If you haven’t switched up your toothpaste game in a while, you might want to do some browsing. There is a host of new options that are now made without chemical preservatives, questionable additives or artificial flavors and colors. Here’s what to consider before you click “add to cart.”
If you have sensitive teeth and gums, you probably dread eating everything from hot soup to ice cream cones—and brushing with an abrasive toothpaste can make it worse. Thankfully, there are a number of natural toothpastes on the market that help relieve sensitivity with ingredients like aloe, and use fine silica for gentle polishing.
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One ingredient you may see in natural toothpastes is zinc citrate. It’s a mineral salt that fights odor created by bacteria and is often used as an alternative to triclosan, an antibacterial agent that has caused some safety concerns in the past.
Bigger kids are able to spit out toothpaste after brushing, so there are fewer concerns about children swallowing too much fluoride. But pediatricians usually suggest brushing babies’ gums and young toddlers’ first teeth with non-fluoride toothpaste. So check ingredient lists when choosing one for your children.
