Alternatives to Fluoride Toothpaste
Learn about 6 natural ingredients commonly used as alternatives to fluoride in toothpaste.
Everyone wants a healthy white smile. Unfortunately, fluoride (perhaps the most common cavity-fighting ingredient in oral care products) is not right for everyone. Some people may have sensitivities to fluoride due to overexposure to fluoridated water supplies in childhood, while others may simply prefer to avoid this ingredient for personal reasons. The good news is that there are many alternatives to fluoride that can achieve similar smile-protecting benefits. Here are some common active ingredients found in non-fluoride toothpastes and how they help keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Xylitol: This versatile sugar substitute is found in many products, including toothpaste. Xylitol is a natural ingredient that can be extracted from fibrous fruits, vegetables, and trees. Like fluoride, it helps to support remineralization (the replenishing of calcium phosphates in tooth enamel) to help prevent cavities. Xylitol also has antimicrobial properties which help to keep plaque bacteria under control.
Green Tea Extract: Green tea is a virtual natural powerhouse of healthful compounds for many different systems of the body. Specifically, the polyphenols in green tea can fight oral bacteria to reduce the risk of tooth decay and infection, while also helping to reduce bad breath.
Papaya Plant Extract: Papain is an enzyme extracted not from papaya fruit or seeds but from the papaya tree itself. This enzyme helps to whiten teeth by breaking down certain types of food stains.
Citric Acid: While eating lots of acidic foods can disrupt the pH balance of the mouth and harm teeth, applying a small amount of citric acid to teeth when brushing can be beneficial. Citric acid helps to reduce the tartar buildup that can otherwise occur when plaque mineralizes onto teeth.
Zinc Citrate: This compound has been shown to help fight gum disease. Specifically, the zinc content inhibits the production of plaque bacteria, so that bacteria do not flourish to the point where gums become inflamed.
Baking Soda: This should be a very familiar alternative to fluoride toothpaste as baking soda toothpaste has been popular for decades. Baking soda provides numerous benefits, including neutralizing acids that would otherwise erode tooth enamel, gently removing surface stains, and breaking down sub-surface stains with free radicals, all while being very gentle on gums.
Don’t Forget Professional Dental Care
Of course, brushing with any kind of toothpaste at home isn’t enough to guarantee yourself healthy teeth and gums. You also need to visit your dentist at least once or twice per year to get a professional dental cleaning and exam. A professional cleaning is the only way to effectively remove all tartar from teeth. It also provides an opportunity to have developing cavities caught early and treated so that they do not go on to cause tooth pain or eventual tooth loss.
