Have you noticed the wave of nationwide appeal towards “natural” products? In nearly every Temecula and Riverside store, there are wide varieties of natural items that are finding their way on the shelves. Even when you go down the aisle where oral hygiene products are, you’ll see items that are advertised to be natural. One of the most talked about products is natural toothpaste. Yet, when a toothpaste brand claims to be natural, what does that really mean?
Many may think that natural toothpaste is free of chemicals. However, scientifically speaking nearly everything around us is composed of various chemicals—including us. So really, what are these attention grabbing “natural” labels stating?
Differences Between Natural & Regular Toothpastes
The real question to ask when trying to determine what the differences are between traditional toothpastes and natural ones is: What does natural toothpaste not have in it? Here’s a brief list:
- No synthetic sweeteners are found in natural toothpastes. Usually natural toothpastes rely on the base taste of the product with mild infusions of stevia and xylitol.
- All artificial flavorings get the boot as well. Everything you taste in the paste is naturally occurring.
- No bright and delightful colors. Traditional toothpastes use dyes to get various color schemes; natural toothpastes usually are only white.
- Whereas traditional pastes add preservatives to stunt the growth of certain microorganisms that are harmful, no preservative are added to natural pastes. Instead, natural preservative agents like citric acid are used.
- No fluoride (in some natural toothpastes). Naturalists hold that fluoride contains harmful agents. Opponents agree that fluoride is a cavity-reducing mineral. There is a great divide on the subject (which we’ll cover in a future blog).
- Absence of SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) in many natural toothpastes. SLS is used as a foaming substance in traditional pastes. However, they have been known to be problematic for people who suffer from canker soars.
In our humble opinion, traditional toothpastes present no acute health risks. Yet, we fully respect any who wish to use only natural products.
Dr. Mehta & Associates answer all sorts of dental questions and concerns that our patients have with full transparency. We believe that every patient should be presented with unbiased facts and allowed to make an educated decision. Would you like a behind the scenes look at our dental office before you arrive? Our dental offices are conveniently located in Riverside and Temecula.