Definition

This is poisoning from swallowing a lot of toothpaste.

Images:

Poisonous Ingredient

  • Sodium fluoride
  • Triclosan

Where Found

  • Various toothpastes

Symptoms

For fluoride:

For regular toothpastes:

Home Treatment

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 instructed otherwise by a health care provider. DO NOT give water or milk if the patient 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 patient's age, weight, and condition
  • The name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength, if known)
  • The time it was swallowed
  • The amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the U.S. 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.

Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible.

See National Poison Control center.

What to expect at the emergency room

People who swallow regular (non-fluoride) toothpaste may not need to be seen in the emergency room.

Those who swallow a lot of fluoride toothpaste (more than one tube) may need to go to the emergency room.

At the emergency room, the health care provider will measure and monitor the patient's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The patient may receive:

  • Fluids by IV
  • Medicines to treat symptoms
  • A nasogastric (NG) tube thru the nose into the stomach to empty the stomach (gastric lavage) 
  • Endoscopy -- the placement of a camera down the throat to see the extent of burns to the esophagus and the stomach
  • Calcium -- medicine (antidote) to reverse the effect of the poison

Expectations (prognosis)

Patients who swallow a very large amount of fluoride toothpastes and survive 48 hours usually recover.

Most non-fluoride (regular) toothpastes are relatively non-toxic (non-poisonous). Recovery is very likely.

Review Date:2/28/2006
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-RooseveltHospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed HealthcareNetwork.