7 Zero Waste Toothpaste Brands to Help You Eschew Plastic for Good
Smile because keeping your mouth healthy doesn’t have to involve so much plastic. Explore these 7 brands of plastic-free toothpaste to add to your routine!
Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes
Today we're talking about something that makes us smile - and we're positive it will make you smile as well - plastic-free toothpaste!
Behind every great smile is a happy, healthy mouth. But it’s hard to keep grinning when the products that keep our mouths clean are responsible for billions of pieces of plastic pollution.
Talk about a heavy topic to chew on!
In this blog, we’ve rounded up 7 of our favorite brands (and products) leading the oral care industry with safe and effective zero waste toothpaste. And helping us all use less plastic in the process!
Here’s what you’ll find in this piece:
Plastic-Free Toothpaste With Fluoride
Plastic-Free Toothpaste Without Fluoride
What IS Zero Waste Toothpaste
Huppy Tooth Tablets From ZeroWasteStore
Simply put, zero waste toothpaste is a plastic-free alternative to keeping your teeth and gums healthy and happy.
Walking down the aisle of any grocery, beauty, or department store in any state, in any city, you’ll notice they all have one thing in common: rows and rows (and rows) of plastic.
Looking at oral care alone, plastic usage is unbelievable!
- 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are tossed in the U.S. each year
- North America alone throws away 3 million miles of floss each year
- Globally, nearly 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are tossed out annually
Here to save the day is zero waste toothpaste.
It comes in powder, gel, tablet, and paste forms — but they all have one thing in common. Their containers do not end up in a landfill. They’re either 100% truly recyclable (none of that mixed material nonsense that won’t actually get recycled), upcyclable, or compostable.
See Also: Zero Waste Fresh Mouth Kit
Plastic-Free Toothpaste Deserves Your Attention
Unpaste Tooth Tabs from ZeroWasteStore
It’s important to note a couple of things when talking about zero waste toothpaste.
Fluoride VS No Fluoride
Many studies show Fluoride is key to maintaining oral health by preventing tooth decay and cavities. Studies also show that the amount we are exposed to via toothpaste and drinking water is within safe levels, however, too much exposure can cause negative side effects.
Because of this, there is an endless debate over Fluoride VS no Fluoride, however, at the time this piece was written, the ADA (American Dental Association) only recognizes toothpaste that contains fluoride. Children under the age of 2 should not use Fluoride toothpaste.
Health Comes First
This article is not medical advice. If your dentist recommends a specific brand of toothpaste for health reasons, it is best to listen to your doctor and find another area to make sustainable substitutions (such as floss, toothbrush holder, bamboo toothbrush, etc).
We need millions of people practicing a zero waste lifestyle imperfectly — but you need to be healthy to practice it.
See Also: Dental Hygiene Super Kit
Show Me The Best Zero Waste Toothpaste!
Plastic-Free Toothpaste WITH Fluoride
1. Unpaste Tooth Tabs
Traditional foam in toothpaste is unnecessary and full of harsh chemicals. Just 1 Unpaste tablet gently polishes your teeth with vegan and cruelty-free non-foaming ingredients. The gentle abrasives easily remove plaque and tartar buildup leaving you with whiter teeth, healthier gums, and a clean smile. Don’t forget them on your next trip!
Packaging: Paper and corn starch with soy ink; completely compostable.
2. Bite Toothpaste Bits
Image from Bitetoothpastebits.com
Traditional oral care full of harsh chemicals and plastic made the founder of Bite foam at the mouth — so she decided to do something about it! Bite reduced the highly abrasive commercial toothpaste formula, removed the plastic, and took out cheap fillers, unnecessarily harsh chemicals, dyes, and flavors.
What was left? A gluten-free, vegan, and cruelty-free toothpaste tablet that’s naturally whitening, and leaves a fresh minty flavor behind! It keeps your teeth healthy and your mouth happy all day (or night). And it’s TSA-friendly!
Packaging: Glass jars with aluminum lids; refills come in backyard compostable pouches; shipping envelopes are made with kraft paper and PCR paper (compostable or recyclable).
Shop Bite Toothpaste Bits at Bitetoothpastebits.com
Plastic-Free Toothpaste Without Fluoride
3. Huppy Toothpaste Tablets
The smiles behind Huppy Tablets put their best tooth forward to bring you gently abrasive tablets that scrub away surface stains. Essential oils are used to provide a clean smell (and feeling), and N-HA, a healthier Fluoride substitute, reduces sensitivity, plaque, and tarter. With your first purchase of Huppy tablets, you get one aluminum travel tin to hold your foaming and naturally whitening tablets (forever). Choose from great flavors such as Peppermint, Charcoal Mint, or Watermelon Strawberry!
Packaging: The reusable tin is made from aluminum, refill packets come in compostable packaging.
4. Georganics Toothpaste Powder
Image from Georganics.com
The whitening and stain-removing toothpowder blend from Georganics is made with food-grade mineral powders that brush away stains and plaque. Simply dip a wet (clean) toothbrush into the powder, brush for 2 minutes with this cruelty-free and vegan formula, and smile bright all day knowing your mouth and the planet are clean and happy.
Packaging: Recyclable (or upcyclable) glass jar and aluminum lid
Shop Toothpowder at Georganics.com
5. The Home Farm Toothpowder
If you’ve ventured deep into the world of sustainable and plastic-free toothpaste and are ready for another challenge, the Home Farm Toothpowder might be just the thing you’re looking for! Made from the roots of the Salvadora Persica tree, this powder has an earthy flavor and grainy texture which gently polishes teeth and removes plaque. With consistent use, it can help remove coffee, tea, wine, cigarette, and tobacco stains.
Packaging: Recyclable (or reusable) aluminum tin
6. Davids Toothpaste
If you’re unsure where to begin your zero waste toothpaste journey, start with David’s Natural Toothpaste! Using premium USA-originated ingredients, David’s combines science with the best ingredients from nature. Each formula is vegan, EWG Verified, Fluoride and Sulfate-Free, and comes in a fully recyclable metal tube with FSC paper packaging. With a variety of formulas to choose from such as Peppermint, Peppermint Charcoal, Or Sensitive you’ll have no trouble finding your perfect paste!
Packaging: Aluminum tube, plastic cap, metal key (all recyclable). Watch our Reel on how to recycle this product.
7. DIY Toothpaste
Two essential ingredients in a DIY toothpaste are baking soda and coconut oil. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that effectively polishes teeth, lightens stains, and removes plaque. It does not prevent cavities. The use of Coconut Oil in oral care dates back thousands of years and it continues to be effective. It can reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth, help to prevent oral diseases, fight bad breath, prevent cavities, and lower the risk of gum diseases.
This DIY recipe was originally posted in Byrdie.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 glass jar
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil
- 1 tablespoon xylitol
- 4 tablespoons baking soda
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
How To:
- Start by mixing together dry ingredients in a bowl or directly in your jar
- Gently add in coconut oil (warm it up a bit to make it softer and more malleable)
- Drop in peppermint oil last, give it a final stir
Keep your DIY paste stored in an airtight container. Use a wooden spoon or small spatula to add the paste to your toothbrush or dip your (clean) toothbrush directly into the formula. Brush as usual and always make sure to check in with your dentist.
However you choose to keep your teeth and mouth happy, know that it doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet. There are countless brands available that are working to keep plastic out of our oceans and landfills with zero waste toothpaste. These are just a few of our favorite brands focused on keeping your smile bright and healthy.
Other Blogs You Might Find Helpful:
- Insightful Zero Waste Bathroom Alternatives
- These Zero Waste Toothbrush Options Will Help You Say Goodbye To Plastic
- Starting a Zero Waste Lifestyle: A Beginners Guide to Going Zero Waste
- 5 Best Selling Zero Waste Products Straight From Our Community
- 5 Zero Waste Lip Balm Brands You Need to Know About
Written by Lauren Plug, content creator for ZeroWasteStore & Sustainability Enthusiast!
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