Most toothpaste is gluten free, but not all of it. A study testing 66 oral hygiene and cosmetic products found that 94% contained less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, the threshold considered safe for people with celiac disease. However, three toothpastes in that study tested above that limit, with gluten levels ranging from 20.7 to 35 ppm. If you have celiac disease or a serious gluten sensitivity, it’s worth checking your toothpaste rather than assuming it’s safe.
Why Toothpaste Sometimes Contains Gluten
Gluten can show up in toothpaste as a thickening agent, giving the paste its smooth, consistent texture. It’s not a primary ingredient, but derivatives of wheat, barley, or rye can be part of the formulation. Malt flavoring, which comes from barley, is another potential source. Even sorbitol, a common sweetener in toothpaste, can occasionally be derived from grains that contain gluten, though it’s more often made from corn or fruit sugars.
The tricky part is that toothpaste manufacturers aren’t required to flag gluten on their labels the way food companies are. The FDA’s gluten-free labeling rule, which caps gluten at below 20 ppm, applies specifically to food products. Toothpaste falls into a regulatory gray area: it’s classified as a cosmetic or over-the-counter drug depending on its claims, so the food labeling standards don’t automatically apply. Some brands voluntarily label their products gluten free, but many don’t address it at all.
Does Swallowed Toothpaste Actually Matter?
You spit most of your toothpaste out, so the amount you actually ingest per brushing is tiny. For most people, even those with celiac disease, this makes toothpaste a low-risk exposure. The study that found a small number of toothpastes above the 20 ppm threshold still concluded that gluten contamination in oral hygiene products is “currently not an issue” for the broader market.
That said, “low risk” and “no risk” aren’t the same thing. People with celiac disease can react to very small amounts of gluten, and you brush your teeth at least twice a day, every day. Children are especially likely to swallow toothpaste rather than spit it out. If you’re highly sensitive or managing a child’s celiac disease, choosing a verified gluten-free toothpaste removes the uncertainty entirely.
How to Check Your Toothpaste
If a toothpaste is labeled “gluten free,” that’s your simplest answer. Some brands go further and carry third-party certifications, which involve independent testing to confirm gluten levels stay below safe thresholds. These certifications are more reliable than a company simply stating the product is gluten free on its packaging.
When there’s no label claim either way, scan the ingredient list for these terms:
- Wheat (or triticum vulgare, its botanical name)
- Barley or malt flavoring
- Rye
- Oat (unless specified as gluten-free oat)
- Sorbitol (usually fine, but worth confirming the source if you’re very sensitive)
If the ingredient list doesn’t raise any flags but you still want confirmation, contacting the manufacturer directly is a reliable option. Most major toothpaste brands have customer service lines or online contact forms, and they can tell you whether gluten-containing ingredients are used in a specific product or whether their manufacturing lines handle gluten-containing materials.
Brands and What to Look For
Several widely available toothpaste brands have stated that their products are gluten free, though formulations can change over time and vary between product lines within the same brand. A company may offer 12 different toothpastes, and not all of them will have the same ingredients. Always check the specific product, not just the brand name.
Your safest bet is a toothpaste that carries a certified gluten-free seal from an organization like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). These products are tested regularly, and the certification is product-specific rather than brand-wide. Natural and specialty toothpaste brands are more likely to carry these certifications, but some mainstream options do as well. Health food stores and online retailers often let you filter by “gluten free,” which can speed up the search.
If you’re switching toothpastes and notice any new oral symptoms like mouth sores, irritation, or an upset stomach, the new product is worth investigating, though these symptoms can have many causes unrelated to gluten.