Toothpaste Hits Shocking £23 a Tube in UK Shops
UK shoppers are fuming as toothpaste prices skyrocket to an eye-watering £23 a tube. While basic brands like Colgate and Oral-B usually cost £8-£10, premium whitening variants now fetch nearly double, sparking outrage over what many call blatant price gouging.
Supermarkets Stock Toothpaste at Ridiculous Prices
At Tesco in Sheldon, Birmingham, Oral-B Intensive Whitening toothpaste was spotted at a staggering £20, while the Express Whitening version goes for £10. Colgate Max White Ultra is priced at £9.50, with Clubcard holders getting a “bargain” at £5. Although grocery inflation has eased slightly from 5.2% in October to 4.7%, prices remain sky-high for everyday essentials.
Shoppers Cry Foul Over Price Gouging
“£20 is a bit excessive for toothpaste. To me, they all do the same thing, so why pay £20? Most brands do a whitening toothpaste now, so it’s a rip off. I usually shop at Aldi but avoid Tesco for toothpaste,”
grumbled one frustrated customer.
Nina Devi, 23, a nurse, slammed the cost as “extortionate.” She said:
“You can get toothpastes with the same ingredients for around £3. I don’t know what’s so special about this product.”
Another anonymous shopper added:
“Unless it gives you a Simon Cowell smile, it’s not worth it. The companies are just greedy.”
High Prices Hit Boots and Sainsbury’s Too
It’s not just supermarkets feeling the heat. Boots in London’s posh Farringdon branch prices Colgate Max White Renewal at £22. In Sainsbury’s Forest Hill, southeast London, the Colgate Max White Ultimate tube costs a shocking £23 for 75ml.
“Toothpaste at £23 is insulting. No wonder shoplifting is on the rise. You practically need a second mortgage to do your shopping these days,”
moaned an exasperated shopper.
Reddit Users Slam Soaring Toothpaste Costs
Online forums are buzzing with anger. One Reddit user revealed:
“Colgate Total went from £2 at ASDA to £7.70 in weeks, now about £5. The price changes don’t make sense.”
Another accused brands of greed:
“Companies claim rising costs, but they make hundreds of millions. This constant price hike is just greed.”
The advice circulating?
“Toothpaste isn’t rocket science — it’s fluoride, abrasives and flavour. Cheaper brands work just as well. That’s how you show them!”
Supermarkets Push Back on Criticism
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We offer a wide range of toothpastes starting at just 50p.” Boots defended their prices:
“About half our dental range is priced at £5 or under. We run regular promotions and match or beat recommended retail prices.”
But shoppers remain unimpressed as the toothpaste price hike bites hard. What was once a simple everyday essential now feels more like a luxury – and consumers aren’t happy about it.
