What it means
خمیردندان (khamir-dandân) is the everyday Persian word for toothpaste. It is a compound noun built from two parts: خمیر (khamir), meaning paste or dough, which comes from Arabic, and دندان (dandân), meaning tooth, which is Persian. Together they literally mean tooth-paste. The word is used in all registers, from casual conversation to pharmacy labels. There is no simpler synonym in standard spoken Persian.
How to use it
- خمیردندانم تموم شده. (khamir-dandânam tamum shode.) “I’ve run out of toothpaste.”
- چه خمیردندانی بهتره برای دندانهای حساس؟ (che khamir-dandâni behtare barâye dandân-hâye hassâs?) “What toothpaste is better for sensitive teeth?”
- یه لوله خمیردندان از داروخونه بخر. (ye lule khamir-dandân az dârukhunje bekhar.) “Buy a tube of toothpaste from the pharmacy.”
- خمیردندان بچه نباید فلوراید زیاد داشته باشه. (khamir-dandân-e bache nabâyad fluorid ziâd dâshte bâshe.) “Children’s toothpaste should not have too much fluoride.”
Cultural note
Toothpaste brands both domestic and imported are widely sold at داروخانه (dârukhunje, pharmacy) and supermarkets across Iran. Fluoride content and whitening formulas are common talking points on Iranian health and beauty platforms. Dentists in Iran often recommend fluoride-containing pastes for cavity prevention, especially for children. The compound word خمیردندان neatly mirrors the structure of similar Persian health compounds, pairing an ingredient description with the body part it serves.