Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin are often used to sweeten toothpaste. Saccharin has neurotoxic effects in some people who consume it in low-calorie or sugar-free foods. It’s a bad idea for kids’ toothpastes, given the potential for swallowing. With an in-house pharmacist as well as an experienced development team, we work with the best partners far and wide to produce our ranges. Concerned about cavities? RiseWell uses hydroxyapatite, which makes up a huge percentage of natural tooth structure, to support remineralization. Plus, it’s non-toxic! Jennith, I noticed the same thing and wondered that myself so I did a little research of my own. After spending hours searching through peer-reviewed articles (because that is the college student coming out in me) I found some interesting, yet reassuring, research and I thought I would share them with you and everyone else.

Earthpaste’s most important ingredient is Redmond Clay, a food-grade bentonite clay that is naturally an amazing polishing agent for our teeth. Redmond Clay is ancient volcanic ash embedded in the earth’s crust, and like everything that comes from the earth, you’ll find the tiniest bit of naturally-occurring lead, which is on the prop 65 list. It’s just the polishing agent—the physical motion of the brush disorganizes biofilm and prevents plaque. And that’s why brushing can make a major difference in cavity prevention. Decaying teeth with cavities or bacterial infections can be worrying. This is when Anti-Cavity Toothpaste steps in to save the day. With supercharged ingredients, it can help you fight bacteria and prevent decay while leaving you with stronger teeth. The Harvard School of Public Health reported that fluoride in water “adversely affect[s] cognitive development in children,” causing as much as a 7-point lower IQ. This is based largely on two studies published 2012 and 2017.There are other ways to ensure your baby grows up to have strong teeth, and without the risk of fluorosis and brain toxicity. Many adult toothpaste brands, and unfortunately, some kids’ toothpaste, including the ones branded as “all-natural,” contain ingredients that are actually harmful to oral health. That’s why I don’t suggest buying the first child’s Crest toothpaste you see at the drugstore. Many people think that fluoride toothpaste is necessary to prevent cavities. However, there are other ways to accomplish this that don’t carry the risk of a neurotoxin and fluorosis. Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are used to make products foam. SLS can irritate the skin or lining of the mouth, and it’s cousin SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) is even worse, as it is often contaminated with carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane. I don’t worry about SLS as much in soaps or shampoos, which we wash off, but because toothpaste goes in our mouths where it can be absorbed and swallowed, SLS and similar surfactants should be avoided in toothpaste.

Many toothpastes—both natural and conventional, for adults and kids–include a lot of ingredients, many of which are sneaky or bad. I guess that’s what happens when we expect a product to do a lot of things, like look appetizing, taste good, feel sudsy in our mouth, whiten our teeth, prevent cavities, and leave us with a “fresh” feeling. We love life, and we desperately strive to accomplish pleasure over pain, all the while being invigorated by life’s challenges. Like you, we keep layering it up. We believe strongly that prevention is better than cure, and despite the proverb first being uttered in the 13thcentury, it seems easily forgotten amongst the white noise of modern life. Our eyes are wide open. Yours are too.

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If you decide to DIY your child’s toothpaste, leave out the essential oils. You may also want to use one that’s not bactericidal, such as anise (which you’ll find in my Kid’s DIY Toothpaste recipe). When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?

Iheozor-Ejiofor, Z., Worthington, H. V., Walsh, T., O’Malley, L., Clarkson, J. E., Macey, R., …& Glenny, A. M. (2015). Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 6(6). Full text: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010856.pub2/full Toothpaste is one of those everyday essentials, and one that goes in our mouths, so I’m never surprised when a client or reader asks for help finding the best non-toxic, natural toothpaste.

Ingredients from packaging:

If you’re looking for which baby toothpaste to buy for your child under age two, in this article, I list out my favorites. I’ll also explain what parents need to know when choosing a toothpaste, specifically for toddlers and babies under age two.

Here’s everything you should know about what to do for your child’s teeth between about 6-24 months. Why do babies need special toothpaste? Surfactants: Coconut-derived substitutes for sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are popular ingredients in many “SLS-free” toothpastes. I’m concerned about SLS alternatives in toothpaste because of the delicate and absorbent lining of the mouth. There’s little or no data available on the safety of these ingredients, so at this point I’m erring on the side of avoiding them in toothpaste (although I’m okay with them in shampoo.) Examples of these kinds of surfactants are sodium coco-sulfate, sodium cocoyl glutamate, potassium cocoate, and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate. Planet Luxe is the culmination of many years toiling in creative and academic pursuits. From their entrepreneurial roots, ignited by a tiny mouth and it’s even tinier first tooth, Rachel and Justin have come full circle in many ways, now that they are at the helm of Australia’s most beautiful lifestyle brand, Planet Luxe. I find that using baby toothpaste under age two can sometimes be more mess and difficulty than its worth. The important thing is that you’re brushing.

Rewards For Life

Finding a truly safe toothpaste goes far beyond looking for a “fluoride-free” label. (And even the fluoride thing can be controversial—some of you may want it in toothpaste!). Whether you need teeth whitening, cavity protection, or sensitivity relief, our toothpaste is carefully formulated to cater to your oral health needs. Experience the difference and take the first step towards a healthier, more radiant smile. Second, use a probiotic formula specifically formulated for infants. These can be mixed into formula, pumped breastmilk, or food.