Photo by Prince Akachi on Unsplash
It’s amazing (not in a good way) that in England, you can visit the NHS hospital or GP (good) for nothing. Yet if you have a painful toothache, it’s likely that you can’t find an NHS dentist, so have to pay several hundred pounds, just to get a filling, root canal or crown (sometimes £1000).
We all know prevention is key. But for millions of people who have bad teeth problems, they can’t do the ‘six month check-up and hygienist) until they get dental issues sorted out. There were massive delays after the pandemic.
No doubt skills, time and products cost a lot, but dental fees for private practice (which most people now have to use) are awfully high. And of course bad teeth are not just cosmetic, they are often very painful.
If you have a dental emergency and can’t pay upfront, NHS 111 can advise on urgent care options. Some clinics offer emergency slots at reduced rates — perfect for easing pain without a long wait. Emergency helplines can also point you to places that see people without insurance or those who need faster support.
For dental care (products recommended below), choose unscented brands (no essential oils) for pregnancy and nursing.
It’s also important to avoid dental care products sweetened with xylitol if you live with dogs (just licking a tiny amount from around your mouth or a sink could be fatal – it’s also found in some chewing gum (including Georganics – a good dental care brand, but avoid their gum if you live with pets). And never litter it on the streets, as it could harm many creatures.
Find Free & Affordable Dental Care
The first place to start is obviously the NHS. It sets fee brands that keep costs pretty low, and many people on benefits qualify for free care. Search for an NHS dentist in your area on the NHS website or ask your local surgery for more details.
The caveats are that waiting times are often long, and some don’t offer the same level of expertise as private clinics (for instance, some ‘difficult dental operations’ may not be offered on the NHS). Raise any concerns with your integrated care board. In emergencies, visit A & E.
Affordable Dental Payment Plans
You’ll often be offered a dental plan, but this can prove expensive and some people don’t qualify. ‘Interest-fre’ is no good, if you lose your job. And many dentists use acceptance to add on unnecessary extras like tooth whitening, for extra profit.
One good alternative is non-profit HSF (set up before the NHS) to provide cheaper insurance. You have to pay in for a while to get benefits. But after a qualifying period, you get money back off treatments (and other benefits like money off acupuncture or even payments, for hospital stays).
Local Dental Schools and Teaching Hospitals
Dental schools and teaching hospitals are bit like colleges that give discounts for hair and beauty treatments, as the staff are not yet qualified. Treatment is often free or at much lower prices, and most schools accept public appointments for check-ups, fillings, or even simple extractions. Search for university dental hospitals, such as those in London, Manchester, Birmingham, or Glasgow.
Community Dental Clinics
Community dental clinics focus on people who struggle to get care, like those on low income, and elderly/disabled patients. They offer routine check-ups, cleanings, and treatments at lower prices. Check with your council or search online.
Community Dental Services is a community interest company that is referral only, offering help to people in East of England and the Midlands, with 98% positive ratings. It has several clinics, including ones for mobile use and in prisons.
Charities and Non-Profit Organisations
Dentaid offers free dental care to homeless people. It has seven mobile units nationwide, and also offers help to abuse survivors, refugees, cancer patients, recovering addicts and communities where people struggle to access good dental care. Bridge2Aid offers free dental treatment to people in East Africa.
Switch to A Zero Waste Toothbrush
This bamboo toothbrush is sold in a set of four (different colours) to share as a family, or to last a year (changing every 3 months). At end of use, remove bristles with pliers, and compost the handle.
Plastic toothbrushes often end up in landfill or pollute the sea. Bamboo toothbrushes use fast-growing, renewable bamboo for the handle, which breaks down much faster than plastic. If every family swapped to bamboo, we’d keep millions of plastic handles out of the environment each year.
Bamboo toothbrushes often use soft bristles made without harsh chemicals. They help protect delicate gums and enamel, making them a caring choice for both young children and adults.
Bamboo grows quickly with little water and without fertilisers or pesticides. By choosing bamboo toothbrushes, you support a crop that is kinder to the land and needs fewer resources.
Many bamboo toothbrush brands make special designs for children with smaller, easy-to-hold handles and playful colours. This helps children learn healthy brushing habits from a young age.
The child’s version has soft bristles, sold in blue or red. Parents can feel proud knowing their family uses a toothbrush that’s safe, fun and caring for the earth.
Toothbrushes with Everlasting Handles
Barnaby’s Soft Grip Toothbrush fits well in the hand, and makes daily brushing a little gentler. The stainless steel handle is weighty to avoid slip, even if your hands are wet. Each replaceable head clicks on with a firm, satisfying fit and stays in place firmly until you need to change it.
The bristles are soft but sturdy, making them kind on gums and tough on plaque. Barnaby’s also packages its brush heads in simple boxes, cutting down on plastic.
Evermore Bamboo Toothbrush takes a fresh approach. The natural feel of bamboo warms up your bathroom routine, and the handle is sturdy and light. Each bamboo handle lasts a long time, so you only swap the brush head when the bristles wear out.
The heads use plant-based bristles and snap on tight, so there’s no wobble while you clean your teeth. Evermore’s boxes and head holders use recycled paper, helping you keep your waste down.
The stainless steel head, also means that the toothbrush can stand on its own, without need for a toothbrush holder. The upcycled cork gasket, locks the brush head in place.
Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrushes
Georganics sonic toothbrush (use code AWIN15 for 15% discount) blends gentle cleaning with thoughtful design. It stands out for people who care about both oral health and the environment. When you buy replacement heads, just send a minimum of 5 old heads to Free-post Georganics Oral Care Ltd, for recycling.
Ideal to prevent bleeding and swollen gums, the brush has 3 speed adjustments, so can be used by people with braces, along with a 2-minute auto-timer and up to 5 weeks battery use, with USB plug. Certified waterproof and CE approved.
Sonic technology helps shift plaque and food from hard-to-reach spots. The toothbrush moves very fast, which helps lift away more debris than a manual brush. Users often notice their teeth feel smoother and look a bit brighter after using it for a few days.
Each brush head is built to last for up to three months. When it’s time to swap, the heads are easy to remove and recycle (if your local services accept them).
Booheads toothbrush heads clean teeth thoroughly, yet stay kind to sensitive gums. This makes them ideal if your mouth feels sore or prone to bleeding. The heads fit most leading electric toothbrush brands, including Oral-B. Switching is simple—just click them on and start brushing.
The company runs a return scheme, so you can send used heads back for recycling, cutting plastic waste. Each pack includes several heads in different colours, making it simple to track whose is whose in the family.
SURI Electric Toothbrush has replaceable heads with freepost return. The feature optimal technology for interdental cleaning, with uniquely positioned firm and soft bristles, to remove plaque and food easily, from teeth and gums.
SURI uses sonic vibrations to clean teeth more deeply than a manual brush. These gentle movements remove more plaque and surface stains, all while supporting healthy gums. You’ll notice that your teeth feel much smoother after brushing. This thorough clean can help lower your chance of tooth decay and bleeding gums.
No one wants to worry about charging their toothbrush every few days. SURI models often last up to 40 days on a single charge. This means you can take them on trips without lugging around charging cables. The brush is also designed to be quieter, so less likely to disturb others in your home.
Zero Waste Vegan Toothpaste Brands
We all brush our teeth twice a day, but some natural toothpastes are better than others. All the brands below are natural, vegan, free from palm oil and sold in either compostable or easy-to-recycle packaging.
If your kerbside does not recycle toothpaste tubes, take them to your nearest Boots beauty packaging recycling box.
Always supervise children using fluoride toothpastes, and encourage them to spit out the rest (a small amount can be harmful if swallowed). For the rest of us, dentists recommend not to rinse (even more important to choose xylitol-free toothpastes around dogs, in case they lick your mouth after).
Green People Organic Toothpastes
Green People organic vegan toothpastes are sold in easy-to-recycle sugar-cane tubes. These are free from harsh chemicals, synthetic flavours and foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulphate. In several flavours (fresh mint or peppermint aloe vera, plus mandarin and spearmint toothpastes for children).
Each toothpaste uses real plant extracts, which are less likely to irritate mouths and gums, than conventional brands.
After you finish the toothpaste, the empty sugar-cane tube can go into your household recycling in many areas. The carton is also recyclable. This makes it easy to keep waste out of landfill.
Natural Whitening Toothpastes
Conventional whitening toothpastes often contain harsh ingredients (and most people can’t afford dental prices). Obviously the best way to whiten teeth naturally is not to drink too much black coffee and red wine!
Floe Papaya Whitening Toothpaste is a stevia-sweetened brand based on papain, an enzyme from papaya fruit, which helps to lift stains from teeth, without abrasion or stripping the enamel. Free from peroxide, you won’t get sore gums or aching teeth with this toothpaste, which is gentle enough for everyday brushing.
It also contains ingredients to help control tartar and plaque, while helping to keep your mouth fresh, and protein against common dental issues.
Happier Fresh Mint Toothpaste (use code englandnaturally for 10% discount) is another natural whitening toothpaste, this one contains fluoride.
Formulated by dental experts, it contains vitamin E and a naturally occurring mineral (hydroxyapatite) which makes up 97% of tooth enamel and 70% of dentin. This can help to repair damaged tooth enamel and dentin, and also reduce tooth sensitivity.
The toothpaste also can remove stains, and reduce gum inflammation, and help to reduce gum disease. The toothpaste also contains antioxidant vitamin E.
This toothpaste is scientifically proven to achieve whiter teeth by up to 4 shades, in 4 weeks based on in-vitro experiments on human enamel, brushing twice daily.
This toothpaste is flavoured with real mint oil, and sole in an easy-to-recycle tube and box, with option to buy a tube squeezer key, to ensure you squeeze out every last drop, for no waste.
You can also buy their stainless steel tongue scraper (sold in a cardboard box). Built to last a lifetime, this is used on the back of the tongue and pulled forward to remove food debris and freshen breath. Unlike a toothpaste, it does not stimulate the ‘gag reflex’. Rinse before and after use.
Georganics Natural Toothpastes and Powders
Georganics Toothpastes (use code AWIN15 for 15% discount) are sold in glass jars with metal lids, and bamboo spatulas to apply to your toothbrush. This brand also makes tooth powders and peppermint tooth soap. There are also toothpaste tablets to pop in your bag, ideal for travel.
These toothpastes are free from artificial foaming agents, dyes and preservatives. Each one contains food-safe ingredients like calcium carbonate and organic coconut oil, flavoured with essential oils (there are fragrance-free options available).
The flavours include peppermint, spearmint and orange, plus there is a natural whitening charcoal toothpaste. For adults, Georganics also offers the option of fluoride toothpastes.
Calcium carbonate (chalk) gently cleans and polishes teeth, without wearing away tooth enamel. So it’s ideal for sensitive teeth. Organic coconut oil helps to lift stain, while keeping your mouth healthy and comfortable.
The hydroxyapatite toothpastes contain the a natural tooth mineral (in fluoride-free or fluoride versions). Designed to strengthen tooth enamel, these are sold in easy-to-recycle aluminium tubes.
Geokids Dental Care Products
GeoKids (use code AWIN15 for 15% discount) is a new range, from the same company, especially for children. Made with organic fruit extracts and essential oils, these are for older children, flavoured with sweet tastes, instead of strong mint. Supervise children when brushing teeth, to ensure no swallowing of fluoride.
The sonic toothbrush (for children over 3) has fun patterns, a 2-minute auto-timer and two interchangeable brush heads in different colours. So siblings can share the same handle.
Switch to Zero Waste Vegan Dental Floss
Georganic Dental Floss (use CODE AWIN15 for 15% discount) is free from beeswax or silk, and made with corn or bamboo fibre, so gentle on your gums and better for the earth.
At end of use, just compost it, right down to the packaging. The clear wax is made from renewable candelilla plants, and the box is cardboard. The quality fibres mean that the floss glides easily between teeth, without shredding. And won’t break, even if sliding between close teeth.
Choose from naturally-flavoured oils (spearmint, orange or whitening charcoal). The dispenser fits easily into travel bags or bathroom drawers, so flossing feels like a treat, not a chore. You cut just what you need, which cuts down on waste.
Zero Waste Mouthwash (or freshen breath naturally)
Georganics mouthwash tablets (use code AWIN15 for 15% discount) are made with natural gentle ingredients, and natural flavours like spearmint or orange. They are sold in glass jars with aluminium lids or compostable refill packs.
Each tablet is single dose, so there’s no messy liquid to spill. Pop a few tablets in your bag or pocket for travel, the office, or after meals out. All you need is a sip of water to dissolve a tablet and swish.
Using Georganics tablets is easy. Drop one tablet into a glass with water, let it fizz and dissolve, then rinse for about 30 seconds. This simple step fits right after brushing your teeth.
DIY Mouthwash Options
- Place a slice of cucumber on the roof of your mouth for 30 seconds, for fresh breath!
- Baking Soda Mouthwash: Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in one cup of warm water. Baking soda helps neutralise acids in the mouth, giving you fresh breath and a cleaner feel.
- Herbal Mouthwash: Steep a tablespoon of dried mint leaves or fresh peppermint in hot water for about 15 minutes. Cool it down, and voilà, a refreshing and soothing rinse!
- Salt Water Rinse: Combine a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water. It’s simple, but effective for reducing bacteria and soothing sore gums.
Diet and Habits to Prevent Cavities
What you eat and drink is the main way to look after your teeth. Stick to fresh plant-based healthy foods (high in calcium and protein) and reduce the use of refined sugar, sodas and acidic foods (like citrus juice or wine!)
Crunchy fresh organic fruits and veggies can help scrape ‘sticky bits’ off your teeth and boost saliva flow, which naturally protects enamel. Also obviously pass up sticky sweets, which glue to your teeth (dried fruits are also occasional treats, as they are high in sugar and get stuck in small crevices). Dentists are also not fans of popcorn!
Fluoride? The Pros and Cons
Mainstream dentists say fluoride prevents cavities, while holistic dentists avoid it, for planetary and health reasons. It does help to rebuild weak enamel (and can reverse tiny early-stage cavities) and some councils add it to tap water for public health, but whether this works is debatable (it has not had any effect in Ireland, which has been fluoridating tap water for decades).
Critics say that cavity prevention is through eating less sugar, and over-exposure can lead to white spots on teeth, mostly if children swallow toothpaste (a tiny amount of fluoride can kill a child). Others link it to thyroid and bone issues.
If you choose to use fluoride, ask your dentist the safest way to use it (especially for supervised children). And spit and rinse well after brushing.
Amalgam vs. White Fillings
- Amalgam fillings last 10 to 20 years. They are cheaper but contain mercury, which cannot be recycled.
- Composite/white fillings last 5 to 10 years. They cost a bit more, but look nicer, have lower waste and are mercury-free. They also bond directly to your tooth, so less drilling is needed! They do wear a bit more if you grind your teeth, but are good for front teeth, small cavities or if you don’t want metal in your mouth!
Conclusion
Going zero waste with dental care doesn’t have to be expensive or confusing. Simple actions like switching to a bamboo brush, using refillable floss, and making homemade rinses help save money and shrink your trash.
Every small change stacks up. Your routine matters most, not the price tag or the packaging. Anyone can start with a swap or two and keep building from there. Thanks for reading—your choices make a difference!
