Does Toothpaste Actually Have Calories? The Surprising Truth

November 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to research from Colgate, toothpaste formulations don't contain sugar but use safe sweetening agents to enhance flavour. This leads many to question: does toothpaste actually have calories? The simple answer is yes, it contains a trace amount, but its caloric impact is entirely insignificant.

Quick Summary

Toothpaste contains a miniscule amount of calories from ingredients like humectants and sweeteners, but it is not a food product and the calories are not ingested or absorbed. Its caloric content has no effect on diet or weight management, and swallowing it in large quantities can be harmful.

Key Points

Negligible Calories: Toothpaste contains a tiny, insignificant amount of calories from humectants and sweeteners.
Not Absorbed: The calories are not absorbed by the body because toothpaste is spat out and not ingested.
No Dietary Impact: Worrying about toothpaste calories is pointless for weight management or dietary tracking.
Not a Food Product: Toothpaste is classified as a non-consumable product, which is why it lacks a nutritional label.
Ingestion is Dangerous: Swallowing large amounts of toothpaste can be harmful, particularly for children, due to ingredients like fluoride.
Focus on Brushing: The cleaning action of brushing and the active ingredients are what matter for oral health, not the calorie content.

The Science Behind Toothpaste Calories

Calories are units of energy, and from a purely scientific standpoint, any substance with chemical bonds contains some form of potential energy. Toothpaste, being a complex chemical compound, technically does contain calories, but the amount is so minimal it's considered negligible. The caloric contribution comes from ingredients like humectants and artificial sweeteners, not from traditional nutritional sources.

Humectants and Sweeteners: The Caloric Contributors

Sorbitol: A sugar alcohol that prevents toothpaste from drying out and acts as a sweetening agent. It contains approximately 2.6 calories per gram.
Glycerin (Glycerol): Another sugar alcohol and humectant, glycerin also contributes a small number of calories. It is primarily used to keep the paste moist and smooth.
Xylitol: A popular sweetener used in many kinds of toothpaste that is known to provide a calorie burden, though used in such small amounts that it's inconsequential. Xylitol is also beneficial for dental health, as it is not fermentable by oral bacteria.
Saccharin: An artificial sweetener that adds flavour without contributing to tooth decay. It has no caloric value.

Given that a standard serving of toothpaste is a pea-sized amount (around 0.25 grams), the total caloric intake per brushing is virtually zero. You would need to ingest an unrealistic amount of toothpaste to equate to the calories in even a small snack.

What Happens to the Calories?

The key distinction is that toothpaste is not food. It is not designed to be swallowed, and the process of brushing involves rinsing and spitting out the majority of the product. This means that the miniscule calories present in the paste never make it into your digestive system to be absorbed by your body. Therefore, they have no impact on your daily energy intake, weight, or metabolic processes. For this reason, nutritional labels are not required on toothpaste packaging, as it is not a consumable product. The purpose of toothpaste is to deliver active ingredients, clean teeth, and freshen breath, not to provide sustenance.

Potential Dangers of Swallowing Toothpaste

While accidentally swallowing a tiny amount of toothpaste is not a concern, deliberately ingesting large quantities can be harmful. Toothpaste contains active ingredients that are not meant for internal consumption. The primary risk comes from fluoride, which, while beneficial for teeth, can be toxic if consumed in high doses, especially by children. Other ingredients can cause digestive upset. This is why it is critical to supervise young children while brushing to ensure they spit, not swallow, the paste.

Toothpaste vs. Food Calories: A Closer Look


Feature	A Pea-Sized Serving of Toothpaste	A Medium Apple (~182g)	A Slice of Bread (~28g)
Estimated Calories	1-3 (negligible impact)	~95 calories	~80 calories
Absorption	Not absorbed by the body	Digestible and absorbed for energy	Digestible and absorbed for energy
Purpose	Oral hygiene and cleaning	Nutrition and energy source	Nutrition and energy source
Toxicity	Potentially toxic if ingested in large amounts (e.g., fluoride)	Safe for consumption	Safe for consumption
Nutritional Label	Not required	Required	Required

Maintaining Oral Health, Not Calorie Counting

The focus of dental care should always be on oral hygiene, not on the caloric content of your toothpaste. For effective cleaning and to prevent dental issues, brushing and flossing technique are far more important than the brand of toothpaste you choose. Toothpaste acts as a bonus, helping to remove plaque and deliver fluoride to strengthen enamel. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes fluoride as a crucial ingredient for fighting cavities. When it comes to managing your calorie intake, the negligible amount in toothpaste is a non-issue. You gain energy from food and drink, not from brushing your teeth. Therefore, worrying about toothpaste calories is completely unnecessary for anyone concerned with their diet.

Toothpaste Ingredients and Their Functions

Conclusion

While toothpaste technically contains a tiny amount of calories due to ingredients like humectants and sweeteners, this is of no consequence for your health or diet. As a non-consumable product, toothpaste is not meant to be swallowed, and the energy from its components is not absorbed by the body. The caloric count is insignificant, and it should not be factored into any nutritional planning. Your efforts are best directed towards maintaining a healthy diet and proper oral hygiene practices, rather than contemplating the minimal energy content of your dental paste. The primary takeaway is that toothpaste is for cleaning your teeth, and its caloric value should not be a concern.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you do not absorb any significant calories from toothpaste. While a tiny amount might be inadvertently swallowed, the overall quantity is so minimal that it has no practical impact on your caloric intake. The body simply does not process and absorb the components as it would food.

Sweeteners like sorbitol and xylitol are added to toothpaste to improve the taste and make the brushing experience more palatable. These are not sugars that promote tooth decay, but rather sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners that don't harm your teeth.

No, you cannot gain weight from brushing your teeth. The calories in flavored toothpaste are negligible and not absorbed by the body. Weight gain is caused by a sustained caloric surplus from food and beverages, not from products like toothpaste.

Most natural toothpastes, like conventional ones, are not entirely calorie-free. Ingredients like coconut oil or vegetable glycerin still contain energy, but the amount is just as negligible and unabsorbed as in traditional toothpaste formulas.

Toothpaste tubes do not carry nutritional labels because it is not a food product. It is classified differently by regulatory bodies, like the FDA, as an over-the-counter drug (if it contains fluoride) or a cosmetic, and is not meant for ingestion.

If a child swallows a small, pea-sized amount of toothpaste, it is usually not a cause for concern. However, swallowing larger amounts, especially with fluoride, can lead to health risks. In this case, contact your doctor or poison control for advice immediately.

Brushing your teeth has no direct impact on your metabolism from a caloric perspective. While some studies have explored indirect links between oral health and metabolism, the act of brushing itself does not influence metabolic rate in any meaningful way.