A toothbrush with natural toothpaste.
Natural toothpaste is sometimes used as an alternative to traditional dental cleaning products. Many people prefer the natural variety due to the lack of chemical agents to lather, cleanse, and rinse. Natural toothpaste often contains plant- and earth-based ingredients, such as calcium, zinc, vegetable glycerin, and cranberry extract. Natural toothpaste typically doesn’t use man-made ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate or propylene glycol, a synthetic petrochemical sometimes used in antifreeze.
Xylitol, which is used to make some natural toothpastes.
Most natural toothpastes use plant-based ingredients as foaming agents. One of those ingredients is glycyrrhizin, an ingredient derived from licorice root. This compound is also 30 to 50 times sweeter than regular table sugar. Another foaming ingredient that is sometimes used in natural toothpaste is sodium cocoyl glutamate. This ingredient is chemically similar to sodium lauryl sulfate, but is made from the amino acid glutamate and coconut oil, rather than being synthetically created.
Baking soda can be used as a natural alternative to toothpaste.
Natural toothpaste often contains non-chemical sweetening ingredients like xylitol. Xylitol is a natural plant ingredient that is slightly sweet and helps inhibit and prevent plaque and cavities. Stevia is another possible natural sweetener. Stevia is a leafy plant that tastes much sweeter than sugar, but is considered much healthier. Sorbitol, a corn-based sweetener, is also sometimes used. These ingredients are often alternatives to traditional sweeteners like saccharin.
The whitening agents in natural toothpastes are usually derived from plants and minerals. Calcium carbonate, a substance derived from rocks and the shells of marine animals, is sometimes used as a bleach. Silica, often found in the form of sand, is another ingredient that is sometimes used. Other ingredients may include bamboo powder or sodium fluoride, which is derived from the mineral fluorspar. These ingredients replace traditional bleaches such as calcium peroxide and carbamide peroxide, derived from hydrogen peroxide and animal urea.
Some natural toothpastes do not contain fluoride. Fluoride helps prevent cavities and cavities, but many consumers have become skeptical about its necessity in toothpaste. Fluoride has the potential to poison a person if too much is ingested. This can be especially dangerous when fluoride is used in children’s toothpaste, as children often swallow toothpaste while brushing. Almost all traditional toothpastes contain fluoride, but many natural toothpaste manufacturers make a fluoride-free version of their products.
Simple natural toothpaste can be made at home by combining common household ingredients. A mixture of baking soda, salt, water, and glycerin can be used like a traditional toothpaste. Peppermint oil is often added to the mix to enhance the flavor.