If you want the best natural toothpaste for healthy teeth and gums, then look no further.
If toothpaste is next on your list to swap out for a cleaner, natural alternative, I’ve got you covered!
Here is a list of my favorite natural toothpastes. They are made from natural, healthy ingredients that clean, polish, and repair your teeth. And they work just as well, if not better, than traditional toothpastes!
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What Is Natural Toothpaste?
Natural toothpaste is made from all-natural ingredients that are good for your health. It is also free from toxic ingredients, such as parabens, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
But just like other cosmetics, companies can label toothpaste “natural” even if the ingredients are anything but. This is because there is very little regulation on what “natural” is.
So, since there is no real definition of an all-natural product, companies can create their own definition. This can lead to false advertising and is called “greenwashing”.
The best thing you can do is learn to read your label! And keep in mind, a lot of companies list natural ingredients by their Latin scientific name.
So, if you see an ingredient you don’t recognize, look it up. Glycyrrhiza uralensis looks like it would be toxic, but it’s actually just licorice.
Or you can make the process even easier by buying my clean beauty eBook! Essential Moves to Clean Beauty is the beginner’s crash course I wish I had when I started my transition to safer products.
You’ll get everything you need to know on how to read ingredient lists in bit-sized information. It will turn you into a clean beauty guru in no time! Click the button below to learn more.
Some natural toothpastes do contain bentonite clay, though, just so you know. Bentonite is a natural polisher, and it helps to reduce acid in the mouth. But it can be dangerous if inhaled.
I wouldn’t worry about it, though, because toothpaste is not in powder form, so it can’t be inhaled.
If it worries you, just choose a brand that doesn’t contain bentonite clay.
Is Natural Toothpaste Good For Your Teeth?
Yes, natural toothpaste is great for your teeth!
Since natural toothpaste is made from natural ingredients, it is easier on sensitive gums and teeth than conventional toothpastes. If you suffer from sensitive teeth or gum sensitivity, natural toothpaste might be super helpful.
If you have stained teeth or suffer from bad breath, natural toothpaste kicks butt with that too! They use natural herbs, oils, and minerals to fight cavities and freshen breath.
Natural toothpaste without fluoride is not approved by the American Dental Association, however. The American Dental Association does not approve fluoride-free toothpaste.
But you don’t need fluoride toothpaste! In fact, it does more harm than good. You can read all about fluoride and what to use instead, in my post about hydroxyapatite toothpaste.
What Are The Most Harmful Chemicals In Toothpaste?
Contrary to popular belief, fluoride is not good for your teeth.
Well, I mean, it’s good for your teeth, in small amounts. But large amounts of fluoride have been found to cause all sorts of problems, including autism, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, ADHD, and many more.
And we get fluoride from all sorts of sources, such as the food we eat, the water we drink, the medications we use, and fluoride toothpaste. So, the chances of getting too much fluoride are pretty high.
You can find natural toothpaste with and without fluoride. I personally opt for fluoride-free toothpaste.
Other harsh chemicals you want to steer clear of include:
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) – SLS is a detergent, often found in shampoos, but it can irritate the delicate tissues inside your mouth.
- Triclosan – Triclosan is used to make toothpaste foam, but recent research has linked it to cancer. It has been banned from soaps, but it can still be found in some traditional toothpaste.
- Saccharin – Saccharin is used as a sweetener, but it causes cancer in lab rats.
- Titanium Dioxide – Titanium Dioxide is what makes your toothpaste white. But it causes nerve damage and possibly, cancer.
- Propylene glycol – Propylene glycol is a mineral oil found in antifreeze. Pretty sure we just don’t want that in our mouths.
Other ingredients to watch out for include preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, parabens, detergents, sulfates, plastic microbeads, harsh foaming agents, and carrageenan.
Many foaming agents can irritate some people and cause canker sores. Carrageenan can cause digestive issues and skin rashes in some people. And plastic microbeads can be too abrasive for some people.
These ingredients won’t aggravate everyone, but if you know you have a sensitivity to any of them, you may want to avoid them in your toothpaste.
Is Baking Soda Good For Your Teeth?
Yes…and no.
Baking soda can be good for your teeth if used appropriately. But it can be harmful as well. Let’s go over the pros and cons of using toothpaste with baking soda!
Pros
Baking soda is a whitening toothpaste, because when you mix baking soda with water, it creates an alkaline solution. This solution then leads to the release of free radicals, which in turn, cleans up surface stains.
It also breaks up plaque, reduces gingivitis, and kills bacteria in your mouth. And it neutralizes the acids in your mouth, which leads to fresh breath.
It even treats canker sores and other mouth sores.
Baking soda has even been used to clarify hair! When I first started my clean beauty journey, I actually used diluted baking soda water to clean my hair. Huuuuge mistake!
Cons
But the biggest beef against baking soda is that it is awfully abrasive.
Brushing too often with it can lead to enamel damage. This, in turn, makes your teeth more sensitive, especially to extreme temperatures.
If you use baking soda toothpaste on a regular basis, you might notice that your teeth hurt if you drink a hot cup of coffee or eat ice cream.
Your teeth might even hurt more when brushing. Baking soda does work, but there are so many other less abrasive ingredients that work just as well!
Because baking soda’s chemical makeup didn’t match my hair, my ends started to split rapidly. Not to mention my hair never got fully clean. You can read all about it in my post on how to fix baking soda-damaged hair. The techniques I used also work on extremely damaged hair!
What To Look For In A Natural Toothpaste
Now that we’ve covered what you should avoid in toothpaste, what natural ingredients should you look for?
- Xylitol – Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can lower your chances of cavities. If you decide to go fluoride-free, look for a toothpaste that has xylitol in it. The funny thing about xylitol is that it actually increases the saliva in your mouth, which is good! Because saliva is necessary to fight plaque.
- Activated charcoal – Not all natural toothpastes have activated charcoal in them, but the ones that do have whitening power!
- Coconut oil – Coconut oil gets rid of bad bacteria in your mouth, stops plaque build-up, and gingivitis, reduces gum inflammation, and improves gum health.
- Essential oils – Essential oils are antibacterial and antiviral, and great for oral health. They remove plaque, kill bad bacteria, and give you fresh breath.
- Aloe vera – Aloe vera is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It helps with gingivitis, periodontitis, and gum disease.
- Hydroxyapatite – Hydroxyapatite is a natural ingredient already found in your teeth and bones, that makes your teeth stronger and healthier. If you forgo fluoride, you might want to find a brand with hydroxyapatite in it.
Many natural toothpastes also have plant resin, licorice root extract, salt, and tea tree oil in them. Herbs, like anise and fennel, and citrus, like strawberry, lemon, and orange are also often included.
Although you want to watch out for acidic fruits; citrus ingredients can wear down tooth enamel.
The Best Natural Toothpastes Without Baking Soda
My teeth actually got a bit sensitive after using toothpaste with baking soda in it for a while. But because most natural toothpastes have baking soda in them, I’ve broken my recommendations out into two sections, one with, and one without.
That way you can decide what works best for you. Let’s get started!
Hello Activated Charcoal
This charcoal toothpaste is the only product from this brand I recommend because most from this brand have fluoride. That’s why it’s super important to read ingredient lists!! Even if it’s from a brand you trust.
This natural whitening toothpaste is black!! Just so you know. It can leave black smudge marks when you spit, so spit carefully. Or if you’re staying at a relative’s house and you want to make them mad. You do you 🤭
This activated charcoal toothpaste leaves your teeth noticeably whiter, though! It also removes plaque and freshens breath. Made from xylitol, charcoal powder, coconut oil, and tea tree oil, this charcoal toothpaste tastes awesome and leaves your mouth fresh and clean.
Cost: 4 oz. for $6.99
Redmond Earthpaste
Redmond Earthpaste is the first natural toothpaste I tried. It doesn’t make bubbles, though, so it was weird at first, but cleaned well!
Redmond Earthpaste uses bentonite clay and nanosilver to clean your teeth without harsh ingredients. It is also made from xylitol, essential oils, and real salt. It is all-natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and made without fluoride or glycerin.
Because it is made from bentonite, it does have a California Proposition 65 warning on its website. But like we talked about earlier, bentonite is only harmful if inhaled. Redmond is one of the few truly honest companies out there!
Plus, their toothpaste tastes great, cleans well, and is super awesome for sensitive teeth.
Cost: 4 oz. for $8.99
Lumineux Whitening Toothpaste
Lumineux toothpaste is a naturally whitening toothpaste that provides noticeably whiter teeth in just seven days! Plus, it protects and enhances the gums and breaks up stains without harming the enamel.
Made from aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, Dead Sea salt, wintergreen oil, coconut oil, lemon peel oil, sage oil, spearmint oil, peppermint oil, basil oil, and clove flower oil, it leaves teeth feeling super squeaky clean!
I have a few caps on my teeth that are a certain tone of white, so I love using this toothpaste to make the rest of my teeth match! I was skeptical at first, but I was seriously impressed.
Cost: 3.75 oz. for $10.00
The Best Natural Toothpastes With Baking Soda
If you like the idea of a fluoride-free toothpaste with baking soda, then these are some great brands.
Dr. Bronner’s All-One Toothpaste
Dr. Bronner’s is vegan and cruelty-free, and made from all-natural, organic ingredients. This mint toothpaste uses organic peppermint oil, organic menthol crystals, organic coconut flour, organic coconut oil, and organic aloe vera to gently remove plaque and whiten teeth.
It leaves your mouth feeling wonderfully clean without an overpowering minty flavor. It doesn’t foam up like traditional toothpastes, though.
It’s got all the bells and whistles when it comes to a good natural toothpaste! Just make sure that your teeth can withstand baking soda first.
Cost: 1 oz. for $2.12 or 5 oz. for $6.76
David’s Natural Toothpaste
David’s all-natural toothpaste provides natural whitening, plaque protection, and leaves your mouth feeling fresh. It comes in a recyclable metal tube, with a tube key to get every last drop of paste out, so there is no waste.
Made from peppermint oil, vegetable glycerin, xylitol, spearmint oil, anise seed extract, and wintergreen leaf oil, it’s refreshing and leaves teeth feeling super smooth and literally squeaky clean.
I love that you can usually find this at “healthy” stores like Sprouts or Whole Foods. I’ve bout it in a pinch before and it cleaned my teeth great!
Cost: 5.25 oz. for $9.95
Wildist Toothpaste
Wildist toothpaste looks cute on your counter! I’m a total sucker for aesthetically pleasing things. Plus its packaging is environmentally friendly.
Made from xylitol, vegetable glycerin, spearmint oil, peppermint oil, goji powder, white tea extract, and ginseng root extract, Wildist leaves your mouth feeling very clean, with a fresh, calm feeling.
It’s marketed as a toothpaste that’s soothing for sensitive teeth, but the baking soda might be counterintuitive. I think it’s still worth a shot though! 🤷🏼♀️
Cost: 3.4 oz. for $8.99
Bite Toothpaste Tablets
This one isn’t a toothpaste, but rather, tooth tablets!
Lindsay McCormick, a former surf instructor, created Bite Toothpaste Tablets in her home living room because she was sick and tired of plastic harming our oceans and harmful chemicals running through our bodies. The glass bottles are refillable and perfect for traveling.
Made from xylitol, peppermint, and hydroxyapatite, to strengthen enamel, these tablets take some getting used to. But they are naturally whitening and great for sensitive teeth.
Cost: $16.50 for the brush and tablet set
Final Thoughts On Natural Toothpaste
And there you have it! My top recommendations for the best natural toothpaste with and without baking soda!
If you decide to switch to natural toothpaste, I’d recommend a fluroide-free toothpaste from this list. Fluoride, in excess, is very harmful to the body. And we get fluoride from so many places.
You can also choose toothpaste with or without baking soda, as well. I personally choose to go without because it does make my teeth a bit sensitive.
All of these natural, fluoride-free toothpastes will leave you with a healthy smile! There’s sure to be one that works perfectly for you! Which one do you like? Let me know in the comments below!
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