Made in Connecticut: Toothpaste and the tube it comes in were invented in CT
Toothpaste and the tube it comes in were invented right here in New London, Connecticut.
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In the category, "Toothpaste," the Jeopardy! clue is: "Washington Sheffield was the first to sell toothpaste in these." And the correct response to the clue is: "What are tubes?"
And most people are surprised to hear that was right here in New London, Connecticut.
Dr. Washington Wentworth Sheffield began his dental practice in this home in New London in 1850.
He created a product that, unlike the tooth powders of the time, created a paste that his customers loved. So he decided to commercialize it and start selling it not only to his patients, and all over the world.
And later on in the 1870s, his son Lucius was in Paris studying dentistry. Inspired by artists preparing their paint palettes, he realized the collapsible tubes would be a great way to package toothpaste.
"We're one of the really oldest continually, continuously operating companies in Connecticut. So the company started there and then became the New England Collapsible tube company and made metal tubes for many years. And then in the eighties, it passed from the Sheffield family to another local entrepreneur, and fast forward to today, I'm the president and CEO."
President and CEO Jeff Davis says the toothpaste and tubes are still produced in the factory here. They sell their products on Amazon and in parts of Europe.
"We have a variety of flavors, typical mints, cinnamon. But we also have things like chocolate and mixed berry to appeal to people who don't really like the typical toothpaste flavors. You know, we try to make the product as clean as possible and as good for you as possible while performing its function, which is to clean your teeth."
Dr. Sheffield's Toothpaste is part of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals. Davis says people are surprised how many products are made right in New London.
"So not only do we make our Dr. Sheffield's toothpaste, but we make products for a variety of different customers, mainly over-the-counter pharmaceutical and prescription pharmaceutical products. Products we make are in 60,000 retail doors across the country and internationally."
