That little wavy blob of toothpaste is officially called a “nurdle.” While the word seems like it could come from either a nursery-school rhyme or a sci-fi saga, it’s no joke.

Nov 9, 2011 · The world’s two biggest oral care players – Colgate Palmolive and GlaxoSmithKline – have resolved an on-going lawsuit over the term ‘nurdle’, used to illustrate a blob of toothpaste.

Jun 8, 2025 · What Is a Nurdle? A nurdle is the stylized swirl of toothpaste shown resting on a toothbrush. It’s not a medical term—it’s a marketing one. Toothpaste companies began using …

Sep 25, 2024 · Well, it turns out a wave-shaped blob of toothpaste sitting on a toothbrush is called a “nurdle.” Seriously. This word was reportedly coined by the American Dental Association in …

The “nurdle” is a marketing tactic that suggests using a large amount of toothpaste to cover the whole brush, but dentists actually recommend only a pea-sized amount when you brush.

Oct 11, 2023 · The next time you squeeze toothpaste onto your toothbrush, take a closer look at that little blob of paste. Did you know that this tiny but familiar entity has a name? It’s called a …

In the 1990s, the American Dental Association adopted "nurdle" in their educational materials to describe the proper amount of toothpaste—a pea-sized amount that covers the length of your …

Another usage of the word “nurdle” is to refer to the wave-shaped blob of toothpaste seen in ads and commercials. The next time you go to put the dentist-recommended pea-sized amount of …

Apr 23, 2024 · Toothpaste is formulated with active ingredients such as fluoride to prevent cavities and improve oral health. In contrast, a nurdle refers specifically to the shape and amount of …

A nurdle, in the context of dental care, refers to the pea-sized dollop of toothpaste that sits on your toothbrush before you start brushing.