This is my review of the Colgate total plaque pro release toothpaste after having used it for a few weeks.
Overview
The plaque pro release toothpaste by Colgate was made to decimate plaque and protect your teeth from bacteria for a full 24 hours. Its purpose is to help keep your teeth, gums, and mouth healthy using a proprietary smart foam formulation.
Featured benefits
This toothpaste is marketed as being able to dissolve and lift away gum harming plaque when used properly twice daily. Allegedly the protection is long lasting, up to an entire day.
Benefits:
Long lasting 24 hour antibacterial protection.
Anticavity, antigingivitis, anti-sensitivity formula that helps fight tartar build-up.
Gets to hard to reach places with smart foam technology.
Interferes with the harmful effects of plaque & gingivitis.
Gluten free.
Sugar free.
Directions for use
The directions are specifically for adults and children 12 years of age and older.
Apply at least a 1-inch strip of toothpaste onto a soft bristled toothbrush.
Brush teeth for at least 1 minute twice a day (morning & evening) or as recommended by a dentist.
Make sure to brush all sensitive areas of the teeth.
Spit out and do not swallow.
It's fascinating because we've noticed that a lot of toothpastes will say to brush for at least 1 minute on the label. This is despite the fact that it is widely accepted that 2 minutes should be the recommended brushing time.
Product specifications
Attributes | Specifications |
|---|---|
Price | $ |
Net weight | 3 oz (85g) |
Dispensing Mechanism | Squeezable tube |
Fluoride | Stannous Fluoride |
Remineralization agent | Stannous Fluoride |
Desensitizer | Stannous Fluoride |
Ingredients
There are a total of 21 ingredients in the pro plaque release toothpaste from Colgate.
Fluoride:
Stannous fluoride (0.454%) - anti-cavity, anti-gingivitis, anti-sensitivity.
Whitening abrasives:
Hydrated Silica - mild natural whitening abrasive.
Stain and tartar prevention:
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate - anti-tartar.
Zinc Phosphate - antibacterial & anti-tartar.
Flavoring:
Sorbitol - sweetener/humectant.
Flavor
Sodium Saccharin - sweetener.
Sucralose - sweetener.
pH adjuster:
Sodium Citrate - pH adjuster.
Arginine - pH adjuster.
Citric Acid - pH adjuster.
Others:
Water - solvent.
PVP/MA Copolymer - bioadhesive; enhances stannous fluoride effects
Glycerin - humectant (prevents drying out).
PEG-12 - lubrication and spreadability.
Cellulose Gum - thickener and prevents drying out.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - surfactant/detergent.
Microcrystalline Cellulose - thickener & stabilizer.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine - surfactant/detergent/foaming.
Xanthan Gum - gives the toothpaste body.
Titanium Dioxide - adds white color.
Unboxing
Below are photos of what the product looks like from multiple views.
This toothpaste looks very premium with its clear acrylic cap and high quality glossy plastic tube which reassures you that the price premium you paid for it was well worth it.
To use it, you just need to unscrew the cap and then squeeze the tube to dispense the toothpaste.
The screw cap does make it much more secure if you were to travel with it. However from a daily use perspective, I much prefer the flip cap design because it is more convenient and faster to open/close it.
Last but not least, I do like that the more premium toothpastes now all come with upright vertical storage. This toothpaste is designed in such a way that it can be stored upright due to the flat bottom of the cap. Vertical storage takes up less space and keeps your bathroom sink more organized looking.
My experience
I thoroughly enjoy brushing with the Colgate total plaque pro release because it keeps my mouth feeling fresh for a long time afterwards. Although what really makes me like it is that it tastes slightly sweet like a mentos (yes the candy!).
Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
Color | Opaque White |
Smell | Sweet Mint |
Taste | Mentos flavored |
Texture | Soft, Stretchy & non-gritty |
Foaminess | Moderate foaming |
Cleanliness | Very clean |
Sensitivity | No sensitivity/Discomfort |
Color
The color of this toothpaste is an opaque white. It is a solid single color meaning there are no stripes or any of the fun variations.
Smell
It has a very light mint smell so it's not off-putting nor is it offensive. There is a slight hint of sweetness to it so it's not a pure mint smell.
Taste
I really like how this toothpaste tastes because it's not only minty but has a slight hint of sweetness to it. The best way that I can describe it is that it tastes like the original Mentos.
Just so that you know, I am a fan of mint-based toothpastes so perhaps I am a bit biased. Nonetheless in my opinion, this one tastes great and is a big plus in my book.
Texture
I barely felt any grittiness when I was brushing with the Colgate pro plaque release toothpaste. It was almost as if it didn't have any whitening abrasives in it. The paste just spread around the mouth gliding very easily.
The texture of the paste is soft and stretchy which reminds me of pulled mozzarella or caramel. But, despite how it stretches, it won't droop off your toothbrush if you hold it upside down.
The only downside to this kind of texture of toothpaste is that it does leave a bit of a mess inside of the cap. It goes a bit all over the place so you do lose some of it.
Foaminess
This is a SLS-based toothpaste so you should expect a decent amount of foaming in the mouth when brushing. If you've used the non-sodium lauryl sulfate products, those barely foam at all.
The image above shows how much foam was in my mouth after I brushed with it. Nonetheless, the product advertises "smart foam" technology so of course it would foam. It does have another foaming agent, cocamidopropyl betaine which is another detergent that also contributes to the lathering.
Cleanliness
My teeth felt very clean afterwards and this sensation persisted for the next 2-3 hours. In my opinion the fact that it is mint flavored helps contribute to the sensation. The tingling from it gives it a fresh feeling.
Sensitivity
There was no discomfort or sensitivity while using this toothpaste. That is due to the fact there there isn't a teeth bleaching agent in it and this toothpaste is supposed to desensitize your teeth.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Premium version of fluoride (stannous fluoride).
Anti-cavity
Anti-sensitivity
Anti-gingivitis
Stores upright
Fresh & clean feeling
TSA travel size
Tastes like Mentos
Aesthetic design
Cons:
Cost more than their other toothpastes.
Small size (3 oz bottle).
Twist off cap takes a long time to remove.
Potential teeth staining.
What I like
Yeah the toothpaste provides a lot of benefits for your mouth but to be honest, I just like using it because it tastes like a Mentos which is absolutely delicious.
What I dislike
The cons with the plaque pro release toothpaste don't really bother me that much. Although there are just two comments that I wish to expand upon.
Decreasing size. Have you noticed that the size of toothpaste has been getting smaller and smaller? This isn't even the travel size version because it is the full size but yet it is small enough (3 oz) to be TSA travel size compliant.
Teeth staining. The toothpaste explicitly states that it is a "whitening paste" but if you read the "other information" on the tube, there is precaution. It states that stannous fluoride may produce surface staining.
Yes, tooth staining is a known potential side effect from the stannous version of fluoride. The sodium version of fluoride won't cause any enamel discoloration though.
Does it work?
The main selling point of the pro plaque release toothpaste is that it can dissolve and lift away gum harming plaque from your teeth. Yes, it does work and most of its effects are due to the stannous fluoride, the more premium version of fluoride.
You may have noticed that the sodium fluoride toothpastes cost less but that is because it isn't as effective as the stannous fluoride.
Benefits of stannous fluoride:
Inhibits demineralization.
Enhances remineralization.
Anti-bacterial. It is both bacteriostatic and bactericidal.
Improves gum health. It reduces gingivitis, gum bleeding, plaque, and bad breath.
Decreases teeth sensitivity. Occludes exposed dentinal tubules which reduces sensitivity.
You probably thought that fluoride only prevented cavities but it can do so much more than that, especially the stannous version of it. The least well known additional effect would probably be the anti-sensitivity.
Verdict
Overall I really like the Colgate total pro plaque release as an everyday toothpaste. It uses the premium version of fluoride so you get the anti-cavity, anti-sensitivity, and anti-gingivitis effect. It also encourages me to brush more since it tastes like Mentos to me.
You may be worried about the teeth staining precaution on the label but honestly I'm not concerned at all. I've yet to see any discolorations on my enamel from using it.
Therefore if you're wondering if I recommend this toothpaste, yes I would. My only real gripe with it is that it does cost more than the original Colgate Total line of toothpastes. Those are also stannous fluoride based.
