Is Natural Toothpaste Good for Your Teeth?

Toothpaste is arguably the most critical part of your home dental hygiene routine. Not your mouthwash, not even your toothbrush. That’s because it contains the minerals your teeth need to fight decay and wash off any buildup. The slew of options also caters to almost every available need. Natural toothpaste is a viable option provided to those who opt for an organic way of living. But are they good for your teeth?

Before you jump onto the natural toothpaste bandwagon, consider the following:

Natural toothpaste is typically more expensive than regular toothpaste

While natural toothpaste is quite popular, it’s also expensive—so much so that others are looking for alternatives to your typical store-bought toothpaste. And according to a correspondence in the British Dental Journal, unnecessarily so.

Authored by K. Patel, the writer noted that the price of natural toothpaste often ranged from NZ$4.99-9.99 for every 100 grams in New Zealand. They went on to say that most of these products also contained the same ingredients. The ingredients included glycerol, lauryl glucoside, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, essential oils, menthol, carrageen, xylitol, xanthan gum, and stevia, among others.

Patel, being an “experienced pharmacist and researcher,” went on to make their formula for natural toothpaste. This new formulation cost around NZ$1.50 per 100 grams, including the packaging.

The problem of cost is no doubt an important one to consider. Because toothpaste is essential to your dental health, constant access to it is a necessity. And the expense is a significant obstacle to that accessibility. Fortunately, for those with the time and expertise, one could opt to make a version of natural toothpaste at home. And because there are fewer ingredients required for natural toothpaste, a homemade version is more feasible than their commercial counterparts.

Natural toothpaste and regular toothpaste do the same things differently

Aside from retail price, an essential distinction between natural and commercial toothpaste is their ingredients. Toothpaste should fulfill their required functions, regardless of what type they are. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be toothpaste as all.

To understand the differences between ingredients, let’s list down their typical properties:

  • For one, some toothpaste have a “teeth-whitening” component, which is just another term for “abrasion.” Commercial kinds of toothpaste typically use ingredients like calcium carbonate, while natural toothpaste might use hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.
  • A more crucial property of toothpaste is its ability to fight plaque and tartar. Commercial brands often employ detergents like lauryl glucoside, which might irritate the skin. Natural toothpaste, on the other hand, uses ingredients that have naturally occurring antibacterial properties, like oils and herbs.
  • Previously, we also talked about the importance of fluoride in fortifying the teeth. Some natural toothpaste proponents, however, opt to use natural toothpaste because they contain no fluoride. This preference is because of the controversy surrounding fluoride, particularly its excess consumption. However, as long as you use the recommended dosage, fluoride’s benefits far outweigh its risks.
  • Finally, some toothpaste need to accommodate the needs of those with sensitive teeth. People with sensitive teeth need certain ingredients to help with their condition, so regardless of whether it’s a commercial or a natural product, this is something to check.

So is natural toothpaste better for your teeth? Not necessarily. It all depends on your needs, economically or health-wise. Regardless of whether the brand you use is commercial or natural, as long as it does the job, then it’s good enough.

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