Did you know that it’s mainly your toothbrush that cleans your teeth and less so your toothpaste? Brushing and flossing correctly and regularly is what helps kick plaque and food debris to the curb, preventing tooth decay and gum issues.

Toothpaste, on the other hand, just adds some flavour, and fluoride for extra oomph. Switching to 100% natural toothpaste usually gives you the same bang for your buck without the weird stuff found in many conventional brands.

The Yucky Stuff in Regular Toothpaste

Toothpaste's job is to make your smile shine, but have you peeked at its ingredient list lately? Sadly, big-shot toothpaste brands cram iffy ingredients into their products. Brace yourself for these troublemakers—next time you reach for your toothpaste, check if these baddies are lurking:

• This ingredient, which makes toothpaste foam up, commonly causes mouth ulcers and canker sores, and it’s associated with stomach problems and cancer. Worst of all? The foam doesn't actually do anything to clean your teeth.
  
• The FDA has banned the use of triclosan in soap, but it's allowed on the ingredients list of toothpaste. Triclosan is typically used as a pesticide, but in toothpaste, it's used to fight plaque and gingivitis. Triclosan has been linked to cancer, heart disease, bone deformation, and endocrine problems.
  
  
• This class of common preservative is linked to cancer, developmental problems, and reproductive issues. The most common parabens are methylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben, and benzylparaben.
  
  
• Propylene Glycol Used to smooth out toothpaste, this mineral oil's got zero cleaning skills. It's more famous for its cameo in cancer, baby-making woes, and skin tantrums.

Fluoride – Friend or Foe?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in rivers, oceans, and lakes. It's been in toothpaste forever since it's the MVP that toughens up your enamel and battles cavities. Some say it's a troublemaker, causing bone cancer and whatnot, but the jury's still out. However, fluoride-containing toothpastes need a warning by the FDA.

Too much fluoride in toothpaste paste (more than a pea-sized) can cause fluorosis, which leaves dark or light spots on the teeth. However, too little fluoride may lead to demineralisation or the weakening of tooth enamel. Personally, at Zerolla we use a very safe amount of Calcium Fluoride, which is the Fluoride mineral that is naturally found in our natural environment.

What about 100% natural toothpaste?

Time to break up with regular toothpaste and choose your natural true power, with or without fluoride. Let's dive into the mix of ingredients and why they're your mouth's friends.

• Spearmint and peppermint oils: they give bacteria the boot and let a fresh mouthfeel take over.
• Citric Acid: Declare war on tartar.
• Diatomaceous Earth (natural Silica): polishes and shines those pearly whites.
• Coconut Oil: soothes and moisturizes your mouth like a rockstar.
• Xylitol: a natural sweetener that inhibits bacteria.
• Thyme Oil: freshens breath and fights off those bacteria.

Craving Cool Natural Toothpaste Brands?

Ready to explore the world of natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly toothpaste? These are some of our favourite natural toothpaste brands, tested and approved:

Georganics https://georganics.com/
Truthpaste https://truthpaste.co.uk/
Parla https://parlatoothpastetabs.com
Kingfisher https://www.kingfishertoothpaste.co.uk/