Choosing the Best Natural Whitening Toothpaste: Reviews & Buyers Guide
Most people want a bright, attractive smile, and many of them want to achieve it without having to resort to dental procedures or time-intensive home treatments. One easy and obvious choice is to whiten teeth during normal tooth brushing by using a toothpaste made especially to whiten teeth.
Natural products are also a common desire, as many people try to avoid man-made chemicals that they do not trust. To satisfy both desires, several companies now produce whitening toothpastes that are made from natural ingredients. Not all of these products are equally effective, and careful consumers will evaluate their choice of toothpaste carefully before they stand in the dental care aisle and select one.
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All Natural Whitening Toothpaste Comparison Chart
doTERRA OnGuard Whitening Toothpaste | Jason Power Smile | Tom's of Maine Whitening | Now Foods Xyliwhite - Baking Soda | Davids Natural Toothpaste |
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4 oz Tube | 6 oz Tube | 5.5 oz Tube | 6.4 oz Tube | 5.25 oz Tube |
Cinnamon Clove Mint Flavor | Vanilla Mint Flavor | Peppermint Flavor | Platinum Mint Flavor | Mint Flavor |
Fluoride-Free | Fluoride-Free | Fluoride-Free | Fluoride-Free | Fluoride-Free |
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What is Natural Whitening Toothpaste?
The term natural is a bit problematic, because everything is technically natural, being found in nature. In general use, something is considered natural if it is derived from sources such as could be found in the wild, but this is not a standard that is easily applied or universally agreed upon.
For purposes of this article, we'll consider plant-derived ingredients and naturally-occurring minerals to be natural, while lab-created flavors and colors will not be.
So a natural whitening toothpaste is a toothpaste formulated to whiten teeth as it cleans them that doesn't contain ingredients that only come from a chemist's laboratory. The inclusion of fluoride is a controversy that we will explore later, and leave to the reader to decide for themselves.
How Does Natural Whitening Toothpaste Work?
Almost all toothpastes help clean teeth with a very mild abrasive to help remove plaque and tartar. These also help polish the enamel without harming it, despite myths to the contrary. Excessive enamel wear is not caused by toothpastes, it is usually caused by excessively vigorous or frequent brushing.
While some toothpastes contain a bleaching agent, the few minutes that it is in contact with the teeth prevent it from being effective at removing intrinsic (interior) stains. They are most effective at removing extrinsic (surface) stains with regular use.
According to the Mayo Clinic:
"Some whitening toothpastes contain the chemical blue covarine, which adheres to the surface of the teeth and creates an optical illusion that can make teeth appear less yellow."
In any case, tooth whitening will be much less effective for people who frequently drink or eat things that stain the teeth, such as coffee, tea, soda, wine, and berries. If a food or beverage is acidic, it will make your teeth more susceptible to staining, even if it doesn't stain the teeth itself.
Pros and Cons of Natural Whitening Toothpaste
PROS:
- They will remove surface stains, brightening teeth for a more pleasant appearance The don't work as quickly as dentist's treatments will, but they will make teeth whiter.
- They have natural ingredients, making it possible to avoid ingredients for people who do not trust their safety. These ingredients can include fluoride, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, diethanolamine, unhealthy sweeteners, or artificial flavors and colors. Natural toothpaste was introduced to the market to meet this demand.
- They sometimes come in flavors other than mint, for people who don't enjoy the typical mint flavor, or simply want some variety in their tooth-brushing routine.
CONS:
- If overused, some of them can cause excessive wear and even enamel loss. Read the manufacturer's instructions and follow them to protect your teeth.
- Some of these toothpastes contain peroxide, which can irritate the gums, tongue, and other tissues in the mouth.
Choosing a Natural Whitening Toothpaste: Buyers Guide
With the wide variety of natural whitening toothpastes on the market, the consumer has an almost bewildering number of options to choose from. Considering the different factors involved carefully should help them to make the choice that will suit them best.
A Pleasant Flavor Is Important
While it may seem a frivolous matter at first, flavor is really an important factor. The American Dental Association recommends that we brush our teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes each time. If the flavor of the toothpaste is unpleasant, people will be more prone to skimp on this, or rush through the chore and not take the time to do a thorough job.
If the whole family shares a single toothpaste, then people will try to choose a flavor that they will all enjoy. If this doesn't work easily, then a selection of different toothpastes that will please every palate in the house becomes the thing to do.
Make Sure That the Ingredients Suit You
Fluoride is one controversial ingredient that people will want to decide on for themselves. The American Dental Association endorses fluoride in toothpaste, but there are several studies, such as this study from Harvard, that warn of the dangers of high levels of fluoride in childhood development.
There is no definitive answer, and people must decide about this and other ingredients for themselves. But choosing a natural toothpaste without fluoride isn't difficult; we have 5 listed in this article.
Fluoride is not the only ingredient that is controversial, and research into the possible dangers of them all is something that everyone will have to do for themselves. Once they've made their decision about the ingredients, then selecting a toothpaste with ingredients that they consider safe is a simple task.
How Is the Toothpaste Whitening Your Teeth?
Some toothpastes use bleaching agents to remove surface stains, while others use ingredients that are more abrasive to wear them away. This is fine in careful moderation, but enamel that is worn away won't grow back, and this can cause serious dental problems if it's overdone.
The more abrasive ingredients such as undissolved baking soda or sea salt must be identified and used sparingly, on an occasional basis. If peroxide doesn't irritate the soft tissues of the mouth, then bleaching agents instead of abrasive ingredients may be a better choice for extra whitening in your toothpaste choice.
5 Of The Top Natural Whitening Toothpastes
While each person needs to decide for themselves which choice is the best for them, here are 5 options that we believe are well worth considering:
doTERRA's Natural Whitening Toothpaste is in our opinion the best natural whitening toothpaste on the market. It offers a fluoride-free formula that includes their proprietary On Guard® blend of pure essential oils. Pure wild orange, clove, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus oils give this toothpaste an extra cleaning boost, and the flavor is enhanced with peppermint, wintergreen, and natural xylitol.
The result is a unique cinnamon, clove, and mint flavor that freshens your breath as it helps clean your teeth and brighten your smile.
Ingredients: Glycerin, Aqua (water), Hydrated Silica, Hydroxyapatite, Xylitol, Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose Gum, Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus sinesis (Wild Orange) Peel Oil Expressed, Eugenia caryophylius (Clove) Bud Oil, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon) Bark Oil, Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalytus) Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Stevia rebaudiana (Stevia) Extract, Gaultheria procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil, Commiphora myrrha (Myrrh) Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Carrageenan, Titanium Dioxide
PROS:
- Fluoride-free for people who wish to avoid it.
- Uses hydrated silica, a gentle choice for abrasion that will not wear enamel excessively.
- The myrrh essential oil helps soothe sensitive teeth and irritated tissues.
CONS:
- It contains carrageenan, an ingredient that some people prefer to avoid.
This fluoride-free toothpaste uses the natural whitening power of silica and baking soda, with extracts of grapefruit seed and perilla seed to fight the bacteria that cause tooth decay. The mellow vanilla flavor is bolstered with a peppermint counterpoint to leave the breath smelling sweet and refreshing.
Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, carrageenan, vanilla planifolia fruit oil, aloe barbadensis leaf gel, camellia sinensis leaf extract, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, perilla ocymoides seed extract, illicium verum (anise) fruit/seed oil, menta piperita (peppermint) oil, stevia rebaudiana leaf/stem extract, silica sodium bicarbonate
PROS:
- This fluoride-free formula leaves out the controversial ingredient.
- It does not contain sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates or propylene glycol.
- It is also available in cinnamon-mint flavor.
CONS:
- This mild formula may not offer as much whitening action as other brands do.
This popular choice for people who avoid fluoride uses calcium carbonate, hydrated silica, and sodium bicarbonate to gently clean your teeth and freshen your breath.
These are all naturally-sourced ingredients.
The mild natural mint flavor is a refreshing change from the overpowering mint flavor of other toothpastes.
Ingredients: Calcium carbonate, glycerin, water, xylitol, hydrated silica, natural flavor, sodium lauryl sulfate, zinc citrate, carrageenan, sodium bicarbonate. Peppermint oil
PROS:
- This toothpaste uses nothing but naturally-sourced ingredients.
- There is no fluoride, to accommodate their customers who wish to avoid it.
- Hydrated silica is a mild abrasive to protect the enamel of your teeth.
CONS:
- The ingredients include sodium lauryl sulfate and carrageenan, which some people also try to avoid.
A natural toothpaste with tea tree oil - Now Foods Xyliwhite has no fluoride, SLS, or parabens, and contains 25% xylitol as a primary ingredient because it cannot be digested by the bacteria in your mouth that cause tooth decay.
Xylitol is also said to encourage re-mineralization of teeth, because it helps keep the pH of your saliva at optimum levels.
Ingredients: Water, Xylitol, hydrated silica, Sodium Bicarbonate, Glycerin, Sorbitol, natural mint flavor, Peppermint (mentha piperita) Oil, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Carrageenan (Chondrus Crispus), Papain, Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) Leaf OIl, Sodium Carbonate, Potassium Sorbate
PROS:
- Xyliwhite is completely safe for users of any age, and contains no fluoride or sodium lauryl sulfate.
- This toothpaste uses sodium bicarbonate and papain as gentle whitening agents.
- All ingredients are vegan, and this also contains tea tree leaf oil for its antibacterial properties.
CONS:
- The flavor of the baking soda in this toothpaste may be stronger than some users will like. I personally find that it takes me a few uses to get used to the baking soda flavor.
This minty toothpaste has no fluoride, sodium laurel sulfate, and adds birch-derived xylitol for enhanced oral health. It comes in a recyclable metal tube and comes with a tube roller key for convenient use. It is also kid-friendly.
Ingredients: calcium carbonate (limestone abrasive), purified water, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), vegetable glycerin, hydraded silica, xylitol (birch derived), sodium cocoyl glutamate (coconut derived), carrageenan (seaweed derived), mentha piperita (peppermint oil), mentha viridis (spearmint) leaf oil, pimpinella anisum (anise) seed extract, gaultheria procumbens (wintergreen) leaf oil, stevia (leaf extract)
PROS:
- This toothpaste uses calcium carbonate (limestone) to clean plaque and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to neutralize harmful acids on your teeth.
- The ingredients are 98% sourced in the USA, to keep our economy strong.
- The flavor is from a distinctive blend of peppermint, spearmint, anise, and wintergreen oils, sweetened with naturally non-nutritive stevia.
CONS:
- One of the ingredients is carrageenan, which some people try to avoid.
Conclusion
There are many more choices available now than ever before for people who prefer natural ingredients in a product that they're putting into their mouth twice every day. In response to customer concern about fluoride, many of them offer a fluoride-free product.
There is no reason that anyone should be using a dental care product made with ingredients that they are wary of. We strongly recommend that you examine the claims made about the various ingredients and decide for yourselves which are or are not safe enough for you and your family to use regularly. We hope that these suggestions are useful to you. Among all of them we chose doTERRA OnGuard Natural Whitening Toothpaste as our top pick.
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Aurora is the lead editor here at pearlywhytes.com. She is one of those people who actually likes going to the dentist. She loves to write about anything health related, but oral health is her most passionate topic. Her free time is spent partaking in family activities and experimenting in the kitchen.