Oral mucous membrane test using Syrian hamsters was performed to evaluate the reliability as a model system for the assessment of the potentially irritating substances intended for the mucous membranes, and to determine the irritating potential of a new emulsion-type formulated toothpaste. After test substances were implanted into the cheek pouches of hamsters with diluents (20 mg/kg) under pento-barbital sodium anesthesia, we made the comparison in irritation between emulsion-type and dispersion-type of triclosan (TCS) formulations in the range of 0.2% to 0.3%. The emulsion-type formulations using non-ionic surfactant showed less mucosal lesion than other commercial toothpastes with 0.3% TCS, or dispersion-type ones. However, no significant difference in irritation was detected between 0.2% and 0.3% TCS. We report that this hamster cheek pouch method could be a reliable approach for the evaluation slight difference in the irritating potentials of cosmetics and hygiene products intended for the lips or other mucous membranes, and this method showed that the new emulsion-type formulation significantly lowered the TCS-induced toxicity, compared with other commercial toothpastes.