‘What is the best toothpaste you recommend?’ is probably the most single most FAQ I’m asked. The truth is that there is no single best toothpaste I can recommend. Let me explain why.

All toothpastes are a compromise

Mainstream supermarket brands are full of toxic ingredients, some of which actually undermine teeth and gum health and many of which are associated with general health problems such as cancer (SLES), gastrointestinal inflammation (cargeenan) or Alzheimer’s (fluoride).

Alternative natural toothpastes are not only more expensive and harder to find but most also have ingredients that I consider compromised such as glycerin and Xylitol.

Here’s one of the very short videos in a series I’m making about different toothpaste ingredients. Glycerin in commonly found in both mainstream and ‘natural’ toothpastes. What’s it doing there and what’s it doing to your teeth?

 Subscribe to the Holistic Tooth Fairy YouTube channel to learn about other toothpaste ingredients.

The best toothpaste for you?  Or for me?

There’s probably a perfect toothpaste for me, even though I haven’t come across it yet. But when I do, I still won’t offer a general recommendation, because the best toothpaste for me may not be the best toothpaste for you, and it certainly won’t be the best toothpaste for everyone.

Everyone’s needs and resilience to risk are different so there is no one size fits all solution. Different budgets, different tastes and different levels of access to small brands complicate the question even more.

Technique and timing matter more than toothpaste

Even the most perfect toothpaste is probably not going to solve all your teeth and gum problems.

When it comes to oral hygiene toothpaste is just one element, of a daily habit that should include a range of cleaning strategies. Check out this Better Brushing post for tips to improve your toothbrushing technique.

And of course, oral hygiene is itself is just one element in a holistic strategy for healing and preventing tooth decay and gum disease.  Diet, tension relief and a host of other holistic strategies all play a much greater role in your oral health than your choice of toothpaste.

Empowering choices

What I do recommend is variety. Buy the best toothpastes you can find and afford to avoid nasty toxins and don’t use the same thing every day. Changing your toothpaste often is particularly important if you are using a variety marketed as ‘whitening’ because it will include abrasive ingredients.

Having a choice of toothpastes (or tooth powders) available spreads the benefits and any risks associated with compromised ingredients so that you are not exposed twice a day, every day.