The world of toothpaste is full of options. You can choose from a variety of brands and flavors, but you also have different types of toothpastes to pick from: paste and gel. Picking the right type of toothpaste for your needs is important because it can make a difference in how well your teeth look after each brushing. If you’re not sure what type of toothpaste you have, here are three steps that will help determine if your tube is made with paste or gel:
There are a few different kinds of toothpaste. The most common kinds of toothpaste are gel toothpaste and paste toothpaste.
Toothpaste is the substance you use to clean your teeth. It comes in many different forms, including liquid and powder. The most popular type of toothpaste is called “gel” (as opposed to “paste”). Gel is a type of paste that has been processed differently so it will not dry out as quickly.
It’s easy to tell whether your tube contains gel or paste: if the words “gel” or “gumminess” appear on the label, then you have yourself some good old-fashioned goop!
How to tell if toothpaste is gel?
To tell if your toothpaste is gel or paste, you will need to follow a few simple steps.
Step 1: Observe the color of the tubes
Gel toothpaste is usually in a tube with a green, blue or red lid. White or clear tubes usually indicate paste-style toothpastes.
If your tube is green, blue or red, it is likely that your toothpaste is gel. This type of toothpaste can be expensive and more effective than traditional paste-based formulas.
If the tube is white and opaque, it’s likely to contain paste. Paste is thicker than gel, so it will be more difficult to squeeze out of the tube. The texture of paste is similar to mayonnaise or pudding.
Paste should be easier to identify than gel because its color more closely matches that of toothpaste in general and because it has a different consistency when squeezed from its container.
If you notice that your tube isn’t as thick as other tubes you’ve used before and seems easy enough to squeeze out, this might be evidence that your favorite brand now sells what they call “gel” instead of traditional paste (or vice versa).
You’re not sure what color your tube is, but you want to know if it’s gel rather than paste. Look at the label on the tube for the product name. If there are no labels and you’re still not sure if your toothpaste is a gel or a paste, look at the front of the tube. If there’s nothing there either, then take off any outer packaging that might be covering up some text on one side of your container (if necessary).
Step 2: Check out the packaging for details about ingredients
When you’re buying a tube of toothpaste, the first thing to do is check out the back of the packaging. The ingredients list will give you a good idea of what type of toothpaste you’ve got in your hand.
Here’s a breakdown:
If “sodium fluoride” is listed as an ingredient, then it’s likely that you have a paste-type product on your hands. If “gel” appears anywhere within or near the top five ingredients list (which means it’s been included in large quantities), then this too is indicative of a gel toothpaste product.
Now that we know how to decipher between these two products and categorize them correctly, let’s take a look at some other factors affecting what type of toothpaste might be right for you!
Another way to determine if your toothpaste is gel or paste is by checking the ingredient list on the back of it’s packaging. Paste-based toothpastes generally have “calcium carbonate” as their first ingredient, while gel-based toothpastes contain “polyethylene glycol.” You may be wondering why we have to go out of our way to check for these things when we’re just using a product that has been approved by government entities for use in mouths? Well, there are some serious differences between gels and pastes when it comes down to what they do inside your mouth (and outside it).
Paste-based products are likely have a word like “paste” in their name whereas gel toothpastes will have one type of ingredient listed first- and that ingredient is usually “gel.” For example, “Crest Complete Whitening Toothpaste Gel with Scope” lists “gel” as the first ingredient while “Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield Toothpaste” lists “sodium fluoride” as the first ingredient.
If you’re still unsure, check out online reviews or look at pictures online to see what other people think about its consistency.
Step 3: Read online reviews or look at pictures online to see what other people think about its consistency
If you still aren’t sure what kind of toothpaste you’re looking at, there are a few other ways to tell. The first thing to do is read online reviews and look at pictures online that show the consistency of the product. You can also check out the product’s website or ask a friend or family member who has used the toothpaste before. If your eyes are telling you it looks like paste but someone else says it’s gel, trust their judgment!
Conclusion
You can tell if your toothpaste is gel or paste by observing the color of the tube, reading the label on it’s packaging and looking at online reviews for pictures or videos that show how thick the product is.
