Research shows the cost of toothpaste in Britain could double throughout the year
Dentists agree that brushing twice a day is the best way to care for your teeth. But depending on what month it is, oral hygiene can be a dramatically more expensive habit to maintain.
New research has found that the cost of a tube of toothpaste can be double at some times of the year and double at others. The price of other popular health products, such as Gillette razors, can also double depending on when they are purchased.
The consumer group Which? looked at comparable products from the three best-selling brands that were available for at least 42 weeks per year between March 2023 and February 2024.
With toothpaste, at one end of the price scale, Colgate’s Max White Ultimate Radiance (75ml) costs from £11 to £25.20 in Waitrose. Asda and Boots usually price the product at £12.
A standard product, Colgate’s Max White Expert Whitening Toothpaste, ranged between £2.50 and £5 per year.
Ele Clark, retail editor at Which?, said: “Retailers are constantly changing the prices of products based on demand, seasonality, agreements with manufacturers and what their competitors are doing.
“Keep an eye on the prices of products you regularly buy and stock up when the price is low – or ask yourself if it’s really essential to have your favorite brand and consider switching to a cheaper product that might as well do his job.”
Researchers also found a variation in the cost of mouthwash between stores. An example was Colgate’s Max White Expert Whitening (500ml), which regularly sold for £2.50 and £5 in all major supermarkets throughout the year. Meanwhile, another mouthwash, Listerine Advanced Defense Gum Crisp Mint (500ml), costs between £3 and £6 at Boots.
Which? took a snapshot of the price for each product at the same time every week throughout the year, excluding multi-purchase offers and loyalty prizes.
Consumers often had to pay more for razors, especially for some Gillette products. The Gillette Labs Razor with Exfoliating Bar cost £22.49 at Morrisons when it was full price, but was often reduced to half that amount: £11.25.
Allergy tablets emerged as another popular health product with significant price fluctuations.
A pack of 30 Piriteze Hay Fever and Allergy Relief tablets at Waitrose was reduced from £11.50 to £8 between May and July 2023, subsequently costing £11.55. At Boots, the same product cost €10.55 from March to July 2023, after which it rose to €11.55.
The Which? Research found that Asda was the cheapest supermarket overall for health products, based on a comparison of 107 like-for-like health and personal care products available from Asda, Boots, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Superdrug, Tesco and Waitrose during the entire period. year. Aldi and Lidl have fewer brands in stock and are therefore not included.
Which? has approached all retailers for comment. Boots, Superdrug and Waitrose said they aimed to offer customers the best value through a range of deals. The other supermarkets did not comment.