Vintage toothpaste sold in a can (also referred to as an aerosol can or a tin) was a popular form of dentifrice in the mid-20th century, particularly the 1950s and 1960s.

General Description

Packaging: These products came in rigid metal cans, similar in appearance to contemporary aerosol cans for shaving cream or hairspray. They were typically cylindrical and often featured bright, vibrant, mid-century color schemes, such as the red and white used by Colgate and Rexall brands.

Contents: Unlike modern gel or traditional paste in collapsible metal or plastic tubes, this product was dispensed as an aerosol dental cream or foam.

Usage and Appeal: The aerosol format was considered modern and convenient at the time, an improvement over squeezing the traditional metal tubes which would stay collapsed and were difficult to fully empty.

Formulations: Ingredients often included fluoride (becoming common in the 1950s), and some earlier versions contained soap or chalk. The taste was generally described as minty or wintergreen.