Photo: Instagram
Her toothpaste killed her.
By Amy Lamare — Written on Apr 25, 2019
Denise Saldate was a little girl with a lot of dangerous allergies. She was allergic to dairy. Naturally, her family was always sure to check labels to ensure that things didn't contain any dairy before allowing their 11-year-old to use or eat them. Tragically, the family didn't pay close enough attention to the label on a medicated toothpaste Denise's dentist prescribed her to help strengthen her tooth enamel. MI Paste One contanted a cow's milk protein and sent Denise Saldate into anaphylactic shock while she was brushing her teeth on April 4th. Who is Denise Saldate and what exactly happened?
1. Excited about her special toothpaste
When Denise Saldate's dentist prescribed her the MI Paste One toothpaste, the young girl was excited to use it and called it her "special toothpaste." The toothpaste contained Receldent, which is derived from a protein found in cow's milk. Denise's mother, Monique Altamirano, told Allergic Living: “I did not think to look at the product ingredients. Contrary to what everyone’s telling me, I feel like I failed her!”
2. Always read the label
The toothpaste contains at least two warnings about the milk component on its label. Now, as Altamirano greives her daughter, she is urging parents to always read the list of ingredients, no matter what. “Read everything. Don’t get comfortable, just because you’ve been managing for several years. You can’t get comfortable or be embarrassed or afraid to ask and ensure that ingredients are OK. Be that advocate for your child.”
3. Her allegic reaction
As Denise was brushing her teeth on April 4th, she said: "I think I’m having an allergic reaction to the toothpaste," according to her mother. Her lips immediately began turning blue. Altamirano picked Denise up and put her on her bed. She ran to the living room to grab the EpiPen and told her other daughter to call 911. Denise was saying: "Mommy, I can't breathe." Altamirano replied: "I love you, yes, you can."
4. Frantic efforts to save her life
Altamirano administered the EpiPen and gave chest compressions to her daughter. The toothpaste was all over her teeth and gums and cut off her oxygen. Denise Saldate died two days later.
5. Her obituary and GoFundMe
Denise Saldate was born September 5, 2007. She died April 6, 2019. She was from West Covina, California. A GoFundMe was set up to help her family with her funereal costs. It garnered more than $26,000 in donation on its original goal of $10,000. A tribute to Denise was posted on the site. “Denise Alyna Saldate was such a loving daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and friend with such an amazing personality. She could light up a room and make you smile even when you’re down. Through all of her struggles with allergies she always remained so happy. She took everything like a champ! Her presence brought an undeniable grace that was impossible to ignore. Her perspective on life was to always look on the bright side. She wanted to make a difference in the world, and we knew one day she would change the world.”
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. She is deeply devoted to her chocolate Labrador and an avid long distance runner. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.