Dental health is among the most important maintenance that we can perform for your body’s health. Not only is dental care critical for physical health and disease prevention, but it’s also one of the best ways to keep looking young and healthy – a bright smile can take years off of a face. Most consumers likely stick to the familiar standbys of dental health like Colgate or Crest. But if you’re interested in infusing your smile with more natural forms of dental care, here are a few tips that will help you keep your teeth white and your environment healthy.

Natural Ingredients to Look For

Natural ingredients are something that any environmentally conscious consumer should be looking out for. Silica is a standard ingredient across all toothpaste brands, as it is a mineral that provides a gentle buffing quality to toothpaste, keeping teeth shiny and plaque-free. Beyond this, there are many healthy ingredients that natural kinds of toothpaste will use, each with their own purposes:

• Aloe Vera, Calendula, and Arnica for healing and anti-inflammation.
• Tea Tree and Eucalyptus oils are common anti-septic agents.
• Sea Salt is a common alternative to silica for an abrasive.

Ingredients to avoid

Ingredients that are commonly used in toothpaste that you will want to avoid are parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, man-made surfactants (foaming agents), and harsher abrasives or colorants.

These are relatively broad categories of chemicals and are not always easy to identify. Look for ‘phthalate-free’ or ‘paraben-free’ on the labels.

Fluoride is Good for Teeth

Many natural toothpaste brands will elect to forgo fluoride. This chemical is known to be safe and effective at preventing cavities, but many continue to question the safety. Though many natural toothpaste brands will avoid it, the ADA itself advises using toothpaste with fluoride for oral health – but the choice is ultimately yours.

For Ulcers, Go Natural

Toothpaste is typically designed to be anti-microbial, which can be very helpful in dealing with painful ulcers. But many natural ingredients are also effective at speeding along the healing process, as well as numbing or lessening pain. If you’ve had issues with recurring canker sores or ulcers, try out aloe vera, arnica, or coconut oil in addition to your usual brushing process.