Colgate Total taken off me at airport security

[Emiliana52]

If you’re flying, you might want to think twice about packing Colgate Total. Mine got flagged twice at airport security and was taken off me. The security guy said they’d already had 20 tubes taken off passengers that day! Makes you wonder what we’re actually cleaning our teeth with.

Who knows! Just after each test came back with explosive traits he said. I’m just warning others who want to zip through security! I’ll still use it and I like the toothpaste!

You're not the first @Emiliana52

Google this.

You aren't alone!

Clearly something in the toothpaste the scanners don't always like.

Mitchum roll on deodorant is another one that flags up! The girl said it happens all the time she said it was because of the high aluminium content. I’ve used natural ones ever since ᵕ̈

Must have been bigger than 100ml unless you were at an airport with the new rules of 2ltr ? Otherwise it doesn't make sense and sounds distinctly odd

Glycerin could be doing it. And if it's already opened, there's no guarantee the original contents haven't been squeezed out and replaced by something else.

@saraclara Thank you for taking the time to add this!

@Katigee410! 100ml bought exactly as I questioned this!

Apparently everyone on here does a two week holiday with carry on luggage only. Fuck knows how.
Compression bags!

@Abcmum34this is probably the answer as to why it is being flagged. The security guy said he’s had 20 that day! I’m not alone!

This made me laugh 😀 i am sure they take 2 bikinis some pants and and a dress for "night time" plus a tonne of toiletries.

I've just googled why its a problem. Here is why.
Why Colgate Triggers Airport Scanners

• High Chemical Density: Colgate formulas—particularly popular lines like Colgate Total—rely on dense active ingredients such as calcium carbonate, fluorides, and synthetic binders. Advanced 3D airport scanners (CT scanners) measure the mass and density of objects; the dense molecular structure of Colgate can register similarly to dangerous, volatile chemical mixtures.
• Liquid/Gel Classification: Under global aviation guidelines, toothpaste is not classified as a solid. It is legally considered a liquid, aerosol, or gel (LAG) because it is viscous and takes the shape of its container.
• The "Container Rule" Trap: Many travelers buy the standard 75ml or 100ml tubes, assuming they comply with the global 100ml liquid limit. However, if the tube is tightly packed, unrolled, or packed alongside other dense toiletries, scanner software will flag the high-density anomaly for a manual bag search or an explosive trace detector (ETD) swab.
• Packaging Materials: Some Colgate tubes retain layered plastic-and-aluminium laminate barriers. This foil-like lining can distort X-ray imaging, preventing the scanner from cleanly seeing through the tube, which prompts agents to pull the bag for inspection.

Had to google this - apparently the chemical density of the paste is producing false positives by the new 3D scanners at airports. They know that is is 99% likely that your tube does just contain toothpaste, but they have to confiscate it in case anyone manipulates the flaw in the system and actually does smuggle explosives in a Colgate tube.

Same happened to my daughter at Manchester airport a couple of weeks ago. New sealed tube of Colgate (not over 100ml).

I love the way so many posters are telling the OP she went over the measurement allowance 🤦🏻‍♀️

My bag got pulled aside to be searched at Edinburgh airport. She said to me ‘have you got Mitchum deodorant?’. I had. She said ‘there’s something in it that sets off the scanners’ It wasn’t taken off me but I’ve avoided taking that brand since.

I use Mitchum, maybe no longer!

This is the same with 6+ calpol we had it taken off us at airport security. They said it gets flagged everytime.

You should tell Colgate

I must have been lucky! I travel with Mitchum roll on regularly. I'm going to be nervous now!

Accidentally took some facial cleanser that was 118ml through airport security at East Midlands today, whoops. Daughter pointed it out, could have sworn it was 100ml when I bought it. I once accidentally took a 2 litre bottle half full a few years ago and it wasn’t picked up. Guess I’m just lucky

Yes this happened to us at Manchester the other week! Colgate Total, brand new, 100ml

Compression bags are amazing- Just came back from 2 weeks away with just hand luggage! Back to the thread- Luton airport still has 100ml limit although the little bags are no longer needed.

That's strange. Our Calpol went through!

Interestingly I’ve watched enough nothing to declare in my life to not find OPs story that unbelievable. Some shampoos and conditioners come back positive for traces of cocaine!