Do you live in a frigid area where everything from your food to skincare products freezes? Or maybe you’re on a trip to a cold space and can’t store your toothpaste in a warm place? Many wonder whether their toothpaste freezes and what to do when it does.
Toothpaste does freeze but not as fast as many other water-based products, such as lotions. Most toothpaste contains antifreeze that prevents them from easily hardening when exposed to air or freezing. Fortunately, you can quickly defrost toothpaste by placing it in a warm area for a few minutes.
Let’s look at what to do when your toothpaste freezes and which types of toothpaste tubes you should purchase if you live in a frigid area. I’ll also discuss whether other products, such as body lotion, freezes and whether it’s safe to store them in the freezer to prolong their lifetime.
Can Toothpaste Freeze?
Toothpastes like Colgate Max Fresh (on Amazon) can freeze if exposed to temperatures significantly below freezing. If you live in a cold area, you may have difficulty getting the toothpaste out of the tube in the winter. The toothpaste needs to deform to get out of the tube, and it’s difficult to brush with toothpaste that’s not “paste.” You may even prefer to use toothpaste pills (also on Amazon) for that reason.
Unless you put the toothpaste in the freezer or leave it uncovered when the temperature is significantly below freezing, you shouldn’t have to worry about your toothpaste freezing completely. In most cases, the front part of the toothpaste tube will freeze, and you’ll have to warm it for a few minutes before squeezing the paste out.
Larger toothpaste tubes won’t freeze as quickly as smaller tubes, but it’s still better to use small ones if you live in an area where the toothpaste freezes since the smaller tubes are much easier to defrost.
Avoid placing the toothpaste in the microwave oven or near a flammable source to warm it. Instead, place it under your jacket or a warm cloth and leave it for 5-10 minutes to defrost. If you’re in a hurry, you can pour hot water over the tube to defrost it faster.
Is There Antifreeze in Toothpaste?
Many personal care products, engine coolants, and other products contain antifreeze to make them compatible with cold climates. Most kinds of toothpaste contain antifreeze, preventing them from freezing quickly or getting hard when exposed to air.
The fluoride in the toothpaste will become solid when exposed to air, and the antifreeze ensures you can brush your teeth without the toothpaste drying when you take it out of the tube.
However, the antifreeze in toothpaste is quite different from that used in coolants and industrial applications. Toothpaste contains similar propylene glycol used in engine coolants but a safer FDA-approved grade.
The propylene glycol keeps the toothpaste in a “paste” form. Without it, the toothpaste will turn hard as soon as it’s exposed to air or dry up quickly after you open the tube several times. However, not all toothpaste contains antifreeze.
Can Body Lotion Freeze?
We all have that prized body lotion you may have purchased on sale and want to keep from expiring. Most people will store their lotions in the fridge after opening them and in the freezer to prolong their lifetime. But does body lotion actually freeze, and is it a useful way to preserve it?
Body lotion will freeze partially, depending on its ingredients. When body lotion freezes, the different ingredients will separate. Some parts, such as the water, will freeze, and the fats and oils won’t. Emulsifiers and moisturizers in the lotion will freeze but retain their properties as they warm up.
How to Thaw Toothpaste, Lotion, and Other Creams
While freezing body lotion is an effective way to prolong its lifetime, you’ll have to be careful about how you defrost it. Avoid warming it in the microwave, placing it in hot water, or using a stove, heater, or warm pan to defrost it, as this may cause the lotion to go off.
Simply hold the lotion in your hands for a few minutes after taking it from the freezer. Then, gently mix it with your fingers until all the ingredients start bonding again. If you refrigerate body lotion instead of freezing it, you can use it as soon as you take it out of the fridge.
