Natural oral care has been having a moment of late. With many consumers wary of the myriad chemicals we either put into our body or absorb unknowingly on a daily basis, the category is really taking the spotlight. The question is, ‘does natural oral care actually work’?
I recently chatted with celebrity cosmetic dentist, Dr Gamer Verdian from Dental Lounge Sydney and the co-founder of Dental 99 for his take on the topic. And then, went and tested some top brands for good measure!
Is Natural Oral Care Effective As Mainstream Care?
The key is whether it has fluoride. If it does, then the answer is yes. We have seen quite a few instances of people switching over to natural oral care (without fluoride) and having a dramatic increase with oral health issues such as decaying teeth and gingivitis. The fluoride is the most active ingredient in traditional toothpastes that has not had a match yet in the natural toothpaste department. There are some brands out there that do have fluoride, so they are a good option.
What Should I Look For In A Natural Toothpaste?
A natural toothpaste is generally made without chemical ingredients like SLS, dyes, preservatives or artificial flavourings. Don’t forget to choose one with fluoride as the main ingredient.
Is There Any Evidence That Activated Charcoal Dental Hygiene Products Actually Work?
There is evidence that it does have a very minimal effect, particularly in the abrasive properties of the of the charcoal that remove surface stains. However, if used long-term it can cause unnecessary surface wear.
What If I Choose To Go Without Fluoride In My Toothpaste? What Risks Am I Facing? How Can I Supplement To Circumvent These Risks?
In my opinion, there is too high a risk to go down this path. Fluoride has been a huge part of the improvement in the oral health of our populations that have access to it in their water supply and via oral health products. I have personally seen a rather high number of patients who have had a dramatic turn in their oral health journey just by making this change alone. When trying one of the new products, ask your dentist first so they can help monitor your progress and advise if there are any changes sooner rather than later.
Whether you choose to go fluoride-free or not is totally that – your choice. However, as Dr Gamer advises, it is wise to have a lengthy discussion with your oral health practitioner before you begin your journey in natural oral care.
In the meantime, here are a few products I’ve trialled and tested, and my experience with them.
What I love about this product is that it is vegan, Plastic Neutral Certified and comes in a recyclable tube. I also really loved the taste and feel of it in my mouth. I did feel as though my teeth appeared whiter and brighter after using up the entire tube and the flavour was fresh and minty. It does contain activated charcoal, which will leave your sink with black spills. I quite like this though, as it means I can easily spot and clean up the mess before it turns to hard slugs of old paste on the porcelain (which is always a risk with white on white!). It is fluoride free (so chat with your dentist prior to long-term use).
In terms of natural oral care, this has to be one of the broadest selections you can find. there are over 15 variants. My fave flavour (and one I’ve used for quite a few years) is the Mild Mint. It’s refreshing, leaves my mouth feeling super clean and my teeth beautifully polished. This variant contains no fluoride, but has lots of healing ingredients like organic aloe vVera, which soothes teeth and gums, and natural herbs for gentle oral care and fresh breath. I also love that it’s certified vegan and Aussie made and owned. Bonus: it’s ideal if you have sensitive gums or mouth ulcers. Note that Grants does have two natural toothpastes with fluoride.
I literally couldn’t get enough of this tasty gargle, going through the bottle in less than a week. Its clean, cooling flavour and cleansing effect made my mouth feel so fresh after each use (which for me was after every meal and sometimes when I woke through the night). While it’s fluoride-free, it does contain Xylitol, which has been clinically proven to inhibit the growth of cavity-promoting bacteria. These bacteria can’t use Xylitol to grow. It also contains natural cleansing herbs like eucalyptus, cardamom and rosemary, which only add to the yummy taste. And, it doesn’t contain alcohol. Again, it’s certified vegan and Aussie made and owned.
With a huge range of flavours and options, both with fluoride and without, this range makes natural oral care super fun. Choose from Whitening Charcoal, Strawberry, Tea Tree Oil and more. There’s even a fun Unicorn Sparkle variety that kids will love to use. I tested both the Whitening pastes – Goodbye Plaque, Hello Whitening and Activated Charcoal. I really loved them both and did find my teeth dazzled quite a bit after a month or so of use!
You’re going to want a black sink here, but again, I find that a bonus for as it makes the bathroom vanity so much easier to clean (you can actually see the spots and quickly whisk them away). This tastes great and really refreshes. My tongue felt less fuzzy and my breath was fresh all day (at least nobody told me otherwise!). Alcohol and fluoride-free, it relies on activated charcoal from bamboo, which makes it pretty sustainable, and it has a moisturising effect on the mouth.
These little drops of genius are perfect for travellers, with a small tin of 60 tabs easily fitting in to your carry on luggage. You could (and should) even carry them in your bag each day. They’re perfect for your regular clean, or if you’re caught in-between cleans and needs to freshen up. Simply pop one in your mouth, chew and brush. Even if you don’t have your toothbrush with you, you can chew one, swirl it around in your mouth with water and get instant freshness. The tin is plastic free and recyclable and you can even buy refills for it, which is an added bonus for the environment.
This innovative, natural, vitamin enriched oral care brand comes with sustainable packaging and biodegradable tubes, helping to halt the problem of the 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes that enter landfill each year (and live there for 500+ years!). ROCC Naturals tubes break down in as little as six years, without breaking into micro-plastics which can harm ocean and aquatic life. I tried all three variants – Fluoride Whitening with Minerals, River Mint and green tea and Vitamin B12 Mint + Coconut Oil. I was super impressed by each. They tick every box for taste, mouth freshness and brightening. With naturally derived ingredients, they’re gluten-free, cruelty-free and vegan.
