NDA warns consumers against fake toothpaste safety claims on social media
The Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) has warned Nigerians against relying on oral health information circulated by unqualified individuals on social media, describing many of the claims as misleading, unscientific and
The Nigerian Dental Association (NDA) has warned Nigerians against relying on oral health information circulated by unqualified individuals on social media, describing many of the claims as misleading, unscientific and potentially harmful. In a statement issued on Monday, the President of the association, Emedom M. Elias, alongside members of the National Officers Committee, urged the public to verify dental and oral health information with registered professionals before acting on it. The association said the advisory followed recurring incidents of misinformation shared online by individuals presenting themselves as oral health experts without recognised certification or registration. Citing a recent example, the NDA drew attention to a social media post in which a user who identified himself as a “doctor” claimed that coloured marks at the base of toothpaste tubes indicate their chemical composition and safety profile. According to the widely circulated claim, toothpaste tubes bearing green marks were described as natural and safe, while those with blue, red or black marks were labelled harmful or dangerous.
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The association firmly dismissed the assertion, stating that it lacks any clinical, scientific or regulatory basis. It clarified that the coloured squares or rectangles, known in manufacturing as “eye marks” or “colour registration marks”, are simply production guides used by automated machinery to align, cut and seal toothpaste tubes during packaging. They do not, the NDA stressed, reflect ingredients, safety standards or whether a product is natural or synthetic.
The body also referenced a previous viral video in which a clergyman cautioned against toothpaste-containing fluoride, alleging a link to cancer. The NDA described the claim as inaccurate and alarmist, noting that fluoride and other active ingredients in toothpaste are subject to strict evaluation and approval processes by relevant health authorities before they are permitted for public use.
According to the association, dental products in Nigeria undergo biochemical testing and, where necessary, clinical evaluation, in addition to regulatory scrutiny by government agencies responsible for consumer safety. The NDA advised Nigerians to disregard oral health advice from unauthorised sources, to read product labels carefully, confirm regulatory approvals and seek guidance from registered dental practitioners. It further warned self-acclaimed experts spreading false information to desist, stating that it would collaborate with law enforcement agencies to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute offenders.
