Should You Use Natural Toothpaste?

Have you been switching to more products that are advertised as being organic or natural, and you are wondering if you should make a switch with your toothpaste as well? If so, it will help to know more about what it means to use natural toothpaste for brushing your teeth.

Know If The Toothpaste Uses Fluoride

When looking at natural toothpaste, you will want to read the ingredients closely so that you know what you are getting. The purpose of toothpaste is to strengthen the enamel of your teeth while also preventing cavities, and certain ingredients are designed to do that better than others. 

The main thing to look out for is if the toothpaste contains fluoride since it is a key ingredient that helps remineralize the damaged parts of your teeth. If the toothpaste does not contain fluoride, then you are going to have teeth that are more prone to having cavities as well as weak enamel as a result. If the toothpaste still has fluoride, then it will be doing a good job at keeping your teeth healthy in addition to being clean.

If the toothpaste does not contain fluoride, then it should have hydroxyapatite as the key ingredient for fighting cavities. While it is debatable if this ingredient is as good as fluoride for providing protection to your teeth, it is the next best thing that can be used. If a toothpaste is missing both ingredients, then all it is really doing is cleaning debris off your teeth and not offering any additional protection.

Know What Other Ingredients Are Used

Since it is possible to find natural toothpaste with and without fluoride, you should start looking at other key ingredients used in natural toothpaste. For example, you may be looking to eliminate something from the existing toothpaste that you used by going natural, which usually means no sulfates, peroxide, dyes, or sulfates. 

Some ingredients are just used for cosmetic purposes, such as dyes that change the color of your toothpaste. A toothpaste without sulfates will not have sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in it, and it is going to have fewer bubbles that are made when brushing. This can help people that have mouths that are sensitive and want to reduce irritation that the bubbles can cause. 

Not sure if you should be using natural toothpaste? Ask your dentist about the specific brand you are thinking about using.


Share