Are ‘elites’ using secret codes on your toothpaste tubes? Dentists reveal the truth!
- Replies 9
The internet is a breeding ground for conspiracy theories.
With the power to captivate minds and fuel heated debates, these theories range from the seemingly absurd to the eerily plausible, leaving people online questioning reality and searching for hidden truths in the digital abyss.
And the latest one to take social media by storm involved the humble toothpaste tube.
The theory suggested that the small coloured squares on the bottom of toothpaste tubes are secret codes known only to the 'elites'.
These codes supposedly reveal whether the toothpaste is made from natural or chemical ingredients.
According to the theory, green squares meant the toothpaste was made from only natural ingredients, while blue squares indicated a mix of natural ingredients and medication.
Red squares suggested a combination of natural and chemical ingredients, and black squares meant the toothpaste contained only chemical ingredients.
Videos promoting this theory garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with many expressing worry about the ingredients in their preferred toothpaste brands.
In one video, a young man explained, ‘The theory goes that the “elites”, or the people that know the code, stay away from certain colours of the toothpaste. So it's like, if you know, you know.’
However, was there ever any truth to this claim?
Dentists and toothpaste manufacturers were quick to debunk the odd theory.
The truth is far less sinister: the coloured squares are used in the manufacturing process to indicate where the tube should be cut and sealed, and have nothing to do with the ingredients used in the toothpaste.
Dr Nate Coughlin, an orthodontist, debunked the theory by saying, ‘In reality, Colgate and Crest and all those people tell us that these little dots on the ends are dyes, and they allow them to know when the cut is going to happen, so that they actually make proper-sized toothpaste tubes.’
Similarly, dentist Dr Mohammed Adel Habib Taslimi, reassured his followers that the coloured squares have no bearing on the toothpaste's ingredients.
A dental clinic also jumped in on the fray and said, ‘The toothpaste colour-coding system simply doesn’t exist. The colour on the bottom of your toothpaste means absolutely nothing about the ingredients, and you shouldn’t use it to help you decide on a toothpaste.’
Even toothpaste giant Colgate also weighed in on the debate, labelling the theory a 'hoax'.
The company stated, 'As much as we love cracking secret codes, this one actually has nothing to crack because it’s entirely untrue.'
Despite the debunking of this theory, it led many consumers to reconsider their toothpaste choices, with many opting for products marketed as all-natural and fluoride-free.
Fluoride, which is added to toothpaste to prevent tooth decay by remineralising the enamel, had been demonised by some, saying it is ‘really bad for you’ and claiming it ‘causes a whole array of neurological issues’.
However, fluoride in toothpaste is insufficient to cause neurological effects unless consumed in extremely large quantities.
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a surfactant that helps create foam and bubbles to remove dirt and grime from teeth, has also been scrutinised despite having no scientific evidence to suggest that it is harmful.
Despite the controversial proposition of the theory, numerous individuals engaged in lighthearted banter in response.
‘I use WD-40,’ one joked.
‘I use blue cheese,’ another chimed.
‘I brush my teeth with beef liver and honey,’ a third added.
Some do-it-yourselfers even opted to create their own toothpaste at home, a practice repeatedly discouraged by dental professionals due to its omission of beneficial fluoride and the inclusion of acidic lemon juice or excessively abrasive bicarb soda.
Additionally, many individuals experimented with adding charcoal to their homemade toothpaste for whitening purposes.
On the contrary, it might actually pose risks to both gums and teeth by eroding the protective enamel.
While some still believe in conspiracy theories, new research showed that people can still snap themselves out of controversial assumptions. You can find more details about it here.
So, next time you pick up a tube of toothpaste, don't worry about the colour of the square on the bottom.
Instead, focus on maintaining good oral hygiene habits—your teeth and gums will thank you!
What's your take on this toothpaste tube conspiracy theory? Have you come across any other interesting theories online? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
With the power to captivate minds and fuel heated debates, these theories range from the seemingly absurd to the eerily plausible, leaving people online questioning reality and searching for hidden truths in the digital abyss.
And the latest one to take social media by storm involved the humble toothpaste tube.
The theory suggested that the small coloured squares on the bottom of toothpaste tubes are secret codes known only to the 'elites'.
These codes supposedly reveal whether the toothpaste is made from natural or chemical ingredients.
Dr Nate Coughlin explained that the little dots on the end of toothpaste tubes are dyes to make proper-sized tubes. Credits: Tiktok / dr.natecoughlin
According to the theory, green squares meant the toothpaste was made from only natural ingredients, while blue squares indicated a mix of natural ingredients and medication.
Red squares suggested a combination of natural and chemical ingredients, and black squares meant the toothpaste contained only chemical ingredients.
Videos promoting this theory garnered hundreds of thousands of views, with many expressing worry about the ingredients in their preferred toothpaste brands.
In one video, a young man explained, ‘The theory goes that the “elites”, or the people that know the code, stay away from certain colours of the toothpaste. So it's like, if you know, you know.’
However, was there ever any truth to this claim?
Dentists and toothpaste manufacturers were quick to debunk the odd theory.
The truth is far less sinister: the coloured squares are used in the manufacturing process to indicate where the tube should be cut and sealed, and have nothing to do with the ingredients used in the toothpaste.
Dr Nate Coughlin, an orthodontist, debunked the theory by saying, ‘In reality, Colgate and Crest and all those people tell us that these little dots on the ends are dyes, and they allow them to know when the cut is going to happen, so that they actually make proper-sized toothpaste tubes.’
Similarly, dentist Dr Mohammed Adel Habib Taslimi, reassured his followers that the coloured squares have no bearing on the toothpaste's ingredients.
A dental clinic also jumped in on the fray and said, ‘The toothpaste colour-coding system simply doesn’t exist. The colour on the bottom of your toothpaste means absolutely nothing about the ingredients, and you shouldn’t use it to help you decide on a toothpaste.’
Even toothpaste giant Colgate also weighed in on the debate, labelling the theory a 'hoax'.
The company stated, 'As much as we love cracking secret codes, this one actually has nothing to crack because it’s entirely untrue.'
Despite the debunking of this theory, it led many consumers to reconsider their toothpaste choices, with many opting for products marketed as all-natural and fluoride-free.
Fluoride, which is added to toothpaste to prevent tooth decay by remineralising the enamel, had been demonised by some, saying it is ‘really bad for you’ and claiming it ‘causes a whole array of neurological issues’.
However, fluoride in toothpaste is insufficient to cause neurological effects unless consumed in extremely large quantities.
Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a surfactant that helps create foam and bubbles to remove dirt and grime from teeth, has also been scrutinised despite having no scientific evidence to suggest that it is harmful.
Despite the controversial proposition of the theory, numerous individuals engaged in lighthearted banter in response.
‘I use WD-40,’ one joked.
‘I use blue cheese,’ another chimed.
‘I brush my teeth with beef liver and honey,’ a third added.
Some do-it-yourselfers even opted to create their own toothpaste at home, a practice repeatedly discouraged by dental professionals due to its omission of beneficial fluoride and the inclusion of acidic lemon juice or excessively abrasive bicarb soda.
Additionally, many individuals experimented with adding charcoal to their homemade toothpaste for whitening purposes.
On the contrary, it might actually pose risks to both gums and teeth by eroding the protective enamel.
While some still believe in conspiracy theories, new research showed that people can still snap themselves out of controversial assumptions. You can find more details about it here.
So, next time you pick up a tube of toothpaste, don't worry about the colour of the square on the bottom.
Instead, focus on maintaining good oral hygiene habits—your teeth and gums will thank you!
What's your take on this toothpaste tube conspiracy theory? Have you come across any other interesting theories online? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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