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Brand founded in India, 1884 · about the brand
Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 3.9 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
The score is capped for a specific safety reason, set out below. This toothpaste contains Titanium Dioxide, which is banned as a food additive in the EU due to genotoxicity concerns when ingested. While the primary exposure route for toothpaste is oral contact with limited swallowing, this ingredient's presence is a significant concern, especially for young children who may swallow more toothpaste. The formulation also includes Sodium Saccharin, an artificial sweetener, and Sodium Benzoate, a preservative that can form benzene in the presence of vitamin C, though this interaction is less relevant in a toothpaste. The product's base is largely undisclosed as 'Excipients', limiting a full safety assessment.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Peelu
- Nilgiri Taila
- Peppermint Satva
- Lavanga Taila
Contains Titanium Dioxide, an EU-banned food additive.
The score is capped for a specific safety reason, set out below. This toothpaste contains Titanium Dioxide, an ingredient banned as a food additive in the EU due to genotoxicity concerns when ingested. While toothpaste is largely spat out, this is a significant concern, particularly for children who may swallow it. The product also uses an artificial sweetener, Sodium Saccharin, and its main base ingredients are not fully disclosed, limiting a complete safety assessment.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Titanium Dioxide is declared.
Personal check · free
Is this right for you or your family?
Just checking whether the product is safe? The analysis above is yours, no account needed. To know if it is safe for you, your father or your child, add a profile and we check this label against them.
- Allergies. Peanut, milk, gluten, egg and more, checked against the ingredient list.
- Diet. Vegetarian, vegan, Jain, no egg, no dairy.
- Health and goals. Sugar, salt, protein, steady blood sugar, heart-friendly, weight.
- Everyone you buy for. Save a profile for Papa or the kids and switch in one tap.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for oral care. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
LimitContains Titanium Dioxide (E171), which is a concern if swallowed. Supervise brushing to minimize ingestion.
Why the score is capped
Contains an additive restricted for a recognised health hazard
Rule F-CAP-10 · Source: IARC / EFSA classification of the additive
Base declared only as "Excipient/Base q.s.", not named — most of the formulation can't be assessed
Rule PC-CAP-16
Undisclosed generic ingredient (specific compound not named)
Rule PC-CAP-08
What's good
Contains traditional botanical ingredients like Peelu, Peppermint Satva, and essential oils for oral hygiene benefits.
Watch out for
Presence of Titanium Dioxide (E171), an EU-banned food additive with genotoxicity concerns upon ingestion.
Lack of transparency regarding the 'Excipients' and generic 'Preservative' and 'Colour' ingredients.
Contains Sodium Saccharin, an artificial sweetener.
Contains Benzyl Alcohol and essential oils (Nilgiri Taila, Lavanga Taila) which are potential fragrance allergens for sensitive individuals.
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Titanium Dioxide (E171)
EFSA concluded in 2021 that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive, citing genotoxicity concerns, and the EU banned its use in food from August 2022. It is still used in some cosmetics where skin absorption is the concern. Indian regulations are under review.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA 2021; EU Regulation 2022/63
Titanium Dioxide: regulation, sources and other products →Sodium Benzoate (E211)
Benzoates are permitted preservatives with an established acceptable daily intake. Two documented concerns: in acidic drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C) they can slowly form small amounts of benzene, especially with heat and light (US FDA beverage survey, 2006); and sodium benzoate was one of the additives in the Southampton study mixtures associated with hyperactivity in children. It can also trigger reactions in some people with asthma or urticaria.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA re-evaluation of benzoic acid and benzoates (2016); US FDA benzene-in-beverages survey (2006); McCann et al., Lancet 2007
Sodium Benzoate: regulation, sources and other products →Saccharin (E954)
Saccharin is an approved intense sweetener and is used in small amounts to flavour toothpaste. An earlier rodent-bladder finding was judged not relevant to humans and IARC moved it to Group 3 (not classifiable) in 1999. The WHO (2023) nevertheless advises against relying on non-sugar sweeteners for weight control. In toothpaste the amount swallowed is very small.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: IARC Monographs Vol. 73 (1999); WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (2023); EFSA/JECFA acceptable daily intake
Saccharin: regulation, sources and other products →Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl alcohol is both a preservative (permitted up to 1% in the EU) and one of the fragrance substances the EU requires to be named on a label because it can cause contact allergy in sensitised people. It is information for someone who knows they react to it, not a general hazard.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex III and Annex V
Benzyl Alcohol: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains Titanium Dioxide (E171), which is banned as a food additive in the EU due to genotoxicity concerns when ingested. While this is an oral care product, ingestion is possible, especially for children.
The product's base is largely undisclosed as 'Excipients', limiting a full safety assessment of the majority of the formulation.
Contains Sodium Benzoate, a preservative that can form benzene with vitamin C, though this interaction is less likely to be significant in a toothpaste.
Contains Benzyl Alcohol, a known fragrance allergen that the EU requires to be declared.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
This describes the product’s packaging or its category, not a testable attribute of the food itself — so it’s classified separately rather than flagged as a doubtful claim.
The claim refers to a free item included with the product, which cannot be verified from the ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a general benefit for tooth and gum care, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a subjective sensory experience that cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a functional benefit of germ protection, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a functional benefit of gum protection, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a functional benefit of teeth whitening, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a functional benefit of fighting tooth decay, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a functional benefit of preventing bad breath, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The claim describes a functional benefit of fighting plaque, which cannot be verified from the provided ingredient list or nutrition information.
The ingredient list includes "Peelu (Salvadora persica, Rt. Ext.)", which is also known as Miswak extract.
Fluoride is not listed in the ingredients.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
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1.
Peelu 0.25gPeelu (Salvadora persica, Rt. Ext.)
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2.
Nilgiri Taila 0.01gNilgiri Taila (Eucalyptus globulus, Lf. Oil)
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3.
Peppermint Satva 0.1gPeppermint Satva (Mentha arvensis, Pl. Satva)
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4.
Lavanga Taila 0.1gLavanga Taila (Syzygium aromaticum, Fl. bud, Oil)
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5.
Excipients unnamedExcipients: q.s.
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6.
PreservativesPreservatives: Sodium benzoate, Benzyl alcohol.
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Sodium Benzoate within PreservativesSodium benzoate
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Benzyl Alcohol within PreservativesBenzyl alcohol
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7.
Color synthetic colourColor: Titanium Dioxide.
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Titanium Dioxide within Color synthetic colour
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8.
Sodium Saccharin 0.15% w/wSodium Saccharin (0.15% w/w)
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
Declared on this label as
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
Compare with other toothpaste products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
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What are the ingredients in Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract?
The label of Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract lists 11 ingredients, in label order: Peelu, Nilgiri Taila, Peppermint Satva, Lavanga Taila, Excipients, Preservative, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Colour, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Saccharin. Flagged by the analysis: Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Saccharin, Benzyl Alcohol.
Is Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract safe to use?
Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract scores 3.9/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). The score is capped for a specific safety reason, set out below. This toothpaste contains Titanium Dioxide, an ingredient banned as a food additive in the EU due to genotoxicity concerns when ingested. While toothpaste is largely spat out, this is a significant concern, particularly for children who may swallow it. The product also uses an artificial sweetener, Sodium Saccharin, and its main base ingredients are not fully disclosed, limiting a complete safety assessment.
Why does Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract score 3.9/10?
Flagged in the score: Presence of Titanium Dioxide (E171), an EU-banned food additive with genotoxicity concerns upon ingestion. Contains Sodium Saccharin, an artificial sweetener. Also noted: Lack of transparency regarding the 'Excipients' and generic 'Preservative' and 'Colour' ingredients.
Who should avoid Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Avoiding Titanium Dioxide (E171); Sensitive to artificial sweeteners; Sensitive skin or fragrance allergies (Benzyl Alcohol, essential oils).
Is Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract suitable for babies or young children?
Toddlers & young children (1–5): Limit.
Are the claims on the Meswak Paste With Miswak Extract pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 11 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "Free Binaca Sensitive Toothbrush" — can't be verified from the label. "PASTE FOR AIDING COMPLETE TOOTH & GUM CARE" — can't be verified from the label. "Great Mouth Feel" — can't be verified from the label.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
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About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
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