toothpaste
Americannoun
-
toothpastes
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of toothpaste
Explanation
Toothpaste is the stuff you put on your toothbrush to clean your teeth. Toothpaste polishes your teeth, freshens your breath, and makes you altogether more pleasant to be around. Most toothpaste is a thick paste or gel, a type of dentifrice, or cleaning agent for teeth. Humans have used some version of toothpaste since at least 5000 BCE, when the ancient Egyptians cleaned their teeth with a mixture of crushed eggshells, pumice, and burnt ox hooves. Today's toothpaste is more likely to contain ingredients like fluoride, baking soda, and mint flavoring.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Rations were further curtailed in 2008, when reformist ex-president Raul Castro eliminated what he called "undue subsidies and freebies" such as cigars, toothpaste and oil.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Janice Sedgwick, a volunteer at the charity's Guildford branch, said needed items were things like "toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, sanitary pads and laundry detergent".
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
A “rainbow cart” in each classroom contains necessities such as deodorant, hair care supplies, toothbrushes and toothpaste along with school supplies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The toothpaste and soap company on Friday posted a profit of $693 million, or 86 cents a share, compared with $743 million, or 91 cents a share, a year earlier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
She unpacked the toothbrushes and toothpaste and comb into the bathroom.
From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt
Some children will use the 23 million toothbrushes and toothpastes donated by Colgate to the programme.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025
Yet even with the proliferation of fluoride-containing toothpastes and dental sealants, tooth decay is still the most common chronic disease affecting American children, and the average senior citizen is missing at least 10 permanent teeth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2025
A 2022 analysis from Insight Partners estimates Americans spend over $6 billion per year on the home whitening market alone, including strips, gels, devices and specialized toothpastes.
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2023
Nevertheless, Colgate, like many manufacturers of household goods, has broadly hiked prices on its toothpastes, dish soaps and pet foods over the past year-and-a-half to offset skyrocketing commodity and labor costs.
From Reuters ● Apr. 4, 2023
Xylitol in particular has been shown to be effective, and can be found in mouthwashes, toothpastes and sugar-free gums.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 21, 2022
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
