It's a household name targeting a dental condition that affects a reported 40 million Americans. Here's what to know if you're a user.
As many as 40 million Americans experience tooth sensitivity in their lifetimes, per the Academy of General Dentistry, which can make everyday experiences like sipping a hot drink or licking an ice cream cone an intensely uncomfortable experience.
Tooth sensitivity occurs when your teeth’s outer layer (the enamel) wears down and exposes the softer layer (dentin) beneath. Says the Cleveland Clinic: “Dentin has tiny tubes that lead to the center of your tooth, where the nerve lives. These tubes let temperature changes and sugar reach the nerve and cause pain.” Fortunately, a number of over-the-counter oral care products can offer relief…but one of the most well-known toothpaste brands addressing the condition now faces an expansive recall.
On Wednesday, the FDA alerted the public to a nationwide recall of Sensodyne toothpaste—specifically, 46,692 tubes of Sensodyne Pronamel Active Shield Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth in the Fresh Mint flavor are affected.
The recall was assigned a Class III designation Wednesday after first being initiated August 5. Class III recalls are the least severe of the FDA’s classifications, applying to “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.”
So, using the toothpaste probably wouldn’t result in any health concerns, but the FDA’s notice helps clear up any confusion for consumers—the agency offers the following explanation: “The outer carton is labelled Fresh Mint. The tube is labelled Cool Mint/Whitening. The toothpaste inside the tube is Fresh Mint as indicated on the outer carton.”
Here’s how to identify the recalled Sensodyne, according to the FDA:
- Sensodyne PRONAMEL (Potassium nitrate 5%, Sodium fluoride 0.25%) Active SHIELD Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth, Fresh Mint
- Net Weight: 3.4-ounce (96.4-gram) tube
- 6 tubes x 2 inners, per case
- Distributed by GSK Consumer Healthcare, Warren, NJ 07059
- UPC: 3 10158 35691 2
- Lot # for Case: 5058RB, Expiration Date: 08/31/2027
- Lot # for Carton and Tube: NJ2A, Exp 08/31/2027
The recalling firm, Haleon US Holdings LLC of East Durham, NY, lists multiple oral health brands as part of its portfolio, including Polident, Aquafresh, and Biotene. The company—which is “the result of the combination of three consumer health businesses, GSK, Novartis and Pfizer,” per the company website—also owns other well-known brands in the health space, including Advil, Theraflu, Excedrin, Robitussin, Tums, and more.
Earlier this year, more than 4.5 million toothpaste products were recalled in two states due to Current Good Manufacturing Practice Deviations.
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