On the seam of containers of cosmetic and hygiene products you can notice strange-looking marks in the form of squares or rectangles. There is no explanation on the packaging itself what the stripes on the toothpaste tubes mean. But if these are fancy geometric shapes there is, it means someone needs them. All that remains is to find out who and why.

Squares on tubes: what do they mean?

There is a lot going around on the World Wide Web regarding labels on cosmetic products. myths. The most common of them gives the following interpretation of the rectangles on the packaging:

• Black or other dark shades - the product is replete with substances harmful to health. The use of such “chemicals” every day can create a danger to human health;
• Blue the color of the square indicates a slight decrease in the concentration of synthetic components relative to the previous category. The share of natural “ingredients” reaches 1/5;
• Red the square serves as a signal that the proportion of natural substances is exactly half per 100 grams of substance;
• Green The color of the brand indicates that the product can be safely classified as “Organic”. The composition includes only natural raw materials, which have only a beneficial effect on health.

Alternative theory

The above point of view is copied from site to site and enthusiastically picked up by the narrow-minded public. But this is not the only misconception that concerns the design of tubes.

So, colors on toothpaste are sometimes attributed to this mythological meaning:

• Black: composition for whitening tooth enamel. Recommended for use no more than once a week;
• Blue: the mass is suitable for everyday use;
• Red: available healing effect. Such products are sold in pharmacies and prescribed by dentists in case of painful teeth;
• Green: designed to consolidate the healing results achieved by the previous composition. Recommended for use within 4 weeks after the treatment course.

Other decryption options are also possible. The gradation of colors is often interpreted as a distribution by price categories of goods, where the green marker is an indicator of an elite and expensive “eco-product”.

Features of container production

Before answering the question regarding the true meaning of squares on containers, you need to provide information about the features of their production.

Creating regular tubes looks like this:

1. The polymer blank is cut into pieces of a certain length and width;
2. A logo, barcode, manufacturer data and other information are applied to the tube;
3. Rolling up a segment that takes the shape of a cylinder;
4. Sealing the edges of the sample (on one side);
5. Filling the container with cream (or other substance);
6. Clogging and sealing of the cylinder;
7. The date of manufacture and expiration date are printed on the seam. Also marked " light marker" , thanks to which the machine recognizes the exact location where the cut needs to be made.

The specified sequence of actions is applicable to the process of manufacturing plastic products. The mechanism for creating aluminum tubes is somewhat different, but the placement of a color marker also takes place.

What do the stripes on tubes of creams mean?

We found out that there is nothing supernatural hidden behind the mysterious rectangles on the containers of cosmetic and hygiene products:

• The light mark can be any color. The main requirement for it is readability for the machine. Therefore, you need to paint the rectangle so that it is as recognizable as possible for the car and contrasts sharply against the background of the overall design of the product;
• Horizontal figures indicate the cut line, vertical ones are used as a marker for the sealing location;
• Sometimes light marks may be completely absent from the container: instead of them, figures disguised as design elements are used;
• International standards do not have any requirements regarding seam markers. The ISO 11609-95 standard, which describes the technology for the production of dentifrices, does not contain data on light markers.

However, factories cannot ignore rumors about the sacred meaning of the marks. Therefore, some manufacturers use a trick and mark their entire range with green squares so that the product receives the status of “environmentally friendly”.

Quality assessment criteria

So, drop-jet marking does not convey any meaning about the harm or usefulness of the product. Therefore, the only source for analyzing the quality of a product remains the composition.

High-quality mass for cleaning teeth must not contain such substances:

• Sodium dodecyl sulfate- used to form foam. It is inexpensive, so it can be found in products in the low price segment. Has a negative effect on skin oral cavity, is one of the causes of early baldness, and can reduce visual acuity. It tends to accumulate in the body, so daily use of such substances is not recommended;
• Triclosan- designed to destroy and suppress growth pathogenic bacteria. Along the way it destroys a number of necessary for health microorganisms;
• Fluorine- helps in the prevention of caries and other dental ailments, but is quite poisonous. If accidentally swallowed large quantities fluoride or fluoride poisoning may occur;
• Controlled abrasiveness index must be within 100 for healthy teeth.

On the Internet you can find a wide variety of explanations of what the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean. Allegedly, they indicate the degree of environmental friendliness or the price category of the product. But really their purpose is purely practical and makes sense only for a machine on a conveyor belt.

Video: codes on tubes

In this video, Igor Mulatov will tell you how manufacturers label toothpaste tubes and what the green and blue squares on the packaging mean:

I didn’t think that I would have to write this post - everyone seems to have known the answer to the question for a long time, but one of my readers the other day asked what the colored stripes on tubes of cosmetics and toothpaste actually mean. She sent me a link to a VKontakte post in which an openly delusional version was voiced. So I decided to explain what the colored stripes on the tubes actually mean.

Myth: The color of the strip is related to the composition of the product.

Seven or eight years ago I heard a version that stripes different colors indicate the degree of naturalness of the product. If the stripes are dark, the product consists only of synthetic components. Red ones are less dangerous - only 70% "chemistry". Green - can you guess it yourself? That's right, completely natural. Well, how many of you think the same?

In fact, there is no connection between the contents of the tube and the color/shape of the strip. This is a myth that has been supported by many media outlets for several years. For example, Elena Malysheva, who had already spoiled her reputation with dubious statements, in one of the episodes of the “Health” program, with a smart look, talks outright nonsense about stripes on tubes, supporting this myth. Apparently, the person who wrote the script for the episode decided not to bother and included in it the first thing that came across on the Internet. Or - and I believe this more - there are manufacturers who benefit from spreading such rumors in order to increase sales.

Stripes on tubes - a technical element

The strip on the tube is a marking that allows the sensor on the conveyor to determine where the tube should be cut. The color of the strip depends on the color of the tube: if it is dark, the strip will be light, and vice versa. The machine reads the maximum contrast color better. I have everything!

I understand that it’s easier for a person to trust a colored stripe than to look for the composition and try to understand it, but we don’t want to be a thoughtless herd, right? So, when you hear such nonsense, use your head and critically evaluate the information.

What does the color of the markings on toothpaste mean, which are often located on the seal of the tube? Consumers constantly ask this question, believing that in this way they can reveal the secret of the composition.

Thanks to wild imagination, today there are several theories that are successfully applied in practice - when purchasing. Do these stripes really mean something?

Myths and debunking

There are several theories about the meaning of the color of the strip on a tube of toothpaste, most of which were “invented” by consumers themselves.

Popular opinion

The most popular theory is the connection between the colored stripe and its chemical composition. It fully reveals the meaning of color in accordance with the chemical composition used in the form:

1. Black the strip indicates the presence of only chemical elements. There is no need to talk about the use of natural herbal ingredients.
2. Blue the strip indicates a content of 20% natural ingredients in the entire composition. The rest are harmful chemicals.
3. Red color indicates the content of natural substances in the cleaning product, but only half of the total amount.
4. Green strip is the safest paste containing only natural ingredients.

Duration of use

There is also a theory where the stripes on toothpaste tubes indicate how long the product can be used.

There are 4 statements here:

• blue a stripe on the toothpaste means it can be used daily;
• red– the composition contains substances that provide a therapeutic effect, but it can be used for no longer than 7 days;
• green the strip indicates its strengthening effect, the period of use is no more than 30 days;
• black color indicates a whitening property, which negatively affects tooth enamel.

Availability of dyes

There is a hypothesis about the presence of dyes in the product:

• according to this theory in paste with green marking there are no synthetic dyes, and it consists only of natural ingredients;
• tubes with black, brown and blue strips contain many harmful chemical dyes that give color to the product.
• there are assumptions that marketers deliberately apply green strips on tubes of paste so that they sell better - everyone knows that green means the color of nature and benefits for humans.

Protection against periodontal disease

The development warning theory says:

• black mark - a composition that provokes the development of periodontal disease;
• red mark - there are synthetic elements permitted by GOST;
• green mark - an environmentally friendly composition, the most beneficial for teeth.

Content of abrasive components

There is a hypothesis about the presence of abrasive components and the frequency of its use, according to the marks on the tubes. We are talking about the presence of small particles in the paste that whiten and polish teeth, but over time spoil the enamel.

According to this theory, products with high content abrasive particles are marked with stripes dark colors: black, brown, blue. Such formulations can be used for no longer than 7 days.

A red stripe means that the paste contains few abrasive particles and can be used to brush your teeth 3 times a week. But the composition with a green mark can be used every day without harm to health.

Consumer race

There is a somewhat strange theory about the presence of petroleum products in toothpaste, which radically affects territorial purpose. Here is an example:

• tubes with black stripes are intended for Asian and third world countries;
• With red and green pasta is made in strips for European residents;
• USA can use paste with blue mark.

• black color speaks of great content petroleum products;
• blue color – contains less petroleum products;
• red color – there are very few components in question;
• green color is an environmentally friendly product.

Financial conspiracy

There is a theory about financial situation buyers who purchase for daily consumption.

According to this hypothesis:

• black the strip is applied to tubes of cheap toothpaste, which contains inexpensive ingredients;
• blue label – the product is of higher quality;
• red The strip is an elite product containing components that are gentle on tooth enamel.

The theory is silent about other color applications.

There are many speculations about these marks on toothpaste tubes, but what do they really mean?

The truth will debunk the myth about colored stripes and disappoint many dreamers.

What do the labels actually mean?

You should not trust the above speculations, because the composition is written on the packaging and it is enough to read it, and not make it up special properties colored stripe on the tube.

Although the font chosen for printing will not be able to be read by most consumers, it is therefore necessary to take a magnifying glass and a table of harmful components, with the help of which the entire composition of the product is deciphered.

The colored stripes do not contain any secret messages, no matter how much some dreamers might like them to. Colored rectangles on tubes - this is just a “marking” or “light marking”, which the conveyor needs to correctly cut the tube blank.

The conveyor sensor reads the mark on the moving belt of the tube blank and cuts it at this point. Then, the cut piece of foil is twisted, glued, the tube is filled with paste, with the lid and cap at the bottom. Finally, the edge of the tube is wrapped or soldered.

Why are the label colors different?

Why the colors of the stripes are different depends on the design of the tube. In order for the conveyor sensor to read the mark, there must be maximum contrast between the background and the light mark.

When black is used in the design of the tube, both the label and the barcode will be black; if it is not in the design, then a different, maximum contrasting color relative to the background is assigned.

If the background of the tube is light, it will be used dark color tags (black, blue, brown). If the background of the tube is dark, the label will be white.

Typically, tube design uses 4 primary colors, which do not always fulfill the original plans. Then the color schemes are complemented by pre-press finishing.

To prevent colors from overlapping each other, a fifth color is assigned, which is used to print the barcode, the font on the packaging and the light mark on the tube.

It is easier for sensors to capture one color, and this also helps the manufacturer to optimize costs. Sometimes the function of photo marks is performed by design elements, then on the tube color stripe will be missing.

So the secret of toothpaste labeling has been revealed. It turns out that they do not carry any information about the composition of the toothpaste. In any case, you should not trust such elements when choosing a product. It is important to read the ingredients on the packaging or on the manufacturer’s website before purchasing the product.

Frequently asked questions

First of all, one that does not injure the gums during use. At the same time, the quality of hygiene oral cavity depends more on whether your teeth are brushed correctly than on the shape or type of toothbrush. Regarding electric brushes, then for uninformed people they are a more preferable option; although you can clean your teeth efficiently with a simple (manual) brush. In addition, a toothbrush alone is often not enough - floss (special dental floss) must be used to clean between the teeth.

Rinse aid is optional hygiene products, which effectively cleanse the entire oral cavity from harmful bacteria. All these products can be divided into two large groups - therapeutic and preventive and hygienic.

The latter include rinses that eliminate bad smell and promote fresh breath.

As for therapeutic and prophylactic ones, these include rinses that have anti-plaque/anti-inflammatory/anti-carious effects and help reduce the sensitivity of hard dental tissues. This is achieved due to the presence in the composition various kinds biologically active ingredients. Therefore, the rinse aid must be selected individually for each specific person, as well as toothpaste. And since the product is not washed off with water, it only consolidates the effect of the active ingredients of the paste.

This type of cleaning is completely safe for dental tissues and causes less trauma. soft fabrics oral cavity. The point is that in dental clinics a special level of ultrasonic vibrations is selected, which affects the density of the stone, disrupts its structure and separates it from the enamel. In addition, in places where tissues are treated with an ultrasonic scaler (this is the name of the device for cleaning teeth), a special cavitation effect occurs (after all, oxygen molecules are released from water droplets, which enter the treatment area and cool the tip of the instrument). Cell membranes pathogenic microorganisms are torn apart by these molecules, causing the microbes to die.

It turns out that ultrasonic cleaning has a comprehensive effect (provided that really high-quality equipment is used) both on the stone and on the microflora as a whole, cleansing it. But the same cannot be said about mechanical cleaning. Moreover, ultrasonic cleaning more pleasant for the patient and takes less time.

According to dentists, dental treatment should be carried out regardless of your situation. Moreover, a pregnant woman is recommended to visit the dentist every one to two months, because, as you know, when carrying a baby, the teeth are significantly weakened, suffer from a deficiency of phosphorus and calcium, and therefore the risk of developing caries or even tooth loss increases significantly. For the treatment of pregnant women it is necessary to use harmless means anesthesia. The most appropriate course of treatment should be selected exclusively by a qualified dentist, who will also prescribe the required medications that strengthen tooth enamel.

It is quite difficult to treat wisdom teeth due to their anatomical structure. However, qualified specialists successfully treat them. Wisdom teeth prosthetics are recommended when one (or more) adjacent tooth is missing or needs to be removed (if you also remove a wisdom tooth, then there will simply be nothing to chew). In addition, removal of a wisdom tooth is undesirable if it is located on the jaw right place, has its own antagonist tooth and takes part in the chewing process. It should also be taken into account the fact that poor quality treatment can lead to the most serious complications.

Here, of course, a lot depends on a person’s taste. So, there are absolutely invisible systems attached to inside teeth (known as lingual), and there are also transparent ones. But the most popular are still metal braces systems having non-ferrous metal/elastic ligatures. It's really fashionable!

To begin with, it is simply unattractive. If this is not enough for you, we present the following argument - tartar and plaque on the teeth often provoke bad breath. Is this not enough for you? In this case, we move on: if tartar “grows”, this will inevitably lead to irritation and inflammation of the gums, that is, it will create favorable conditions for periodontitis (a disease in which periodontal pockets form, pus constantly flows out of them, and the teeth themselves become mobile). And this is a direct path to the loss of healthy teeth. Moreover, the number of harmful bacteria increases, which causes increased dental caries.

The service life of a well-established implant will be tens of years. According to statistics, at least 90 percent of implants function perfectly 10 years after installation, while the service life is on average 40 years. What is characteristic is given period will depend both on the design of the product and on how carefully the patient cares for it. That is why during cleaning mandatory you need to use an irrigator. In addition, it is necessary to visit the dentist at least once a year. All these measures will significantly reduce the risk of implant loss.

Removal of a dental cyst can be done therapeutically or surgical method. In the second case we're talking about about tooth extraction with further gum cleaning. In addition, there are those modern methods which allow you to save the tooth. This is, first of all, a cystectomy - quite complex operation, which involves removing the cyst and the affected root tip. Another method is hemisection, in which the root and a fragment of the tooth above it are removed, after which it (the part) is restored with a crown.

As for therapeutic treatment, then it consists in cleaning out the cyst by root canal. This is also a difficult option, especially not always effective. Which method should you choose? This will be decided by the doctor together with the patient.

In the first case, professional systems based on carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide are used to change the color of teeth. Obviously, it is better to give preference to professional whitening.

Many buyers, when choosing such a familiar product, wonder what the stripes on toothpaste tubes mean. There are many rumors and various versions circulating around these marks, which are quite difficult to understand. Therefore, be sure to read the article to the end to get answers to all your questions regarding color marks on tubes.

Purpose of marking - all versions

When purchasing another tube, everyone is guided by personal considerations. Some people are used to a certain brand and are completely satisfied with the result, others care about the cost, while others care only about the composition and, for example, the popularity of a particular manufacturer. But does everyone pay attention to the small mark at the very seam of the tube and pay attention to the color?

Myth one

According to one version, stripes are used to indicate the naturalness of the components included in the paste. The color division looks like this:

Myth two

Another point of view is that stripes on toothpaste indicate the degree of polishing components contained, due to which the enamel is lightened. They clean the surface of molars well, but you need to be careful with them, otherwise the top layer can be damaged.

In this case, you need to choose a toothpaste based on the following ideas:

• dark colors (blue, black, brown) indicate a significant amount of abrasive particles in the composition. For this reason, using the paste for more than a week’s course is not allowed;
• the red strip allows you to use the product 2-3 times a week;
• green color means there are no restrictions; this paste is completely safe for enamel.

Myth three

Another guess is that the labeling of the toothpaste indicates the duration of the course of use. There is a fair opinion that it needs to be changed periodically depending on the purpose of use. And here customers are asked to determine the duration of use based on the mark on the tube:

1. For those who need teeth strengthening, the green label is recommended. In this case, the course can last up to 30 days.
2. The blue color indicates the possibility of daily use, this is a universal option.
3. A tube with a red line requires use for no longer than a week for therapeutic purposes.
4. The black stripe means rare use toothpaste - as a whitening agent.

Myth four

There is also an opinion that colorful stripes The packaging indicates the amount of dyes contained in the paste. So dark shades - black, brown, blue - this is enough evidence large share chemicals, giving the product one or another shade. Respectively green stripe should indicate the presence of exclusively natural dyes in the composition, which removes restrictions on use.

Myth fifth

The important problem of periodontal disease causes a lot of trouble for dental patients, but here, it seems, there are instructions on the toothpaste tube for buyers. For example, it is believed that products with a green stripe at the seam are very helpful in the fight against this disease.

The red mark indicates that all components have passed the appropriate certification and are safe. But the black pointer indicates the possibility of developing periodontal disease after using such a paste.

Myth six

There is also such a theory - the cost of the product depends on the color of the strip, that is, how high-quality the components are used in its composition. Let's take red as an example - tubes marked in this way are high-quality products that contain only gentle elements.

The real meaning of colored stripes

All this information is, of course, very interesting and could have some meaning if it were not an invention - either by the buyers themselves, or by inventive manufacturers. For example, it is known that marketers have long seen a pattern in color markings and the opinion that buyers form about a product. So many of them advise making a green stripe, which creates an opinion about naturalness and high quality pasta.

True, all this has nothing to do with reality; to understand this, it is enough to have information about a simple nuance of production. After all, the color of the mark on the tube is chosen based on the overall color of the package; the main condition is a good contrast with the rest of the background. And the goal is the simplest - to help the conveyor sensor correctly determine the cutting line.

The foil blank is exactly the same size as intended. All that remains is to twist and glue the tube and fill it with its contents. In this case, the cap is already put on, and the final sealing occurs on the opposite side. At this point, the mission is completed - the batch is manufactured as planned, and largely thanks to the color markings.

How to choose the right toothpaste

To get the desired effect from toothpaste, you do not need to pay attention to any markings on the tube. The main thing that will tell you about the quality of a product is its composition. Good remedy for oral hygiene does not have to be expensive or come under a certain brand, it is enough to have more natural ingredients and accordingly do not contain a lot of chemicals.

What does pasta consist of?

You will find in any toothpaste standard set components that can be either synthetic or natural:

• Active substances;
• Fluorine;
• Medicinal extracts;
• Vitamins;
• Essential oils for healing or refreshing effects.

Please note that the closer to the beginning of the list a component is located, the greater its share compared to those coming after it.

This is especially important if you need a remedy for the treatment of gum disease, and for children chemistry is generally dangerous, so a special one is produced. But, if your goal is active whitening, you cannot do without aggressive substances. The main thing is to use the paste for no more than a week in a course or periodically at long intervals. There is a danger here of damaging the enamel, which can subsequently cause cracks to appear on its surface, followed by caries and other unpleasant consequences.

Before purchasing a new product, it is best to look for reviews on the Internet and go to the manufacturer’s website. There are also resources where you can check the naturalness and safety of the composition online - as a result, there will be no doubt.