Jan 14 (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble ( PG ) and

Colgate-Palmolive ( CL ) are among the defendants in six new

lawsuits targeting the sale of toothpaste and mouth rinse for

young children because the products contain fluoride, which can

be harmful if swallowed.

Parents filed complaints on Monday in federal courts in

Illinois and California over products such as Procter & Gamble's ( PG )

Kid's Crest toothpaste and several products sold under Colgate's

namesake, Tom's of Maine and Hello brands.

Other challenged products include Perrigo's ( PRGO ) Firefly

anti-cavity rinse and Sanofi's ACT Kids rinse.

The proposed class actions cite warnings from U.S. health

regulators that fluoride-based toothpastes and rinses not be

used by children under ages 2 and 6, respectively, and that the

toothpastes be kept out of reach of children under age 6.

They also say the products are marketed as "candy-like" with

bright colors, cartoon images and flavors such as Groovy Grape

and Silly Strawberry. The color of one Kid's Crest product is

shown changing to pink from blue as children brush.

Fluoride helps prevent cavities when applied topically to

the teeth, but when ingested can pose "significant" risks to and

even kill young children, according to the lawsuits.

Procter & Gamble ( PG ), Colgate, Perrigo ( PRGO ) and Sanofi did not

immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuits, which seek various restitutions including

compensatory and punitive damages, allege violations of various

consumer protection laws.

Lawyers from Siri & Glimstad, which represents the parents,

were not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

The relationship between fluoride and human health has long

been debated.

A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics last week

linked higher fluoride exposures in children to lower IQ scores.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump's pick to become secretary of health and human services,

has questioned fluoride's safety and use in public water

systems.

The Illinois cases are Gibson et al v Perrigo Co ( PRGO ), Gurrola et

al v Procter & Gamble Co ( PG ), Harden et al v Colgate-Palmolive Co ( CL ),

and Gurrola et al v Chattem Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern

District of Illinois, Nos. 25-00348, 25-00358, 25-00362 and

25-00366.

The California cases are Verbish et al v Colgate-Palmolive

Co ( CL ), U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No.

25-00426; and Miller et al v Hello Products LLC, U.S. District

Court, Southern District of California, No. 25-00071.