Zero waste natural toothpastes are made from plant-based ingredients and sold in zero waste packaging (ideally). The best way to look after your teeth is nothing to do with toothpaste: eat less sugar, drink less soda, brush your teeth twice daily and see the dentist, for regular check-ups. Use these with a zero waste toothbrush. Also see natural ways to whiten your teeth.
NOICE Natural Charcoal Toothpaste are sold in glass bottles with reusable plastic pumps. Made from natural ingredients, this dentist-approved toothpaste is making waves. The bottles are rewashed and reused via the Loop Store, then delivered back to you in cardboard packaging. Made with organic liquorice to prevent cavities along with organic essential oils, They are working on a children’s version without essential oils.
Never use toothpaste with the sweetener xylitol near pets. Added as an alternative to sugar, just a tiny amount (on sinks or around your mouth) could be lethal if licked (it’s also found in gum and sweet foods like chocolate). Avoid essential oils for pregnancy/nursing and medical conditions like epilepsy and asthma, and avoid rosemary, citrus and sage oils for high blood pressure. Young children don’t need toothpaste, check with your dentist on when to start.
Whether you use fluoride is up to you. Some holistic dentists usually don’t recommend fluoride (unless applied topically for certain conditions) as too much causes mottled teeth and occaionally bone cancer. Just a tiny amount of ingested fluoride can kill a child. Ireland has added fluoride to water for decades, with no beneficial effects. Government policy would be better to give tax breaks to healthy organic food, and put higher tax on sugary food and drinks. Read Holistic Dental Care and It’s All In Your Mouth.
Georganics Toothpaste is sold in little glass jars (with bamboo spatulas). It also offers tooth soap (use with a wet toothbrush) and tooth tablets. Choose Peppermint, Spearmint, Tea Tree & Orange, or Activated Charcoal (whitening). For children, their mandarin toothpaste is an option (or to avoid glass jars, Green People has fruit and spearmint flavours. Note this company’s fluoride toothpastes and gum contains xylitol (toxic to pets, so don’t use in households with animal friends, in case of accidental ingestion).
Prefer a Conventional Tube of Toothpaste?
Green People is not in zero waste packaging, but is the best brand for a conventional ‘tube toothpaste’. Made with organic ingredients and also containing tooth-friendly ingredientsl like myrrh, there are also children’s versions. You can recycle the tubes at your nearest Terracycle recycling point.
