Is it safe to use triclosan toothpaste if you're trying to get pregnant?

What's actually in it

Triclosan is an antimicrobial that was banned from consumer hand soaps in 2016 after the FDA decided the risk-benefit math didn't work. It wasn't banned from toothpaste, where some brands still use it (Colgate Total kept it until 2019; it still shows up in a few formulas). The mouth is a fast absorption route, and triclosan is detectable in blood within hours of brushing.

Triclosan acts as an endocrine disruptor, hitting thyroid and estrogen signaling pathways.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Toxicol Lett did a mechanistic investigation of triclosan's interference with endocrine signaling. The study confirmed that triclosan disrupts thyroid hormone signaling and estrogen receptor pathways at daily-use exposure levels. Both pathways matter for fertility and early pregnancy.

Swapping toothpaste is easy. Look for brands without triclosan: the ingredient is listed by name. Mainstream toothpastes now mostly use fluoride and mild surfactants; Tom's of Maine, Hello, Boka, and Sensodyne all offer triclosan-free options. For gum health, flossing and regular cleaning do more than any antimicrobial toothpaste ingredient. Hydroxyapatite toothpastes (Davids, Boka) are a fluoride-alternative route some parents prefer.