Is Natural Toothpaste Better Than Regular Toothpaste?
You may have been reading about the virtues of natural toothpaste and wonder, “Is it really any better than what I’m using?” Well, the answer is a resounding, “Yes”. There are several reasons that natural toothpaste makes a better choice than regular toothpaste.
First of all natural toothpaste contains more mint oils, which are what count most in a toothpaste. Mint is a natural ingredient which has a very powerful effect on bacteria that live in the mouth. Toothpaste’s biggest job is to kill this bacteria so that plaque can’t grow on your teeth and so that your mouth feels and smells fresh. Because regular toothpastes have so many other ingredients, they actually have less mint, which is what you really need.
Secondly, regular toothpastes are filled with harmful ingredients. We’ve all been told that we need fluoride to prevent cavities. But, did you know that fluoride can be toxic in high quantities? Fluoride can help prevent cavities in children, but adults have no need for it. And, since most of us have no choice but to drink fluoridated water, even our children are likely getting all they need without having it added to toothpaste.
Regular toothpaste also contains Sodium Laurel Sulfate, which is detergent. It’s what causes your toothpaste to foam, but has little effect otherwise. However, sodium laurel sulfate is a known skin irritant and also increases the frequency of canker sores in people who are prone to them. We simply don’t need it and have nothing to gain from having it in there.
Finally, regular toothpaste often contains saccharin to sweeten it. Saccharin has long been linked to cancer in laboratory mice, so it’s definitely a suspect ingredient. Few foods use it for sweetening anymore.
So, natural toothpastes kill mouth bacteria better and have fewer harmful ingredients than regular toothpastes. It seems pretty clear that natural toothpaste is a better choice for all of us, doesn’t it?