If someone had told me 5 years ago that toothpaste is harmful, I would have laughed in their face. However, knowing what I know now, it doesn’t sound funny anymore.
I’m not saying that brushing your teeth is a bad idea. On the contrary, it’s one of the most important routines one should follow (especially considering the insane prices of dental services). The question is: how can we make this process truly healthy for both us and the environment?
What’s Wrong with Regular Toothpaste?
In a nutshell, there are two major hazards associated with the toothpaste we use every day:
Plastic packaging that contributes to pollution
Harmful ingredients that end up in soil and watersheds, causing environmental problems
We’ll unpack harmful ingredients below, but for now, let’s jump to the good news and discover eco-friendly alternatives.
Zero-Waste Toothpaste Alternatives
A great dental care solution is toothpaste tablets that come in sustainable packaging with refill options. There are plenty of choices on the market with various tastes and characteristics.
One important aspect of toothpaste that I want to address right away is whether it does or does not contain fluoride, an ingredient that helps protect teeth from cavities. We'll discuss this further later, but for now, just keep in mind that there are two major types of toothpaste: with and without fluoride.
No fluoride toothpaste tablets: