Brushing your teeth with antifreeze is safe?

The FDA sent out a warning to the entire planet this week listing several brands of toothpaste that have diethylene glycol in it.  That stuff’s used in antifreeze as well.  That sounds kinda bad to me.  Nothing to freak out over, but I’ll stick with the brands I know.  Here’s a list of the brands they say to watch out for:

  • Cooldent Fluoride
  • Cooldent Spearmint
  • Cooldent ICE
  • Dr. Cool
  • Everfresh Toothpaste
  • Superdent Toothpaste
  • Clean Rite Toothpaste
  • Oralmax Extreme
  • Oral Bright Fresh
  • Spearmint Flavor
  • Bright Max Peppermint Flavor
  • ShiR Fresh Mint Fluoride Paste.

I’m a Colgate guy, so I’m safe.  What boggles me is the Chinese response to this situation:

Calling the FDA warning “unscientific, irresponsible and contradictory,” China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a statement posted on its Web site late Saturday that low levels of the chemical have been deemed safe for consumption.

Although that might be true, using glycerin is proven safe.  I think I’ll be sticking with Colgate.