Do Toothpaste Alternatives Work?

May 13, 2016 |

Our teeth are the gateway to a confident smile, and without the help of store bought toothpastes that are filled with whitening, brightening, and guaranteed to make your teeth shine, we find ourselves back in the medieval times using washcloths and birch sticks, right? Wrong.

There is a world of alternatives out there that are natural and come free of harmful chemicals and dyes. Traditional toothpastes often come with questionable ingredients, such as titanium dioxide, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, and artificial sweeteners (and haven’t we learned from a young age that sweets cause decay?).

So, let’s take a look at 10 toothpaste alternatives from your friendly Denver Dentist and how they work:

1. Baking Soda

We’ll start with the most common of them all, baking soda. By dipping your toothbrush in baking soda and brushing your teeth like normal it has an very effective cleaning ability. You can even mix it with drops of your favorite mint oil to give your mouth that minty fresh feel .

2. Sea Salt

Just like baking soda you can dab your toothbrush in sea salt and clean your chompers as usual. You can also dissolve the salt in water first if you are concerned with the abrasiveness of it.

3. Herbal Tooth Powders

Sounds a bit “dirty hippy,” but this alternative can keep your teeth clean and healthy just as well as any store bought product. The bonus of this alternative is that many of the herbal ingredients can also help to fight infection, inflammation, and alleviate pain.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

This alternative has been known for its ability to keep teeth clean and white. There are many people who use it instead of toothpaste. There is one concern with using this instead of toothpaste, if you have amalgam fillings, peroxide may extract the harmful vapors from the mercury in silver filling, but all-in-all, hydrogen peroxide is a great alternative to over-the-counter toothpastes.

5. Dry Brushing

If we’re talking simple, this is it. Some believe that there is no need for anything at all: dry brushing can, and will, get the job done. A toothbrush is all you need. This technique does work, but the mind will usually make you feel like it doesn’t due to the lack of that minty-fresh feel that we have all come to love in our dental routines.

6. All Natural Soap

Hard to believe, but yes, you can brush your teeth with soap. If you decide to go this route, to get rid of that “wash your mouth out with soap” feel, choose a peppermint scented soap. It will give you that clean feel and leave a less soapy taste in your mouth.

7. Brush with Pure Water

If the dry brushing method is not your thing, just add water. Run your toothbrush under the faucet and let the magic of aqua be you guide.

8. Tooth soap

For those of you who may not be into the taste of regular soap in your mouth, there are products out there that are specially designed as tooth soaps. This is a great natural alternative, but make sure you find one without additives.

9. Coconut Oil

This oil is a miracle worker in many ways. It can hydrate skin, make dry hair silky smooth, and has many health benefits, but it is also a perfect product for cleaning your mouth. It’s antifungal and antibacterial, which makes it a fantastic toothpaste alternative. Coconut oil can also be combined with baking soda, which makes it a powerhouse in the teeth cleaning scene.

10. Essential Oils

Essential oils are used for many different things. The power of scent can calm nerves, relax muscles, and help lull you to sleep. They are also amazing for cleaning teeth. A drop of peppermint oil on a damp toothbrush is a fast and easy way to polish your pearly whites.

No matter what option you choose as part of your teeth cleaning regimen, oral hygiene is something that should be taken very seriously. Self esteem and confidence are directly correlated to having a smile that you can be proud of. So, take good care of you teeth, whether that is through traditional over-the-counter toothpaste or one of these incredible alternatives, it is important to brush, floss, and have regular dental visits. We promise your mouth will thank you for it.

Posted in General Dentistry