5 Natural Ingredients in Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

You can find fluoride in most toothpaste products. It's a natural mineral that hardens tooth enamel to prevent cavities. However, if you want to choose an alternative to fluoride toothpaste for you or your young children, several options are available. But what is in fluoride-free toothpaste? Read on to learn more about the most commonly found ingredients in non-fluoride toothpaste, including natural and plant-based ingredients.

What Is Fluoride and What Is It Used For?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can prevent tooth decay and cavities. In short, it builds-up your enamel through a process called remineralization. That's why the American Dental Association recommends that we drink fluoridated water and use fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and prevent cavities. However, you can still freshen your breath and remove plaque with non-fluoride toothpaste.

Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Ingredients

Since there are many natural ingredient toothpaste options available, you may not find all of these ingredients in every single one. According to a literature review in Frontiers of Microbiology, herbal and plant-based samples effectively removed plaque (or biofilm as the researchers called it) just like fluoride toothpaste. The following ingredients are the most popular in fluoride-free toothpaste:

• Xylitol
• Green tea extract
• Papaya plant extract
• Hydrated silica
• Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener extracted from fibrous plants, typically used as a sugar substitute. It's widely found in fruits, vegetables, and even trees. Not only is it an excellent sugar substitute in food, drinks, and even chewing gum, but it prevents the growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Green Tea Extract

Green tea also has some benefits for your oral health. Contemporary Clinical Dentistry reports that green tea toothpaste and other non-fluoride toothpaste they tested remove oral bacteria. It can also freshen breath!

Papaya Plant Extract

Papaya fruit is delicious and filled with vitamin C, and papain, the enzyme inside a papaya tree, can help you too. According to a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, participants who regularly used toothpaste with papaya leaf extract had reduced inflammation in the gums.

Hydrated Silica and Baking Soda

Hydrated silica is a harmless abrasive used in toothpaste to clean and polish the teeth. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, serves multiple purposes when it comes to teeth cleaning. Not only does it clean and polish your teeth, but you may even notice a brighter shade too!

As you can see, there are several non-fluoride toothpaste ingredients, including papaya leaf, green tea, and baking soda. While these ingredients have been researched in recent years, speak to your dental professional about what types of toothpaste they recommend for you and your family.