From natural deodorants to natural period remedies, we’re always looking for ways to switch over to a more natural lifestyle — and one item in our bathroom cabinet that has yet to be converted is our toothpaste.
Considering how often we use toothpaste, we don’t give enough thought to the ingredients that are in the tube. So we went straight to the source and chatted with Pam Scheeler, chemist and stewardship manager at Tom’s of Maine to find out all the benefits of switching to a natural toothpaste.
Simple ingredients
Less is more, especially when it comes ingredients. “Natural toothpaste is made with pure flavor oils and naturally derived sweeteners for a clean, fresh alternative to conventional toothpaste that may use artificial flavors and saccharin.” Not only that, conventional toothpaste uses artificial dyes to give your toothpaste that bright green or blue color (um, pass!).
Noticeable decrease in sensitivity
Folks with sensitive teeth will be pleased to learn that natural toothpaste actually helps decrease tooth sensitivity as natural ingredients are much more gentle on your teeth than harsh chemicals in regular toothpaste. Hey, the shorter list of ingredients on the label is actually doing more for your teeth than you think.
Limits your fluoride intake
We’ve heard that too much of anything is bad for you — and turns out, that’s especially true when it comes to fluoride. Studies have shown that swallowing fluoride (from both toothpaste or water) is detrimental to your health, as fluoride is a toxic chemical that accumulates in your tissues over time. So do yourself a favor and try going fluoride-free.
Natural whitening effect
Natural toothpaste, like Tom’s of Maine Luminous White Toothpaste, “rely on ingredients that physically remove surface stains.” Ingredients like hydrated silicas are naturally derived from silicone dioxide and are clinically proven to “provide whiter teeth in two weeks as opposed to regular fluoride toothpaste.” It also cleans and polishes the surface of your teeth to noticeably reduce or remove surface stains.
Go cruelty-free
If you’re vegan or looking for cruelty-free alternatives to your personal care items, you should make the switch over to a natural toothpaste. Nearly every natural toothpaste brand is committed to not only keeping their ingredients clean, but also their process. Tom’s of Maine products, for example, are never tested on animals. Instead, they “spend years testing ingredients and formulas to ensure their toothpaste is effective and taste great.”
xx, The FabFitFun Team
