# Why is there no yellow toothpaste? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 30, 2023, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045 "2023-01-30T10:32:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/41 "2023-01-31T09:07:45Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > > [@dtilque](#): > > > > I bet that Pepsodent slogan from way back in the 60s has a lot to do with it. > > IMO, your post would be so much better if you said what that slogan was. “You’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/42 "2023-01-31T11:51:16Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Toilet cleaners are blue (I believe) because when you add yellow liquid (urine) to the blue water it still has a pleasant enough greenish color. Just about any other color but blue would look worse when yellow liquid is added to it. I think in general blue is seen as quite a sterile color. Yes, the sky and the sea are blue, but in terms of most of the things we eat, and animals that we encounter, it’s not a common color. Bright blue liquids inherently look synthetic. So it has become standard for cleaning products of all kinds, and things like band-aids for people who work with food, to be blue. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/43 "2023-01-31T18:28:17Z")
When striped toothpaste was a relatively new thing, in the 80s I guess it was, I recall one that had a thin yellow stripe, along with two other colors, probably red and blue. It freaked me out a little at the time, and I haven’t even thought about it until now. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/44 "2023-01-31T21:39:11Z")
Yellow… … is the colour of nasty stains … implies (to many) teeth less clean/white … implies older general appearance … implies poorer hygiene … may be more likely to stain toothbrush … is the colour of urine and mucus … tends to “harsher” food flavours (lemons are sour, mustard is sharp, curries etc.) Yes, none of these has to apply. But most of them do subconsciously. Exactly what advantages are obtained to offset these? Easier to find in the dark? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/45 "2023-01-31T21:54:58Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Bright blue liquids inherently look synthetic. So it has become standard for cleaning products of all kinds As well as for demonstrations of absorbency in advertising for products like toilet paper, diapers, menstrual pads, tampons, etc. Blue would nearly never be the actual color of the bodily product being “depicted,” and thus, the ad doesn’t make people as squeamish. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/46 "2023-02-04T00:06:41Z")
There is purple toothpaste! > **[Amazon.com: Hismile v34 Colour Corrector, Purple Teeth Whitening, Tooth Stain...](https://www.amazon.com/Hismile-Corrector-Whitening-Toothpaste-Correcting/dp/B09LH36816)** > > Amazon.com: Hismile v34 Colour Corrector, Purple Teeth Whitening, Tooth Stain Removal, Teeth Whitening Booster, Purple Toothpaste, Colour Correcting, Hismile V34, Hismile Colour Corrector, Tooth Colour Corrector : Health & Household And green. > **[What’s in Your Toothpaste? - Westermeier Martin Dental Care](https://wmsmile.com/whats-in-your-toothpaste/)** And lemon. > **[Colgate Naturals Pure Fresh Lemon and Aloe Vera Toothpaste](https://www.colgate.com/en-my/products/toothpaste/colgate-naturals-pure-fresh)** > > Colgate Naturals Lemon Aloe Vera Toothpaste with Colgate's scientific expertise to unleash the power of nature's wildest ingredients that refreshes breath, leaving you a fresh and clean mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/47 "2023-02-04T00:09:32Z")
The above link to lemon toothpaste doesn’t show you what the paste itself looks like, but this one does. > **[Colgate Naturals Pure Fresh Toothpaste, Lemon and Aloe Vera, 120g (Pack of 2) :...](https://www.amazon.sg/Colgate-Naturals-Fresh-Toothpaste-Lemon/dp/B079Z6MCJ1)** > > Reconnecting with nature is known to revive our senses rejuvenate our mind and revitalise our body for a healthy life. [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ghQ14zqPL._AC_SX679_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ghQ14zqPL._AC_SX679_.jpg) It looks like you’re brushing your teeth with margarine. ---
**Author:** ![Didi44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47c2d/32.png) [@Didi44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Didi44)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/48 "2023-03-11T22:22:05Z")
I bought a bottle of the purple because I love anything purple. Tried it once then tossed the bottle. I had to close my eyes while eating it on fries, because it turned my stomach looking at it. My mind said grape, but my mouth said NO! ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/49 "2024-06-28T01:33:16Z")
Dammit, I reopened this zombie thread because I bought “coconut and ginger” toothpaste a couple days ago, and was surprised to find the paste basically looks like lemon curd… But, scrolling up, I see people have already come across the colgate “natural extracts” range, so I’m not adding anything new 🤦‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/50 "2024-06-28T04:34:27Z")
Back in the late 60’s/early 70’s there was this thick liquid that was supposed to help remove coffee and tobacco stains from teeth. You’d dribble it on a dry tooth brush and scrub your teeth with it. I have no idea what is was called and can’t find it online. But we had it at our house as my mother both drank a lot of coffee and smoked a bit at that time of history. It wasn’t toothpaste but it was yellow. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/51 "2024-06-28T05:05:23Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > My son has watermelon flavored toothpaste W. T. F. { _runs off to Amazon_ } ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/52 "2024-06-28T06:02:41Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > > [@garygnu](#): > > > > My son has watermelon flavored toothpaste > > W. T. F. > > { _runs off to Amazon_ } I remember when the Johnson Smith catalog used to sell liquor flavored toothpaste. > **[Best Reason to Brush Your Teeth? Bourbon Flavored Toothpaste](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/best-reason-brush-teeth-bourbon-flavored-toothpaste/)** > > Recently my husband was touring an exhibit of Kenner Toys and other novelties with a Cincinnati connection at the Cincinnati Public Library and he sent me ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/53 "2024-06-28T06:19:19Z")
Heheh, scotch flavored toothpaste, for when you just can’t stand to not have a smoky aftertaste in your mouth. I’d buy it once, at least. No mention of fluoride, though. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/54 "2024-06-28T06:46:07Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Back in the late 60’s/early 70’s there was this thick liquid that was supposed to help remove coffee and tobacco stains from teeth. You’d dribble it on a dry tooth brush and scrub your teeth with it. I have no idea what is was called and can’t find it online. But we had it at our house as my mother both drank a lot of coffee and smoked a bit at that time of history. > > It wasn’t toothpaste but it was yellow It sounds like Pearl Drops, maybe? But I don’t recall it being yellow. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045/55 "2024-06-28T07:13:32Z")
No. I was a liquid although it was a heavy liquid yet not a get. Kind of hard to explain. Had an odd taste, not really pleasant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-there-no-yellow-toothpaste/979045.md?page=2)