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How To Know If Your Toothpaste Has Been Recalled

by Alex Gladu

On Saturday, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare recalled specific Sensodyne and Biotene toothpaste tubes, according to a post on supermarket chain Wegmans' website. The affected toothpaste "may contain small fragments of wood" and can be returned to the store for a full refund. The voluntary recall affects only certain lots of the toothpaste brands.

The affected products cater toward people with specialized dental needs. Sensodyne is supposed to protect sensitive teeth that can be irritated easily by hot and cold substances. Biotene is supposed to help with dry mouth. To find out if your tube is affected, check the lot code on the left end of the toothpaste box or on the back seam of the tube itself. Affected toothpaste will fall into one of these categories:

  • Biotene Toothpaste, Fluoride, Dry Mouth, Fresh Mint Original, 4.3 oz. UPC: 0-48582-10050, only product with the following codes: X3J271, X3K171, X3K291, X3N171, X4B061, X4B081, X4C251, X4D291, X4D301, X4E081, X4G131, X4H111
  • Biotene Toothpaste, Fluoride, Dry Mouth, Fresh Mint Original, 4.5 oz. UPC: 0-48582-00220, only product with the following codes: X2K151, X3B211, X3C012, X3C141, X3C251, X3G021
  • Sensodyne Repair & Protect Toothpaste, Daily Repair, with Fluoride, Extra Fresh, 3.4 oz. UPC: 3-10158-84030, only product with the following codes: Q3H081N, Q3H101N1, Q3H131C, Q3J121C, Q3J121D, Q3J261, Q3J291, Q3M021, Q3M071, Q3N021, Q3N211, Q4A111, Q4B201, Q4C151, Q4C191, Q4D111, Q4D151R, Q4F161, Q4F201, Q4G301
  • Sensodyne Complete Protection Toothpaste, Sensitivity, with Cavity & Gingivitis Protection, Extra Fresh, 3.4 oz. UPC: 3-10158-08560, ONLY product with the following codes: C4D061, C4E161, C4E211, C4F051, C4H111

Wegmans shoppers can bring their tainted toothpaste back to the store for a full refund. There doesn't appear to be any word yet about other stores offering a refund. In fact, Wegmans seems to be the only store carrying the affected lots, as it is the only store to have reported the recall.

BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

Earlier this year, GSK recalled a specific type of flu vaccine in the United States for reduced effectiveness. That recall was also voluntary and did not pose a safety risk to the public, according to the company's release. What's interesting is that no such release can be found for this weekend's toothpaste recall.

In 2014, GSK competitor Proctor & Gamble faced troubles of its own when a dental hygienist found that at least some types of Crest toothpaste embedded non-soluble plastic particles into users' gums. The company announced it would reevaluate the ingredients of its products through March 2016.

Fortunately, the GSK toothpaste recall seems much smaller in scale than previous issues. Check your Sensodyne and Biotene tubes with the list above before you buy or before you use it again.

Image: Getty Images (1)