If you’re like many people around the world, you don’t really stop to think about what’s actually in your toothpaste. You just go to the store, find a tube of the brand you like that promises the features you want, and take it home. Simple. According to science, some of the things you’re putting in your mouth twice a day may not be all that great for you, and switching to all-natural toothpaste is a good call. Here’s what you should look for when you buy that next tube.
#1 – It Tastes Good
There’s no amount of “all natural” jargon that will get people to use a toothpaste regularly – especially kids – if that toothpaste tastes bad. You want to be certain that the all-natural toothpaste you choose tastes good, and there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t. Great-tasting mint is always wonderful and for adults, it’s a nice, fresh feeling. For kids, though, look for flavors like berry or marshmallow to get them excited about brushing.
#2 – It Doesn’t Have Fluoride
Contrary to popular believe, your toothpaste doesn’t need fluoride. If you live in a city with treated water, then you’re already getting all the fluoride your body needs. There’s no arguing that fluoride is essential for healthy teeth and bones, but too much fluoride – just like too much of anything – can be bad for you. It causes discoloration of the teeth and it can even cause bones to become brittle over time. Your toothpaste of choice just doesn’t need fluoride.
#3 – It Uses a Safe, Effective Mildly Abrasive Ingredient
The whitening toothpastes on the market today have really taken things to the next level, but the truth is that they contain some pretty harsh chemicals that can leave your teeth super sensitive. You can whiten your teeth naturally when you use all-natural toothpastes with mildly abrasive ingredients regularly. Calcium carbonate is a perfect example as it is perfectly safe for adults and children and does a fantastic job of scrubbing away stains on enamel without wearing the enamel down over time.
#4 – It’s in Eco-Friendly Packaging
We throw away countless tubes of toothpaste in our lives, and the sad fact is that many of them are made from plastics that will take thousands of years to biodegrade. Though a toothpaste tube might not seem like much, multiply that by the millions of families in the United States, then consider all the developed countries in the world and their populations, and it becomes apparent that even toothpaste packaging is important. Buy a toothpaste that comes in eco-friendly packaging such as bioplastic or bamboo, instead.
#5 – It Doesn’t Include Harmful Ingredients
Finally, take a close look at the label the next time you buy your favorite brand. Does it contain triclosan or sodium lauryl sulfate? What about artificial sweeteners like saccharin or aspartame? Does it contain propylene glycol, diethanolamine (DEA), or little plastic micro-beads designed to help scrub stains from your teeth? If so, none of these chemicals are good for you, and many of them are actually quite harmful to both your body and the planet.
Buying toothpaste shouldn’t have to be complicated, and if you steer clear of many of the common options in drug stores, it really isn’t. Instead, look for all-natural options that are free from toxic chemicals and packaged in eco-friendly materials. Finally, make sure it tastes good. That’s really all it takes, and that simple purchase really does make a difference in your health and the health of the planet.
