Man goes to Walmart. Then he notices Crest toothpaste has glycerin—and claims that’s a problem

A man took a trip to Walmart for a “field test.” Then he discovered an ingredient in Crest toothpaste, which he claims might hurt your teeth.

In a video that received more than 2.1 million views, Zach (@theoriginalzachiroz) looked at the ingredients list on a tub of Crest toothpaste. He said that one key ingredient—glycerin—might end up harming a tooth-repair process called remineralization.

Then he went through a number of other brands and said they all had the same ingredient.

What did he discover at Walmart?

In Zach's video, he took a quick pit stop at Walmart to look at the ingredient list of various toothpastes. But first, he explained what “remineralization” was to his audience.

“ In case you guys didn't know, there's this thing that stops your teeth from regrowing. So like if you start getting cavities, your teeth can actually fill back in.  Most people don't know that. It's a process called remineralization, and with proper nutrition, they can actually heal those cavities,” he said. “ But you know what stops remineralization from happening? Glycerin. Glycerin does that.”

He then picked up a tub of Crest toothpaste and flipped it over, revealing an ingredient list on the back. He took a quick look at the label.

“Active ingredients, water, sorbitol hydrate, disodium phosphate, sodium lauryl sulfate, flavor, huhuhuh, glycerin. Right there, glycerin,” he said.

Zach then went through a laundry list of brands that had glycerin in them.

“ Let's see if Sensodyne's safe, shall we? Ah, first ingredient, glycerin. Maybe Arm & Hammer … glycerin right there. Let's see if Colgate … glycerin,” he said.

He also called out a few brands for having other ingredients, such as dyes and  sodium fluoride, in them.

“ The next time you go to buy your toothpaste, maybe don't look in the big box stores,” he said.

Is he right about the toothpastes being harmful?

Just as Zach said, remineralization is a real process that can help heal tooth decay over time. A person's body can take calcium and phosphate minerals from saliva and deposit them inside a person's enamel.

Over time, remineralization can help replace lost minerals. It also helps prevent tooth disease.

But it doesn't necessarily mean that most people can completely “heal cavities,” an important caveat that commenters pointed out.

“[Only] incipient decay can be reversed. Once it hits the dentin you have no choice but get a filling. You need to give all the information when making these claims bc ppl take what others say very black and white and then be misinformed,” a viewer said.

@theoriginalzachiroz #remineralizeyourteeth #dentalcare #toothpastes #glycerin #calcificationofthepinealgland ♬ original sound – zachiroz

Does Glycerin really stop remineralization?

Zach claimed that glycerin stops remineralization, but that part isn't true, at least according to leading experts.

“Toothpaste containing glycerin does not damage your teeth or stop remineralization,” Clover Dental, a dental practice, says. “There has been a popular rumor that glycerin covers tooth enamel and does not allow the minerals to be absorbed; however, this has not been confirmed in clinical studies. Glycerin is a non-toxic, FDA-approved compound to keep toothpaste moist, smooth, and stable.”

However, some natural toothpaste brands argue that toothpaste that contains glycerin may have an effect on tooth remineralization. That effect, however, is currently unclear, at least according to most experts.

“If enamel depends on efficient mineral exchange, and if glycerin slightly reduces that exchange, then even a small interference could matter when repeated day after day, year after year. In simple terms, it may not stop the system, but it may not fully support it either,” Uncle Harry's, an earth-friendly oral-care brand, states.

Subplot News reached out to Zach via TikTok direct message and Proctor & Gamble via email for comment.

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