As you will see, there is no question that commercial toothpaste is terrible and should be immediately thrown in the trash. Toxicity and non-biodegradability of traditional toothpaste components impact your health and the environment. Just the fluoride alone is causing brain damage.

On the other hand, natural toothpaste is made with ingredients found in nature. All the ingredients are good for you, promote good oral hygiene, and are biodegradable. The very best will not stop there. Companies like "Bite" not only package their products in plastic-free bottles, they also ship plastic-free, right down to the tape.

Below, I have listed all the ingredients with links to where I got my info. What's in your toothpaste? Toxic chemicals, petroleum byproducts, or clean, healthy, all-natural good stuff made by people who care.

 

Let's take a look at the ingredients in: Crest 3D White

Sodium Fluoride: (No amount is OK) A court order has led to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) releasing a finalized systematic review of fluoride’s neurotoxicity that was blocked by government officials and concealed from the public since May 2022, according to the Fluoride Action Network. The NTP reported 52 of 55 studies found decreases in child IQ with increased fluoride.

glycerin: Brushing with a glycerin toothpaste is counterproductive because the glycerin is meant to give that slippery clean feeling. This feeling is a coat that is left behind that becomes a magnet for plaque. Glycerin is produced from GMO vegetable oils and has a byproduct of soap production. This is the worst ingredient for oral health.

hydrated silica: This is used to remove the debris and stains on teeth by scraping and damaging your tooth enamel. It is actually the very abrasive component of sand.

Sodium Hexametaphosphate: (SHMP) chemically removes existing stains and provides long-lasting inhibition of new-stains. Higher consumption of sodium hexametaphosphate has been reported to cause pancreatic cancer and kidney problems. 

PEG-6:  "PEG" is short for polyethylene glycol, a compound derived from the by-products produced during the refinement of petroleum, natural gas, or coal. It is well-known that PEGs can trigger allergies, cause digestive upset, and lead to electrolyte imbalances. In addition, there have been increasing reports of neurological symptoms associated with polyethylene glycol. The true extent of the danger posed by PEG is yet to be determined.

Flavor: flavor additives, are small chemical compounds or mixtures of compounds. unknown ingredient

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:  SLS is banned in the European Union as a food additive. Derived mainly from petroleum, this harmful ingredient is one to avoid. Choose sulfate-free products for a healthier alternative.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine: (CAPB) This ingredient is generally safe for most people, but it can cause adverse reactions in some individuals. While many people are not affected, there are cases of severe allergies. In fact, it was voted the 2004 allergen of the year by the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

Trisodium Phosphate:  (TSP) is a common food additive found in many types of processed foods, such as cereals, cheeses, soda, and baked goods, contains sodium and inorganic phosphate.  Consuming small amounts of trisodium phosphate is most likely safe. But excessive consumption can lead to unhealthy levels of phosphorous. adverse impact on the kidneys, and heart.

Sodium Saccharin:  Artificial sweetener (Sweet n' Low) most health authorities agree that saccharin is safe for human consumption. However, after the substance’s previous classification as possibly carcinogenic, many manufacturers switched to using other sweeteners. Emerging evidence may point to saccharin’s involvement in the development of metabolic disorders, but further research is necessary to confirm this effect.

PVP: polyvinylpyrrolidone Current scientific thinking is that PVPs are harmless. Because it is not subject to metabolic changes and is virtually nondegradable, PVP will end up in e.g. wastewaters. Long term effect on the environment is to be considered.

Carrageenan: This ingredient is a thickening agent used to improve the texture of toothpaste and reduce its water content. However, animal studies have shown that swallowing this agent can cause intestinal inflammation and colon tumors. Adults are less likely to swallow toothpaste than kids, so it's better to avoid buying toothpaste containing this ingredient for both adults and especially for kids. It's important to note that this ingredient does not provide any oral health benefits.

Xanthan gum:  used as a thickening and stabilizing agent in foods.  generally considered safe as long as you don’t exceed 15 grams per day.

Sucralose: Sweetener (Splenda) Sucralose is a chlorinated sucrose derivative. This means it’s derived from sugar and contains chlorine. Originally, sucralose was found through the development of a new insecticide compound. It was never meant to be consumed.  “is sucralose safe?” no.

Sucralose side effects

• alters glucose and insulin levels
• increases risk of digestive problems
• alters gut health and damages the GI tract
• kills probiotics
• may play a role in certain cancers
• generates toxic compounds when heated
• may lead to weight gain

Mica: mild abrasive to help polish teeth and remove stains. Mica or rather "Micas" refer to a group of 37 different phyllosilicate minerals which can be naturally found. Therefore when you see mica in toothpaste, it doesn't necessarily tell you specifically what it is. According to the NJ Department of Health, there may be potential hazardous side effects from coming into contact, inhalation, or ingestion of mica.

Titanium Dioxide: color additive (white), Banned from use in food in Europe. Unfortunately, while the authorities in Europe tend to take a preventative approach to issues, in the United States the response usually comes after the damage is done and confirmed. 

My Thoughts: Good Grief, I did not expect the ingredients in Crest toothpaste to be that harmful.  Out of the 16 listed ingredients, 8 are known to be toxic and 2 will cause damage to your teeth. Do they care about your health, Hell No!  This stuff is poison, especially for kids that will likely swallow a bit every time they brush.

 

Let's take a look at the ingredients in: BITE Toothpaste tablets

Erythritol: A polyol (sugar alcohol), occurs naturally in fruits such as pears, melons and grapes, as well as foods such as mushrooms and fermentation-derived foods such as wine, soy sauce and cheese. Erythritol like other polyols is tooth friendly and resistant to metabolism by oral bacteria which break down sugars and starches to produce acids which may lead to tooth enamel loss and cavities formation.

Xylitol: White crystalline substance that looks and tastes like sugar. It’s not an artificial sweetener, but an all-natural sugar alcohol found in many fruits and vegetables and produced in small amounts by the human body. Xylitol is recommended by dentists, medical doctors, periodontists, pediatricians, and many health organizations and health professionals worldwide as a sweetener for anyone concerned with dental health.

Calcium Carbonate: Chemical compound commonly found in rocks as the minerals calcite and aragonite and is the main component of pearls and the shells of marine organisms, snails, and eggs.  Also used as an antacid.

Natural Flavor (peppermint): Derived from mint leaves to mask or impart taste to medications, or to flavor other items such as chewing gum or toothpaste.

Hydroxyapatite (nano): Derivative of calcium phosphate that is naturally found in your teeth and bones. Studies suggest that it is a promising biomaterial for remineralizing and repairing tooth enamel surfaces.

Sodium Bicarbonate: (baking soda) a salt that breaks down to form sodium and bicarbonate in water. This makes a solution alkaline, meaning it's able to neutralize acid.

Guar Gum: Comes from a cluster bean called Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, and it belongs to the legume family. guar gum is most often used in gluten-free foods.

Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate: (SCG) is a mild cleansing agent derived from coconut oil and the amino acid. SCG is environmentally friendly, biodegradable

Zinc Citrate: A nutritional supplement containing the zinc salt form of citric acid for the purpose of providing zinc. As an essential trace element, zinc is of key importance in many biological processes, acts as an antioxidant and strengthens the immune system.  Zinc supplementation may be used to increase immunity against viruses 

Silicon Dioxide: Also known as silica, is a compound commonly found in nature as quartz and in various forms of rocks and sand. In the food industry, silicon dioxide is used as an anti-caking agent to prevent clumping in powders and granulated foods.

Menthol: An organic compound extracted from the oils of Mentha, a genus of plants in the mint family. Known for its cooling sensation and healing properties, menthol is popular in toothpastes, mouthwashes, cough drops, cold remedies, lip balms, body balms, and more. It’s used to treat plaque or bacteria in the mouth, cough, sore throat, and minor aches and pains.

My Thoughts: The company name B.I.T.E., cleverly stands for "Because It's The Earth."  Bite toothpaste tablets contain a total of 11 ingredients, 7 of which have healing properties, while the other 4 are for flavor, texture, and transportation of the ingredients to form a tablet. All 11 ingredients are natural and biodegradable. 

Summary        

When I was a kid, my dentist told me that I could brush with water and that my teeth would be great as long as I stuck to the program of brushing and flossing. That has nothing to do with the point I am making, just wanted to put that out there.     

When I first quit using toxic toothpaste like Crest, I tried plain old baking soda. I sprinkled a small amount on my brush. It didn't taste very good, which was fine for me. Today, I brush with BITE Tablets. They taste similar to toothpaste and do the job perfectly.

I am even more impressed now that I am aware of the beneficial ingredients in Bite toothpaste. Quick tip, to save on cost I cut them in half. Bite tablets are nicely packaged in a small glass refillable jar. There are no messy tubes, no toxic ingredients, and no plastic waste.