Introduction:
Questions about toothpaste come up often, but unfortunately there are currently NO perfect options that I know of. I’ll discuss what I use though. I’m not going to get into details of why toothpaste is so bad, but so many toothpaste ingredients (even “natural” ones) may have some benefits for teeth, but are problematic for toxicity, heavy metals, and other hazards, especially for children: Bentonite clay, carageenan, flavor, xanthan gum, titanium dioxide, calcium, coral, propandiol, artificial colors and flavors, SLS, triclosan, sodium benzoate, colloidal silver, essential oils, Hydroxyapatite, etc. It’s been said that glycerin shouldn’t be used in toothpaste because it might prevent the other ingredients from being effective, but I couldn’t find any research to back that up.
This post may contain Amazon Associates affiliate links, that I may earn small amounts from. See the bottom of this page for more details.
Recommendations:
Kids Toothbrush: Radius; Amazon Associates link: https://amzn.to/3tWqbNC
Another good kids brush is Jack n Jill. Amazon Associates link: https://amzn.to/3um40jb
Kids Electric Toothbrush: Brush Baby; Amazon Associates link: https://amzn.to/3F4La6f
Another good kids electric brush is Jack n Jill. Amazon Associates link: https://amzn.to/3VquOL3
Adult Electric Toothbrush: Quip is a brand to look into. At the least, they don’t use dye on their bristles. Be aware that some models have Bluetooth, which is an EMF concern. The kids brush has Bluetooth and appears to have yellow dye in the bristles so I don’t recommend that one. I bought Burst brand, though they have charcoal infused bristles and charcoal has a small risk of have heavy metals in it. This is a very small amount, so the risk is low if you want to use these. https://amzn.to/45PqISm
Floss: Radius Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3ogXKXl or Desert Essence. I greatly prefer Radius. Almost all other brands contain PFAS chemicals. To make it easier with kids, you can get reusable floss pick devices to use with regular floss (Affiliates link: https://amzn.to/3CXjptn).
Flossing the back teeth at night is most important.
Toothpaste: This was one of the deepest and darkest rabbit holes to research, because there was no light at the end of the tunnel; no perfect options. All toothpastes contain at least one ingredient that some people think is problematic: SLS, glycerin, xylitol, silica, bentonite (has lead), calcium carbonate (has lead), coral (lead risk), essential oils (many, including peppermint are not safe for kids), nano silver, Hydroxyapatite, and not to mention, fluoride (a neurotoxin that may not be very effective for cavity prevention and may affect children’s development or IQ).
Toothpaste for Adults: I decided to just use or nothing (just wet the brush with water), or sometimes use plain baking soda. Some say it’s too abrasive, but I read a compelling source that actually compared abrasiveness of compounds and found it was safe for teeth. My dentist also approves and says my enamel is great, even when I used to brush with baking soda every day.
Toothpaste for Kids: For kids up until age 4, no toothpaste is recommended because of the propensity of swallowing it; just water is fine. You can also try straight coconut oil, especially for kids who won’t like the taste of baking soda. A successful idea I had is to put it into a “Squeezey Snacker” silicone squeeze bottle to make it easier to put on a toothbrush (as long as it doesn’t get too cold and hardened). Amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3tV1m4I.
For ready made kid toothpastes, if I had to recommend one it would be Radius, although the ingredients aren’t perfect at least there’s no significant hazards: https://amzn.to/3Pn5fJC. In the past I used Jack n Jill for a while for my toddler because it doesn’t have ingredients risky for lead, which was my foremost concern because at her age, kids end up swallowing most of it. They have great flavors. But I stopped using it because it contains citric acid that the company says is derived from corn. But that means that mold was probably used for the fermentation process. If she would use just coconut oil I would do that, but she doesn’t like it. I have since switched back to just water. What I might try is making a DIY toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda, and some kind of flavoring… maybe vanilla or monk fruit ? I’ve also heard that a tiny amount of castor oil can be used.
Mouthwash: This is the least toxic brand I could find if you really want a mouthwash. It does contain natural flavors and a few things I’d normally avoid, but I everything else I’ve seen is much worse. Do check the ingredients of each flavor as they do differ between flavors. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1RPCS4/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_8R9SJX4HYPT4V2G5MYC7?linkCode=ml2&tag=cleangreentox-20 (Amazon associates link).
Titanium dioxide is another ingredient sometimes seen in toothpaste. It is most dangerous when inhaled, so isn’t as dangerous when bound in a product like toothpaste. Still isn’t great to swallow more than small bits, so personally I wouldn’t feel good using for a small child. But if your child spits and rinses thoroughly you might consider it. I almost considered Hello brand until I realized some of them contain this ingredient.
Xylitol gum is another product to consider, but I haven’t looked deeply into the toxicity of different brands.
Nutrition for Healthy Teeth:
Remember that teeth are alive and part of the body, which needs to be supported by good nutrition from the inside out. Check out this article about nutrition for teeth, including why milk may not be great. Sugar is definitely not good for teeth, as well as anything that acidifies your mouth.
Bonus Brushing Tips for Kids (if you’re having difficulty):
-Play a short video on your phone or tablet about teeth brushing (or just a fun video) while you brush. We are a low-screentime house, but this was a game changer and had the additional benefit of making our daughter actually be excited and willing to start bedtime instead of fighting it.
-Try one of those silicone brushes that goes on your finger (but watch out for biting).
-Give the child a toothbrush to hold, help use on herself, or use on you.
-Try a toothpaste that tastes good, such as Jack and Jill.
-Has daddy tried? For some reason my son is awesome… when my husband does it.
-Try a different position. Standing, sitting, laying in your lap.
Bonus Dentist Visit Tip:
Instead of that aspartame tasting tooth polish, you can ask for plain pumice. Doesn’t taste like anything and is the same stuff without added flavor or color. Or, the polisher tool can still work with just water. That’s what I do for my kids, because they don’t like the taste of the paste and I don’t like the ingredients.
Also, if you need to have silver colored amalgam fillings removed, you should look for a SMART Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique (SMART), which is a protocol developed through the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) to safely remove amalgam fillings and reduce mercury exposure to patients, doctors and clinical staff.
Also check out my teeth whitening tips!
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Do you have any data showing dr bronners is ok for lead? I read that they refused to give out any CoA or lead data on their soaps. Is hydrated silica a lead concern? How high in lead could calcium carbonate be -worse ir as bad as clay? I’m am so stuck and so confused about toothpaste. Currently using crest regular for me and hello fluoride free for kids but neither one seems ok. I’ve written to both companies and not heard back.
I have no data for bronners. I’ve read that silica isn’t a lead concern. It’s so hard to compare calcium and clay especially in toothpaste, because it’s hard to know what percentages of the final product they represent.
Some of the hello contains titanium dioxide which isn’t good.
Hey Lindsey, I see you recommend Radius toothpaste but have a pic of Jack n Jill. What are your thoughts on Jack n Jill?
Hi, it is written in the text that I recommend radius toothbrushes and jack n Jill toothpaste. I need to update the toothpaste though because now I avoid things with citric acid. Now I’m switching to Hello brand for kids. Still not perfect though.