OTTAWA — Consumers and retailers should be cautious when buying toothbrushes after counterfeit products bearing brand names were found on the Canadian market, Health Canada warned Monday.

The toothbrushes are falsely labelled as Colgate Massager, Colgate Navigator, Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura and Colgate 360.

"If an imitation is suspected, consumers should stop using them immediately, as the quality, safety and effectiveness of counterfeit products cannot be assured," Health Canada said in an advisory.

Retailers with stock from Canadian importer AG Liquidation should check their products for authenticity and remove any they suspect to be bogus, the agency said.

Last July, a public advisory was issued about a sham Oral B Classic 40 toothbrush being sold. Health Canada received a report of toothbrush bristles dislodging and catching in a consumer's throat.

Genuine Colgate toothbrushes can be identified by the packaging, labelled in English and French only, that states "Distr. by/par: Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc," and by a lot code moulded into the brush handle just under the brush head.

Oral B toothbrushes, made by Proctor and Gamble Inc., can be identified by the Oral B logo manufactured as part of the handle mould. Fake Oral B brushes have been known to have the logo printed in silver text on a peel-away label.

AG Liquidation has voluntarily recalled all manual toothbrushes that have been labelled as Oral B Classic 40, Oral B Contura, Colgate 360, Colgate Navigator and Colgate Massager that are being sold throughout Canada. Health Canada is also taking action to prevent these dicey dental-hygiene products from entering the Canadian market.

Any problem involving the toothbrushes can be reported to the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate toll-free hotline, 1-800-267-9675. Consumers requiring more information can contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.