Crest Toothpaste Contains Harsh Mouth-Damaging Chemicals: Lawsuit

Lawsuit argues that if consumers had known Crest Pro-Health contains chemicals harmful to oral health, they would have bought another brand.

Two California residents have filed a class action lawsuit alleging Crest Pro-Health toothpaste caused pain and discomfort to their teeth and mouth because it contains sodium laurel sulfate, an ingredient they argue is not safe for human health.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Sherrie Oliver and Michael Testone in the U.S. Southern District Court of California on July 2, naming Crest’s manufacturer, Procter & Gamble Co., as the defendant.

Sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) is a detergent and irritant often used in consumer cosmetic products. Research has shown it can damage the cells of the mouth, cause epithelial sloughing, disrupt the oral microbiome, cause allergic reactions, trigger inflammation and inhibit wound healing, even in low concentrations.

The lawsuit alleges SLS is a key ingredient of P&G’s Crest Pro-Health toothpaste and causes harm to oral health, which goes directly against marketing claims made by P&G about the product.

Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste Allegations

The lawsuit indicates Oliver began regularly purchasing Crest Pro-Health Gum Detoxify Plus in 2023 and continued to use it through 2025. She experienced pain, discomfort and sensitivity in her teeth and gums for an extended period of time.

Testone states he began purchasing Crest Pro-Health in 2018 and used it until February 2026. The lawsuit claims neither he nor Oliver were familiar with the SLS ingredient and would have purchased a different product if they had known about the side effects. As a result, the plaintiffs and members of the class encompassed by the lawsuit allegedly lost money because of P&G’s deceptive claims about the product.

P&G claims the Crest Pro-Health brand products deliver improved gum health and treat gingivitis. Marketing and product packaging includes claims like: “Gum protection” and “Promotes healing and helps gums return to a healthier condition fast.”

Although marketing represents the products as healthy for the mouth and teeth, the complaint alleges P&G concealed facts about their products and deceptively omitted information about harm to human health. Oliver and Testone argue the company was in a position to know the truth about the dangers of SLS use in Crest. However, it failed to disclose that to consumers.

The complaint notes there were other viable toothpaste alternatives that did not contain SLS or other irritating properties. Instead, research indicates the more SLS used, the more damage can occur to mouth cells, which could lead to more canker sores and inhibit the healing process.

Plaintiffs argue that consumers reasonably expected the toothpaste to not contain ingredients that scientific research shows can be harmful, injure mouth cells and impair wound healing.

“P&G is under a duty to disclose this information to consumers because (a) P&G is revealing some information about its products—enough to suggest they promote oral and gum health—without revealing additional material information, (b) P&G’s deceptive omissions concern human health, and specifically the detrimental health consequences of regularly using the Products, (c) P&G was in a superior position to know of the dangers presented by the SLS in its Products, and (d) P&G actively concealed material facts not known to Plaintiffs and other Class Members.”

— Sherrie Oliver et al. v. The Procter & Gamble Co.

The lawsuit raises allegations of violations of the Unfair Competition law, violations of the False Advertising Law, violations of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, breach of express warranties and breach of implied warranty of merchantability.

Oliver and Testone are asking for the court to certify the class action, order P&G to bear the cost of the class notice, destroy misleading and deceptive advertising materials and product labels, recall all offending products, disgorge revenue and profits linked to unlawful practices and pay restitution and compensation for pain and suffering, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.

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