Rubbing Toothpaste On Your Penis Won't Make You Last Longer

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Here’s Why Rubbing Toothpaste on Your Penis Won’t Make You Last Longer

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on June 23, 2025

Dangers
Safe alternatives
When to contact a doctor
Takeaway

Some people claim that putting toothpaste on your penis could help reduce premature ejaculation. But no research supports this, and it may even cause severe complications.

Premature ejaculation (PE) refers to the release of ejaculatory fluid sooner than you or your partner would like. It affects around 3 in 10 people with a penis.

Sometimes, PE is defined as ejaculating sooner than 2 minutes after beginning penetrative sex, but there’s no consensus on the definition of PE, meaning there’s no set amount of time.

Some people on YouTube and internet blogs suggest that rubbing toothpaste on your penis can help eliminate PE, maintain erections for 30 minutes, and cure erectile dysfunction (ED).

However, no research supports these purported benefits, and rubbing toothpaste may lead to severe complications.

Keep reading to learn more about this myth, why rubbing toothpaste on your penis may be dangerous, and some safe alternatives to consider instead.

Toothpaste may damage your penis

According to urologist Paul C. Thur, MD, putting toothpaste on genitalia may be dangerous.

“If it did nothing, fine, there’d be no risk in trying it,” he said. “But toothpaste has chemicals, bleach, and oils, such as peppermint oil, that are caustic and can burn sensitive skin.”

In some cases, applying toothpaste to your skin may lead to severe complications that could require emergency medical attention.

“If you have a break in your skin, you may even get cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial infection,” Thur added. “In some instances, this can cause disfigurement, such as penile scarring. All of this can lead to loss of sensation.”

Putting toothpaste on your penis before sexual activity can also adversely affect your partner. The chemicals and bleaching agents in toothpaste can irritate or cause an infection to occur within the vagina, penile area, or anus.

Safe home remedies for premature ejaculation

Several home remedies may be more effective at managing or eliminating PE.

Thur recommends applying medical-grade lidocaine cream directly to the penile skin, at least 15 to 30 minutes before sexual activity. Lidocaine reduces sensation, which decreases hypersensitivity.

Make sure you wash off any anesthetic cream before penetrative sex to avoid transmission to your partner.

Thur also suggests positioning, that is, trying sexual positions that cause less friction. These may include having someone lie on top.

Other alternative remedies to help delay ejaculation may include:

wearing a thick external condom
masturbating alone, at least 1 hour before having sex with a partner
behavioral techniques, such as edging and the squeeze technique
trying specific exercise techniques, such as kegel exercises and pelvic floor exercises
managing general stress

If none of these home remedies work, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They may prescribe a medication off-label to help delay ejaculation, such as:

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
clomipramine
dapoxetine
tramadol
ED medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis)

Off-label means a doctor prescribes a drug to manage a condition for which it has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

They may also recommend psychological therapies like sex therapy to help identify and manage possible underlying mental health issues that may be contributing to PE.

»Learn more: How to Delay Ejaculation and Last Longer in Bed

When to connect with a doctor

As common as it is, PE is not completely understood. It has many potential causes, which may be biological, psychological, or both.

PE may be classified as lifelong (primary) or acquired (secondary):

Lifelong PE: PE occurs all or most of the time, and that started with your earliest sexual encounters.
Acquired PE: Ejaculatory issues start later on in life, after months or years of sexual activity.

PE is not life threatening. If this condition only affects you occasionally and doesn’t cause undue stress to you or your partner, seeking treatment may not be necessary.

However, you may want to consider contacting a doctor or therapist if PE is affecting your:

quality of life
self-esteem
relationship

A healthcare professional could help develop an appropriate treatment plan for you, which may include a combination of natural remedies, psychological therapies, and medications.

»MORE:For $25, you can receive discreet, expert, on-demand care for erectile dysfunction in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Perks Online Care.

When to get immediate medical attention
If you have already applied toothpaste onto your penis and experience any of the following symptoms, consider getting immediate medical attention:
pain
burning
blistering
rash
difficulty passing urine

Optum Perks is owned by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

The bottom line

PE is a common condition that should never be treated with toothpaste.

Toothpaste doesn’t contain any ingredients that can delay orgasm or treat PE. Putting toothpaste on your penis may burn or damage sensitive skin. It can also damage your partner’s genitalia.

You can try many safe and effective at-home treatments instead of toothpaste. Contacting a doctor, such as a urologist or a therapist, may also help.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Crowdis M, et al. (2023). Premature ejaculation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546701/
Shindel AW, et al. (2022). Disorders of ejaculation: An AUA/SMSNA Guideline (2020).https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/disorders-of-ejaculation
Thur P. (2021). Personal interview.

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Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on June 23, 2025

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