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World’s largest toothpaste collection
18th Jun 2010
Dr Val Kolpakov with his (to be confirmed!) world's largest toothpaste collection. Photo by Ashley L Conti/The Saginaw News
A dentist is waiting to get the official stamp of approval that he holds the world record for having the largest collection of toothpaste.
US dentist Dr Val Kolpakov has a vast haul of 1,800 toothpastes ranging from whiskey-flavoured, to curry and bamboo. One dates to World War II and is made with a radioactive compound.
And he is hoping world record officials will recognise his as the world's largest toothpaste collection.
He says: ‘I've submitted my application, and since there is no record for a number of toothpaste tubes, they had to review whether they can open a new category. Finally it was approved, and now I need to submit evidence that I have all these toothpastes.'
One quarter of his collection is displayed in the waiting room at his in Michigan where he works as a denture specialist.
Dr Kolpakov said his interest in collecting tubes of toothpaste started when he read about Carsten Gutzeit, a German who collected 500 tubes.
He says: ‘I thought that collecting toothpaste was a nice hobby for a dental professional. It allows you to learn more about your profession. I had friends all over the world, so I asked them to mail me toothpaste from the countries where they lived.'
He adds: ‘After I started my website, www.toothpasteworld.com, people were able to find me on the internet. Several people donated me their small collections. Some companies donated me their old and recent products. Now I have about 1,800 toothpastes and tooth powders, but only 1,481 are sorted and catalogued.'
One of the items Dr Kolpakov considers to be the oldest, most rare and most expensive: an English antique Georgian 1801 silver tooth powder box. Toothpaste was not invented at that point, and tooth powders were used instead. He paid more than $1,500 for the box.
Among his prize collection is a Hopalong Cassidy toothpaste and a Scotch whiskey flavoured toothpaste.
In 2000, Dr Kolpakov graduated from the University of Michigan Dental School and moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where he now practices.
He also maintains a dental practice in Atlanta and travels back and forth.
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