When it comes to brushing your teeth, a wide variety of different toothpaste options are commercially available. This may make it difficult to know which toothpaste options are the safest and which ones you should avoid. 

Choosing the wrong toothpaste could leave you with sensitive teeth or even damaged teeth if the product contains harsh or overly potent ingredients while selecting the right toothpaste can help you achieve a bright, white, healthy, and strong smile. 

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Certain ingredients, like concentrated bleaching chemicals, sulfates, and parabens, may indicate that a specific product should be avoided, as these ingredients do pose a risk of adverse effects. On the other hand, there are also a few key ingredients to specifically be on the lookout while choosing a toothpaste because these ingredients can have amazing benefits for your sensitive teeth and overall oral gum health. 

Someingredients that you may want to find in your toothpaste include:

Abrasives: Ingredients like calcium carbonate and modified silica are considered abrasive ingredients, and they work to help remove surface stains and food debris from your sensitive teeth.

Desensitizers: Desensitizing ingredients, like sodium citrate, casein phosphopeptide, and potassium nitrate, can help relieve any painful or uncomfortable teeth sensitivity you are experiencing. 

Whiteners: Whitening ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide can chemically lighten and whiten your teeth or help with enamel staining. As long as ingredients like these are not included in very high concentrations, they may be perfectly safe.

Coconut oil: Coconut oil is a great ingredient to look for in a toothpaste. If it is included in the formulation, you can reap the benefits of the traditional Ayurvedic practice ofoil pulling. Oil pulling is believed to help your body get rid of toxic heavy metals through your saliva, and it also works to pull bacteria, viruses, and protozoa out of your mouth. Additionally, coconut oil may contain antioxidants that kill off microorganisms, thus helping to prevent a buildup of the bacteria that causes plaque. Opting for a toothpaste containing coconut oil may help improve your oral health by better controlling the buildup of bacteria around your sensitive teeth and gums. 

Aloe vera: Aloe vera, too, may help kill off bacteria that cause plaque and cavities, all thanks to compounds called anthraquinones which are anti-inflammatory. Aloe vera is also less harsh on your teeth than conventional ingredients and may be a great alternative if you struggle with teeth sensitivity. 

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All of this being said, let’s get into the six best toothpaste options for safe and effective brushing. 

1. Dr. Brite Fluoride-Free Healthy Gums Toothpaste

If you are looking for a safe-to-swallow toothpaste that is perfect for the whole family to use,Dr. Brite’s Healthy Gums Toothpaste is the ideal option.

Because it is fluoride free toothpate, it is safe to swallow and uses a variety of natural ingredients to ensure that you are still getting an effective cleaning every time you brush your teeth. Some key ingredients include coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice, calcium carbonate, and vitamin c, so you can rest assured that this product is both highly safe and very effective. 

This product is also gluten-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free, and it is also made with non-GMO ingredients. Even better, this product is also cruelty-free, so you can enjoy it without worrying that animals may have been harmed in the process. 

2. Dr. Brite Extreme Whitening Toothpaste

TheDr. Brite Extreme Whitening Toothpaste is a fantastic option if you want something that will help you get a brighter smile safely while still giving you an effective clean each time you brush your teeth. This product also contains no harsh, toxic chemicals commonly found in conventional teeth whitening products and instead makes use of natural ingredients like coconut oil and aloe vera to whiten teeth and brighten your smile. 

This product is also ideal if you have come to know and love the mint flavor of many commercially available toothpaste, as this toothpaste comes in a classic mint flavor. It is also only $11.99 for 5 ounces of product. 

3. Arm & Hammer Essentials Healthy Teeth & Gums Fluoride Toothpaste

The Arm & Hammer Essentials Healthy Teeth & Gums Fluoride free Toothpaste from sodium lauryl sulfates and parabens, and it contains fluoride and baking soda to fight cavities and plaque.  That said, baking soda has been recognized as a toothpaste ingredient that can sometimes be too abrasive, thus causing damage, so it may be a good idea to proceed with caution. 

4. Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste

The Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste is one of the best whitening toothpaste that may help improve symptoms of teeth sensitivity while also working to give you a brighter smile, but you should consult a doctor before allowing any children under the age of 12 years to use this product. 

Products containing fluoride, like this option, are not safe to swallow in large amounts, which makes them potentially harmful if you have children who tend to swallow their toothpaste when brushing their teeth. 

5. Tom’s of Maine Simply White Natural Toothpaste

The Tom’s of Maine Simply White Natural Toothpaste is available in the flavor Clean Mint, which may be good news if you love that tried and true minty fresh feeling of traditional products. 

However, it does contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which may not be ideal if you were hoping to steer clear of unnecessary ingredients, and because it contains fluoride, it also should not be swallowed. 

6. Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint Toothpaste

The Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint Toothpaste once again has the traditional mint flavor that you would expect from conventional products, and it contains stannous fluoride to help protect against cavities. 

That said, this product takes a more traditional approach to oral health, meaning it does not make use of minimal, natural toothpastes ingredients like some of the options above. This toothpaste also does contain sodium lauryl sulfate as well as artificial flavors and coloring. Thus, while it may give you an effective, relatively safe clean, you should do a personal risk assessment to decide whether or not this product is worthwhile. 

The Bottom Line

Out of all of these options, Dr. Brite’s toothpaste is hands down the best toothpaste available when it comes to safe brushing. What, exactly, “safe brushing” means to you as an individual may be different than what it means for someone else, but Dr. Brite’s products are safe in a variety of ways. 

Dr. Brite toothpaste options are generally safe to swallow, free from toxic chemicals, and free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and gluten. Even better, the products contain a multitude of natural ingredients so that you can take care of your oral health without introducing potentially harmful artificial or harsh ingredients. 

With Dr. Brite, you can rest assured that your needs are covered, and your health will not be put in harm’s way.

 

FAQs

1. What toothpaste should you stay away from?

Too-abrasive toothpaste should be avoided because it might wear away your enamel. However, whitening toothpaste poses the greatest risk of having a high abrasiveness, according to Santa Ana, California dentist Brian Luong, DMD. It may appear to be calcium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, hydrated aluminum oxides, magnesium carbonate, phosphate salts, or silicates, he adds on the label.

2. How do I choose a safe toothpaste?

Make sure your toothpaste contains at least 1,000 parts per million fluoride and is approved by the American Dental Association for optimal protection. Almost everything else is subjective," he says. It all depends on how thoroughly the toothpaste cleans your teeth and how fresh your mouth feels after using it.

3. What toothpaste do dentists actually recommend?

Since fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and prevents tooth decay and gum disease, adults should use fluoride toothpaste.

4. What's wrong with fluoride in toothpaste?

Fluoride toothpaste can cause fluorosis, a condition that impairs the formation of dental enamel and can result in white streaks on the teeth and gastrointestinal issues when swallowed in large amounts.

 5. What is a healthy alternative to toothpaste?

There are a few healthy alternatives to toothpaste. One is using baking soda and water. Another is using a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.

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Sources:

Are Any Toothpaste Ingredients Dangerous? | Consumer Reports

Oil Pulling for Maintaining Oral Hygiene | NCBI

Benefits of Aloe Vera in Dentistry | NCBI.