The Best Fluoride-Free Toothpastes For Kids & Adults (And Why I Don’t Use Hydroxyapatite)
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When beginning my search for fluoride free toothpastes for kids and adults, I found it really difficult to find a clean toothpaste. Sometimes even “natural” toothpastes can contain harmful ingredients. Before I deep dive into why some of these other ingredients are harmful, let’s start with fluoride.
Is Fluoride Harmful To The Body?
This article says that fluoride can cause “dental fluorosis, skeletal fluorosis, arthritis, bone damage, osteoporosis, muscular damage, fatigue, joint-related problems, and chronicle issues. In extreme conditions, it could adversely damage the heart, arteries, kidney, liver, endocrine glands, neuron system, and several other delicate parts of a living organism,”
In addition, this article states that a reduction in intelligence was observed in school children with increased water fluoride levels. How much fluoride do you need to ingest to see these effects? That part is unclear, but it was enough for me to try to avoid fluoride for my family. Unfortunately, fluoride is not only found in toothpaste but it’s also found in drinking water. After you finish this toothpaste article, check out my water filter article to find the best water filters that eliminate fluoride.
Does Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Work?
Yes! In my list below, I listed alkaline toothpastes. What do alkaline toothpastes do? They increase the pH in your mouth which helps your saliva remineralize your teeth naturally. When your mouth is in an acidic state, there is acid wear on your teeth and you are at a higher risk of developing cavities. When your mouth is in an alkaline state, the calcium and phosphorus in your saliva will naturally remineralize your teeth. As long as you have good calcium and phosphorous levels, these natural toothpastes should work for you. (source)
Is Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste Safe?
I have decided to stay away from all hydroxyapatite (HA) toothpaste and here’s why. There are two kinds of HA toothpastes, nano and non-nano. Nano HA toothpastes do a great job of remineralizing your teeth, but there is one problem. They are made up of nano-particles. Is nano hydroxyapatite safe? Unfortunately, no. These small particles can get absorbed into your body and accumulate in your tissues causing toxic effects.
Non-nano (or micro HA) is made up of larger particles that don’t get absorbed by your body, but because they are larger particles, they may not help your teeth like nano HA. In addition, companies may say that they are using non-nano (micro) HA, but they may really be using nano. One of my favorite companies, Bubble and Bee, wrote a couple detailed articles on this subject. Feel free to check it out here and here for more detailed info.
What Ingredients In Toothpaste Should Be Avoided?
In addition to avoiding fluoride and hydroxyapatite, many other ingredients should be avoided. If you flip over your current toothpaste tube and look at the ingredients, I bet it contains at least one of these ingredients below. While this is not a complete list of ingredients to avoid, it covers several of the main offenders.
Carrageenan– can cause cancer and gastrointestinal effects. (source)
Sorbitol– so this one isn’t toxic, but it’s not good to have in toothpaste. A lot of toothpastes contain sorbitol and it turns out that it can actually feed oral bacteria that will eventually lead to tooth decay. (source)
Sodium Benzoate– is a developmental and reproductive toxin, a neurotoxin, and has been linked to ADHD. It’s also a hormone disruptor, has been linked to increased overeating, and when mixed with vitamin C, it forms benzene which is a carcinogen. (source)
Potassium Sorbate– damages DNA (source)
Natural Flavors– contain artificial and synthetic chemicals. Since there is no regulation on this, we don’t even know what chemicals companies are using. (source)
Bentonite Clay and Kaolin Clay– I have mixed feelings about these. Some articles say that heavy metals bind to them and are therefore pulled out of the body. Other articles say that they contain heavy metals. When I’m unsure about something, I stay away from it. Here is an article that says kaolin clay contains heavy metals.
Charcoal– can contain trace amounts of carcinogenic chemicals. This includes charcoal in other personal care products like deodorant too (source)
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)- is a skin irritant and can cause ulcers if used in toothpaste. (source)
Artificial Colors– can cause a ton of health issues including cancer. Here’s an article if you want to read more.
Hydrated Silica– most companies use nano silica which can be harmful to the human body. Also, silica can be abrasive to teeth. (source)
Colloidal Silver– there is a lot of controversy over this one. If you try and tell someone in the non-tox world to stay away from colloidal silver, they will tell you absolutely not. People swear by colloidal silver and it’s healing effects. I believe that it probably does help when you are sick, however, I don’t think that it’s safe to use. This article says it causes DNA damage, inflammation, genotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. If you want to use it, go for it. I won’t judge you. I just know that I’m staying away from it.
Propylene Glycol– can cause central nervous system (CNS) toxicity, hyperosmolarity, hemolysis, irregular heart rate, seizures, and increased lactic acid in your blood. (source)
Triclosan– is an endocrine disruptor. It can also cause decreased sperm count, a reduction in progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone, a rise in total T3 levels (thyroid), an increase in spontaneous abortion rates, and decreased newborn weight (among other things!) (source)
Parabens– can cause hormone disruption by mimicking estrogen. It has been shown to cause breast cancer in mice (source)
You’ll notice that my list below of natural toothpastes isn’t very long. That’s because it was really difficult to find toothpaste without these ingredients! I have thoroughly gone through these toothpastes below and only listed ones with clean ingredients. I also included a couple of DIY toothpastes/homemade toothpastes. If you prefer to make your own, there are some options below. If you are looking for non-toxic baby products, kid products, or non-toxic products for yourself, this list of toothpastes is a good place to start. I hope you find a non-toxic toothpaste that works for you and your family!
1. Bubble and Bee Alkalizing Toothpaste, Lemon, Spearmint, and Peppermint Flavors
Who Can Use This Toothpaste: Kids and Adults. The Bubble and Bee website also says this natural toothpaste is safe for pregnant women. When using this for kids, I recommend using the lemon flavor or spearmint (skip the peppermint). I’ve read that children should stay away from peppermint essential oils. Adults can use any of the flavors.
This is my toothpaste of choice! I use the spearmint one and my kids use the lemon flavor. Before I switched to natural toothpaste, I was weary of using toothpaste out of a jar, but now that I’m using it, I love it! Also because it’s made out of glass, you don’t have to worry about plastic leaching BPA or BPS and it’s also better for the planet. You can purchase bamboo scoops on the Bubble and Bee website if you’d like to scoop the toothpaste on your toothbrush. If you don’t want the bamboo scoop, use a baby spoon or dunk your toothbrush in the jar (if it’s your own jar).
This clean fluoride-free toothpaste is an alkalizing toothpaste that helps keep your mouth in an alkaline state. When your mouth is alkaline, your teeth have the opportunity to remineralize. In addition, this clean toothpaste is free from all harmful ingredients. It also has other beneficial ingredients that are explained on the Bubble and Bee website. They even provide sources to back up the information. I love using this toothpaste. Give it a try!
2. Balm Kids Natural Fluoride Free Toothpaste with Xylitol. Mint or Orange Flavor
Who Can Use This Toothpaste: Kids and Adults. Sure, this toothpaste is marketed as a toothpaste for kids, but anyone could use it. They have a peppermint flavor and an orange flavor. Again, I would choose the orange flavor for small kids because the peppermint flavor contains peppermint essential oil (which should possibly be avoided in small children). Adults can use any flavor.
This non-toxic toothpaste is made with only 6 ingredients and one of those ingredients is water. It is fluoride-free, vegan, and cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny Certified). It contains no SLS, artificial dyes, flavors, preservatives, or carrageenan. It comes in a glass jar that is BPA and BPS-free. Like all the other toothpastes in this article, this toothpaste is also an alkalizing toothpaste to help remineralize teeth naturally. In addition, it also uses xylitol.
If you don’t like the jar, this toothpaste also comes in a pump form.
3. Viva Doria Natural Tooth Powder
Who Can Use This Toothpaste: Ages 17 and up. I don’t recommend this toothpaste for kids/teens under 17 years old due to the essential oils it contains.
This toothpaste is an alkalizing toothpaste with 2 ingredients plus essential oils. This non-toxic toothpaste is actually a powder that you can customize. You can use more or less powder or you can also mix it with water to create a paste-like consistency. This clean toothpaste powder comes in a glass jar (which is great for the planet) and is made in the USA.
4. Thieves AromaBright Toothpaste by Young Living
Who Can Use This Toothpaste: Adults
If you prefer a toothpaste in a tube, this one is for you. This fluoride-free toothpaste is made with calcium carbonate, coconut oil, sodium bicarbonate, and xylitol which can help with inflammation, plaque, and bacteria and can help keep your mouth in an alkaline state so your teeth can remineralize naturally. Again, I only recommend it for adults due to the essential oils.
5. Homemade Toothpaste With Baking Soda
Who Can Use This Toothpaste: Adults and kids
This DIY toothpaste recipe is pretty simple. Put baking soda on a toothbrush with a few drops of water and brush your teeth. For adults, you can also use a drop of an essential oil if you want. Be careful with certain essential oils for kids.
I recommend this baking soda versus other baking sodas because this one is pure soda and not synthetic.
Is it good to brush your teeth with baking soda? Yes! Baking soda can slightly whiten your teeth, help scrub away plaque, and keep your mouth in an alkaline state so your body can naturally remineralize your teeth. Baking soda may also reduce bacteria since some bacteria need a more acidic environment. Some people have said that they’ve only used baking soda their whole lives and have great teeth. I would use a soft toothbrush and brush gently so it’s not abrasive to your teeth.
6. Homemade Toothpaste With Coconut Oil and Baking Soda
Who Can Use This Toothpaste: Kids and adults
Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Add 5-10 drops of your essential oil of choice. Make sure it is a safe essential oil, especially for kids. Mix ingredients well to get a smooth texture.
Some people also add turmeric, but if you decide to add turmeric, sprinkle a little bit on your toothbrush each time you brush instead of adding it to the mixture. What does turmeric do to your teeth? Some people say that it whitens their teeth, although there haven’t been studies to confirm this. Turmeric does help with inflammation, therefore, it can help with gingivitis. It also helps with plaque and bacteria.
Although, you don’t have to add turmeric. Baking soda and coconut oil will work just fine. Baking soda is alkaline which helps your teeth naturally remineralize and coconut oil fights inflammation and bacteria. I recommend this baking soda since it is pure baking soda and not synthetic. This is a good coconut oil. If you choose to use these ingredients, spit out your toothpaste in the garbage since coconut oil can clog sinks!
Final Thoughts On Fluoride-Free Toothpastes For Kids and Adults……
As long as you don’t have a health condition where your body has less calcium and phosphorus, these alkalizing toothpastes should work for you. If you do have a health condition, it’s up to you if you want to use hydroxyapatite or fluoride in your toothpaste. So many toothpastes in stores and even online are filled with so much junk. These toothpastes aren’t doing your teeth or your body any favors. Looking at ingredients is key when using any product. I hope the list above helps you find a good fluoride free toothpaste for you and your family and helps you take the next step to clean, mindful living.
