Pepsodent is an American brand of toothpaste with a minty flavor that is derived from sassafras. The brand was purchased by Unilever in 1942 and is still owned by the company outside of the United States and Canada. In 2003, Unilever sold the rights to the brand in the North American market to Church & Dwight.[1]
History
Pepsodent toothpaste was introduced in the United States in 1915 by the Pepsodent Company of Chicago.[2] The original formula for the paste contained pepsin, a digestive agent designed to break down and digest food deposits on the teeth, Hence the brand and company name.
From 1930 to late 1933, a massive animated neon advertising sign, featuring a young girl on a swing, hung on West 47th Street in Times Square in New York City.[3] This ad was re-created for the climax of the 2005 film King Kong and was featured in the original film in an establishing shot of Times Square itself".