Choosing the best natural toothpaste for kids and your family doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, I’m here to help!
Brushing your teeth is likely one of those things you don’t think too much about. For many, it’s as natural as eating, sleeping, and binge-watching Netflix. But you know what’s probably not so natural? Your toothpaste.
Traditional toothpastes line supermarket and pharmacy shelves, but are they the best option? Many typical kinds of toothpaste contain things like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), parabens, and artificial colors.
Health-conscious adults are starting to choose natural toothpaste as an alternative for themselves and their children.
But where do you start to find the right one for your family? Right here; just keep reading to see the best natural toothpastes.
Best Natural Baby and Toddler Toothpastes
Babies and toddlers don’t usually master the art of spitting until they’re about three. (Despite what your tantrum-throwing toddler might have to say about it.) Therefore, you’ll find specially-formulated toothpaste of all kinds for babies and younger children.
These toothpastes usually don’t contain fluoride and other specific ingredients, so your kids won’t ingest them accidentally. But here’s the thing… When it comes to healthy teeth, it’s more the act of brushing that does the trick than the actual toothpaste.
For babies starting to sprout teeth, just a gentle wipe with a finger toothbrush or cloth will do. Once you want to introduce toothpaste into the picture, go with a small amount of one of these natural picks for babies and toddlers.
Jack ‘n Jill Natural Toothpaste
This kid-friendly toothpaste is organic, gluten-free, and vegan without any of the stuff that makes you cringe.
Kids love the blueberry and strawberry flavors. And it’s safe to swallow, making it a perfect match for little ones. Having a fluoride-free option is perfect for your baby’s teeth.
Hello Toddler Training Toothpaste
Get your child excited about brushing their teeth with the yummy apple flavor in this training toothpaste.
Hello Toddler Training Toothpaste has no parabens, artificial colors, SLS, or any of the other questionable ingredients you find in most standard toothpastes.
You can let your toddler learn to brush stress-free without worrying about what they might swallow.
Earth’s Best
The Earth’s Best brand’s fluoride-free toddler toothpaste is for kids 6 months to 3 years old.
Thanks to the safe ingredients, it’s safe to swallow, and your kids will love the strawberry and banana flavor.
It also comes with a finger gum brush so you can easily clean little teeth. The gum brush is great for getting hard to reach baby’s teeth.
Dr. Brown’s Natural Baby
This natural toothpaste comes with two baby toothbrushes and a convenient travel case. You won’t find any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives here. Natural flavor is best!
And, your baby will be excited to brush their teeth thanks to the pleasant pear and apple flavor. Some parents claim this to be the best baby toothpaste!
Tom’s of Maine Training Toothpaste
For over 50 years, Tom’s of Maine has been on a mission to provide healthy, safe toiletry products.
Tom’s line of toothpaste upholds that goal, with natural ingredients and no artificial fragrances or other sketchy ingredients.
Best Natural Toothpaste for Kids
As kids get older, they start to take on more of the responsibility when it comes to brushing their teeth. But you can make sure they’re using safe toothpaste that will do the job and make brushing fun.
Here are some popular brands of toothpaste with non-toxic ingredients. Hopefully, they will give you a peace of mind when choosing the best personal care products for you and your family.
Weleda Oral Care Children’s Teeth Gel
Featuring a refreshing spearmint flavor, Weleda uses flower, fruit, and root extracts in its products.
This special toothpaste is gentle on baby teeth and free from synthetic ingredients.
Himalaya Botanique Kids
The plant-based ingredients in Himalaya Botanique toothpaste gently remove plaque and keep gums healthy.
Kids love the fun orange and bubble gum flavors. There’s also mint for those who prefer that extra-fresh feeling.
Burt’s Bees for Kids
Burt’s Bees is a popular name in the beauty world, making everything from skin care products to make-up. Their fruit fusion toothpaste tastes great, and this kid-friendly option is free from parabens, dyes, and SLS.
This children’s toothpaste is a sure way to help your child have clean teeth without toxic chemicals.
Radius Organic
This USDA Certified organic toothpaste is GMO, gluten, and SLS-free — you get the picture.
Radius Organic is free from all the nasty ingredients you don’t want anywhere near your kids’ mouths. The dragon fruit flavor is a kid favorite (and adults like it too).
Tom’s of Maine Children’s Fluoride Toothpaste
If you’re looking for a fluoride option for your older kids, check out this natural toothpaste from Tom’s of Maine.
Tom’s Children’s Toothpaste gently fights tooth decay to protect kids’ teeth from cavities, all with a sweet Silly Strawberry flavor.
Below, you will find the best natural toothpaste for kids, as they move from toddlers to adolescents.
Popular Flouride-Free Toothpastes
Fluoride has benefits when it comes to preventing tooth decay, but it also has some pitfalls as well.
Various studies have shown potential links between fluoride and issues like cancer and reduced IQ. But many more studies are needed in this area, and most dentists agree that the benefits of fluoride far outweigh the risks.
The American Dental Association states that fluoride can reduce dental decay by as much as 40%.
The exception is with young children that can’t spit out their toothpaste — which is why you have training toothpaste for toddlers. Training toothpaste is typically fluoride-free.
Also, depending on where you live, you might get enough fluoride from your local water supply to reduce your risk of tooth decay. Therefore, you might want to forego adding extra fluoride from your toothpaste.
Regardless of your reason, if you prefer fluoride-free toothpaste, here are some top picks.
David’s Natural Toothpaste
David’s Natural Toothpaste is a fluoride-free plaque fighter that freshens breath with a fresh peppermint flavor.
It has a smooth texture and even comes with a metal tube key so that you can get every last drop. This is great for older children and adults.
Hello Activated Charcoal Epic Whitening
The activated charcoal in this vegan toothpaste polishes and whitens teeth as it cleans.
Hello Charcoal is your natural choice to wipe out surface stains and freshen your breath. The hello brand also includes several other natural toothpaste options, so you can find the right fit for you.
Dr. Bronner’s All-One Toothpaste
Free from synthetic compounds and featuring a peppermint bite, this vegan toothpaste features 70% organic ingredients.
Dr. Bronner’s uses hydrated silica and calcium carbonate to gently clean and polish teeth.
Burt’s Bees Purely White
Burt’s Bees is back with another great natural toothpaste option, this one fluoride-free. Essential oils give it a zippy peppermint flavor.
Schmidt’s Wondermint
This mouth + tooth paste includes a mix of plant extracts and vitamins to improve oral health while cleaning your teeth.
Fight plaque, freshen your breath, and beautify your smile without any harsh ingredients.
Now that we’ve covered the best natural toothpaste for kids, let’s look at the best options for adults.
Best Natural Toothpaste for Adults
Now that you’ve made sure your kids have the best toothpaste, don’t forget about yourself.
Let’s ditch the regular toothpaste that we grew up on. Chances are, it claims it’s best for our dental health, but is likely full of too much fluoride, and the signature ingredient is too hard to even pronounce.
If you want some more options for a natural toothpaste that makes adults smile, check out these picks.
Redmond Earth Paste
Polish away stains and reveal sparkly teeth with this non-foaming natural toothpaste. It’s gluten-free and vegan and features essential oils and other natural ingredients to keep your mouth healthy and clean.
Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque and Whitening
Fight cavities while preventing plaque buildup with this whitening toothpaste. Tom’s of Main features a refreshing spearmint gel and is fluoride-free.
Crest® Pure All Around Clean
If you’re struggling to transition to a natural toothpaste, the popular toothpaste brand Crest now has a natural option. It’s free from sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors.
Jāsön Powersmile Anticavity and Whitening Gel
Check out the ingredient list of this peppermint toothpaste, and you’ll find things like baking soda. You won’t find saccharin (or other artificial sweeteners), parabens, propylene glycol, or sodium lauryl sulfate.
Dr. Sheffield’s Certified Natural Toothpaste
Named for the inventor of toothpaste, this certified natural paste provides extra-whitening power as it cleans. It’s certified natural by the Natural Products Association (NPA).
Reasons Not To Use Traditional Toothpaste
Now that you know some of the top picks for natural toothpaste, why should you use them?
What’s so bad about the toothpaste that most people grab off the shelves? Well, once you take a closer look at the ingredients label, you start to see several reasons for going natural.
Traditional toothpaste typically includes harmful ingredients if you swallow it. (This is why you’re supposed to rinse and spit). But why would you want to put anything in your mouth that is potentially toxic? (Much less your kids’ mouths?)
Harmful Ingredients in Traditional Toothpaste
It’s important to note that the FDA dubs most of the following ingredients safe in small doses and when used as directed. But prolonged use or high amounts could have possible side effects.
Also, for some of the ingredients, there are still a lot of questions about potential risks. Therefore, until you have more information, why would you want to put them in your body?
Here’s a rundown of the most common, potentially harmful ingredients in many mainstream kinds of toothpaste:
● Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — synthetic detergent in many toiletry products. Some studies suggest it can increase the risk for mouth ulcers and trigger allergic reactions in some people.
● Triclosan — usually added to various products to reduce bacterial contamination. In high doses, it could lead to resistance to certain bacteria, hormone issues, and gut problems.
● Propylene Glycol — used to give toothpaste a smoother texture. In high doses for an extended period, PG could have potential side effects. These include seizures, cardiac arrhythmia, and central nervous system toxicity.
● Parabens — used to prolong a product’s shelf life. It can possibly disrupt hormones and cause reproductive problems.
● Artificial Sweeteners — they help add a pleasant flavor to toothpaste. But some studies have linked certain artificial sweeteners like saccharin and aspartame to cancer and other health issues. (Instead, look for toothpastes that use natural sweeteners like xylitol or Stevia.)
Do you think you’re ready to make the switch to natural toothpaste? If you’ve already started using it, which is your go-to brand that makes you want to smile? Share in the comments!
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