The great dental debate of our time may be this: should you have fluoride in your toothpaste, or can fluoride-free toothpaste be great for oral health? There's plenty of research on both sides, making the issue even more complex.
We’re dedicated to offering natural ingredients and holistic health care products whenever possible. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to create a top-tier toothpaste that can promote oral health without the use of fluoride: a valuable but often overused mineral that may lead to more harmful side effects than good.
Let's break down everything there is to know about Green Goo Toothpaste, and examine why this fluoride-free toothpaste could be a great choice for your future dental health.
What Does Fluoride Do?
Fluoride is actually a relatively useful mineral that was first discovered to have dental benefits in the 1930s. The discovery was made by accident – some researchers found that kids who drank water that was high in fluoride ended up experiencing less tooth decay as they got older.
By the 1950s, some dentists had created fluoride toothpaste, and further tests were conducted to see if the mineral really did have a positive effect on tooth decay. In truth, it does!
Your teeth are mostly made up of something called enamel, which can wear down over time either through grinding or regular chewing activity. Furthermore, bacteria (the same kind that causes cavities) can eventually wear down your enamel as well. The downside is that enamel can’t very easily be replaced, with some dentists believing that it’s not possible to repair enamel whatsoever.
Regardless, fluoride has the unique ability to rebuild that enamel if you use enough of it. It essentially fills in the gaps left by bacteria or other decay inside and on top of your teeth. Fluoride directly fights against cavities, which is why you now see it in the majority of toothpaste sold across the world.
So, Why Use Fluoride-Free Toothpaste?
With all the benefits of fluoride, why would someone want a fluoride-free toothpaste?
Turns out, there are multiple reasons.
Filling your mouth with a mineral that may or may not actually be necessary can lead to side effects. While it’s safe to say that fluoride toothpaste works for many people, it's not necessarily the perfect choice for everyone.
More and more dentists, in light of recent scientific evidence, are suggesting that people should be allowed to choose between a fluoride and fluoride-free toothpaste depending on their needs.
Let’s examine all the potential reasons you might consider using a fluoride-free toothpaste.
Fluoride Can Be Dangerous if Ingested
You aren’t supposed to ingest your toothpaste at all, although most people accidentally swallow a little bit of toothpaste every time they brush their teeth. But this warning is really pertinent for children, who have a much higher tendency to swallow toothpaste either intentionally or accidentally.
When ingested in large amounts, fluoride can build up in the body and cause toxicity problems or other side effects including vomiting, hypotension, convulsions, and metabolic acidosis in the short term, and skeletal fluorosis, muscle spasms, dyspepsia, and more in the long term. This is doubly true since most public water systems have fluoride filtered into their city’s water supply. Again, this is all done to help fight against cavities, but it can lead to excessive fluoride consumption for kids or other people if they also use a fluoride toothpaste at the same time.
You Get Plenty of Fluoride from Drinking Water
As mentioned, most public city water systems use fluoride-infused water for their tap water, meaning you likely get plenty of fluoride to help your teeth and general dental health by drinking it or consuming it in your food.
If you get plenty of fluoride in water, you may not need to consume or use more fluoride in toothpaste.
However, it’s a good idea to check out your city’s water system and see if you’re an exception. If they don’t add fluoride to the water, or if you live in a rural area or have a private well where you’re likely not getting fluoride from your water, consider sticking with a fluoride toothpaste if you don’t have other reasons to oppose it.
Sometimes, Fluoride Can Hurt Those with Sensitive Teeth
Those with tooth sensitivity usually have less enamel than other people, or they may have root systems that extend further into their teeth than the average. Remember that fluoride is a physical element that, when rubbed onto your teeth, means you’re basically rubbing very, very small grains of a hard mineral onto your teeth’s surfaces.
This is why some people find fluoride toothpaste to be exceptionally painful to use. If you have sensitive teeth, you might benefit from using an alternative that doesn’t contain fluoride or other abrasives. Fluoride isn’t supposed to wear down your teeth over time, but it occasionally can.
What if You’re Allergic?
Lastly, some people might just be plain allergic to fluoride or other ingredients that toothpaste manufacturers put into their main toothpaste formulas. There’s at least one person allergic to just about anything, so don’t feel bad if this is the case for you.
The good news is that there are alternatives to fluoride toothpaste. You just have to know where to look!
Natural Ingredient Alternatives for Toothpaste
Green Goo Toothpaste is, in our opinion, the best fluoride-free toothpaste money can buy. It’s made with an all-natural peppermint flavor to help soothe your gums and freshen your breath, all without using fluoride and many other common synthetic or chemical ingredients you’ find in typical toothpaste brands.
Let’s break down all of the ingredients:
- Sorbitol, a type of natural resin that can provide dental benefits
- Hydrated silica, a naturally derived, gentle abrasive
- Glycerin, an Alpha hydroxy acid that helps to clean
- Xylitol, derived from fruits and vegetables and promotes oral hygiene
- Calcium carbonate, a fill-in for fluoride--calcium is good for your teeth and bones!
- Peppermint oil, which grants the toothpaste its peppermint flavor
- Sodium, which boosts flavor and adds a bit of texture
- Stevia, a natural sweetener for better flavor
- Calendula flower extract, which helps support dental hygiene
- Aloe Vera leaf extract, which soothes the gums and prevents the toothpaste from drying out your mouth
As you can see, this toothpaste is only made with natural ingredients that won’t harm your teeth or exacerbate any sensitivity problems you might have.
It’s also effective at cleaning your teeth with proper brushing. This is critical since toothpaste is one of the biggest factors that can determine whether or not you’ll have a bunch of cavities the next time you visit the dentist, so brush properly for at least two minutes each time to maximize your oral health!
Why Green Goo’s Toothpaste is So Great
Natural ingredients separate this toothpaste tube from all the others. Your mouth is already a pretty acidic and efficient eating machine – as a result, it’s surprising that so many toothpaste manufacturers have harsh chemicals and other toxins in their products that can lead to negative side effects down the road.
Chemical-based toothpaste can actually damage your teeth over time and can cause issues if you ingest those compounds. We don't add fluoride to our toothpaste so it doesn't cause any issues for those who may be allergic to it or result in long-term issues we might not even be aware of yet.
We also never add ingredients commonly seen in toothpastes like:
- Triclosan, an industrial cleanser that can help to fight plaque but can also lead to negative side effects like impaired muscle function.
- Propylene glycol, which is a solvent that is also used in antifreeze. There are plenty of studies that show this compound could be related to cancer.
- Parabens, which are artificial preservatives and have also been linked to cancer over time.
- Artificial sweeteners, which seem to go against the very point of a healthy toothpaste designed to fight against cavities and gum disease.
The bottom line? Green Goo Toothpaste is designed, from start to finish, to provide you with a capable oral hygiene product that doesn’t include a bunch of unnecessary chemical ingredients or harsh solvents. All that’s left is natural ingredients that can freshen your breath, support your dental hygiene, and won’t hurt your teeth instead of helping them.
Final Thoughts
On a final note, it is worth noting dental science suggests that most of the tooth-cleaning work provided by your twice-daily toothbrushing session comes from the mechanical action of your toothbrush. Using toothpaste is of course valuable, but it's not the primary factor in whether or not your teeth will end up being clean. This is why dentists recommend electric toothbrushes, since they do a better job of physically scrubbing away bacteria and debris compared to manual brushing.
In terms of toothpaste--there's plenty of debate on both sides of the question. Should you or should you not use fluoride in your toothpaste? We at Green Goo firmly believe that fluoride-free toothpaste can be great for oral health, especially if you already get plenty of fluoride in your drinking water and may have an adverse reaction to the mineral.
Looking for more ways to cut toxic chemicals from your life and the products you use? Lifestyle Blogger Heather Burnette wrote us a great blog full of tips and tricks on how to stay free of chemicals!
Sources:
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/the-story-of-fluoridation
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-enamel-erosion-restoration#1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6195894/
https://www.dentalplans.com/dental-information/dental-concerns/does-toothpaste-damage-my-teeth