A fast and easy-to-use method for the identifcation and determination of active anionic ingredients in toothpaste is presented using ion chromatography in combination with electrospray mass spectrometry. In this application, positive identification of glycerol, sorbitol, chloride, fluoride, sulphate, monofluorophosphate and polyphospates, in addition to citrate and saccharin, is achieved in one chromatographic run with a total analysis time of 22 min.