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Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of product segments (in segments) | segment			2
Number of operating segments (in segments) | segment			5
Number of reportable segments (in segments) | segment			5
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	$ 3,974	$ 3,867	$ 11,562	$ 11,474
Total Operating profit	927	1,071	2,665	2,882
Charge for a previously disclosed litigation matter		6		6
Gain on sale of land in Mexico			0	97
Global Growth and Efficiency Program
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, pretax	$ 58	42	$ 246	156
Sales Revenue, Net
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of consolidated Net sales represented by sales outside US	75.00%		75.00%
Percentage of consolidated Net sales coming from emerging markets	50.00%		50.00%
MEXICO
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain on sale of land in Mexico		97		97
Operating Segments | Oral, Personal and Home Care
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	$ 3,401	3,306	$ 9,863	9,789
Total Operating profit	976	1,009	2,826	2,834
Operating Segments | Oral, Personal and Home Care | North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	795	800	2,319	2,393
Total Operating profit	249	273	723	762
Operating Segments | Oral, Personal and Home Care | Latin America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	985	924	2,911	2,710
Total Operating profit	301	298	878	829
Operating Segments | Oral, Personal and Home Care | Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	642	609	1,784	1,803
Total Operating profit	162	158	447	437
Operating Segments | Oral, Personal and Home Care | Asia Pacific
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	728	723	2,111	2,163
Total Operating profit	220	230	644	668
Operating Segments | Oral, Personal and Home Care | Africa/Eurasia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	251	250	738	720
Total Operating profit	44	50	134	138
Operating Segments | Pet Nutrition
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Net sales	573	561	1,699	1,685
Total Operating profit	161	162	481	479
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Operating profit	$ (210)	$ (100)	$ (642)	$ (431)

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of property, plant and equipment assets, including oil and gas property and timber property.

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