV). Medicines to treat symptoms. Tube through the mouth (rare) into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage). Gastric lavageGastric suction is a procedure to empty the contents of your stomach.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) People who swallow a very large amount of fluoride toothpaste and survive 48 hours usually recover. Very large amount of fluoride toothpastFluoride is a chemical commonly used to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Most nonfluoride toothpastes are nontoxic (nonpoisonous). People are very likely to recover.Open ReferencesReferencesDhar V. Dental caries. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 338.Meehan TJ. Care of the poisoned patient. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 135.