Tired of using conventional toothpaste brands? Most people don’t think twice when they purchase a tube of toothpaste. As long as it gets the job done, what’s not to like? I was one of those people for a long time. As long as my teeth were clean, that’s all that mattered. But once I learned what kind of harm conventional toothpastes were doing to both my body and the planet, I switched to a zero waste toothpaste and never looked back. We can keep toothpaste tubes out of our oceans and wildlife without thinking we need to spend an arm and a leg for a more sustainable product. If you’re on the look out for a zero waste toothpaste, it’s never too late to make the switch. That’s why I’ve rounded up 10 zero waste toothpaste products that people can’t stop raving about.
FYI, this is a guest post written by Sydney Montagna, a zero waste advocate and aspiring writer. This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
10 Best Zero Waste Toothpaste Brands For a Radiant Smile
Why switch to zero waste toothpaste?
How many tubes of toothpaste do you think you go through a year? An estimated 400 million toothpaste tubes are discarded every year in the U.S., and at least 1.5 billion globally. Every tube takes 500 years to break down in landfills.
Most conventional toothpastes are packed with chemicals and toxins that may be doing more harm than good. Minerals that you thought were healthy for your teeth and body can actually be making things worse. For example – fluoride.
It’s a bit of a controversial question. Should I be brushing my teeth with fluoride? The reason this question is so controversial is because there’s a lot of dentists who recommend brushing with a toothpaste containing at least 1350ppm fluoride twice daily.
However, fluoride has officially been classified as a neurotoxin by The Lancet. This has sparked some controversy and doubt within the public. For example, water fluoridation has been linked to cot death, arthritis, thyroid dysfunction, various cancers, etc. However, since fluoride is known to help with tooth decay, most people make the decision themselves on whether or not they prefer a toothpaste with fluoride added.
Because of this, the only zero waste toothpaste with fluoride in our list is from Unpaste Tooth Tabs (#2) if you’d like to use fluoride toothpaste. That said, please don’t consider this article medical advice – you may need fluoride for example), so please check in with your dentist.
Is zero waste toothpaste good for your teeth?
Yes, zero waste toothpaste is good for your teeth. My mother is a dental assistant and I frequently visit the dentist for cleanings – never once have their been any serious issues.
In fact, my latest dental visit went so well I was baffled. Usually I bleed a lot during cleanings, but this time I barely bled at all and had absolutely no cavities. The hygienist was quite pleased with me. If you’re wondering, I’m currently using Geoorganic’s toothpaste tablets (#3) – along with daily flossing and mouthwash!
Most zero waste toothpastes also aren’t full of artificial and questionable ingredients either, which is overall better for your health in the long run.
Keep in mind, everyone’s teeth are different and you may be subject to sensitivities that I may not be. When in doubt, look to a product rather than a DIY (like the ones I have listed in this post).
What is the most eco-friendly toothpaste?
The most eco-friendly toothpaste is one that is packaged thoughtfully and has ethical, sustainable ingredients. Ideally, the ingredients list will be clean, simple, vegan and cruelty-free.
And regarding packaging, the most eco-friendly toothpaste will come in a reusable container (like a metal tiffin or a glass jar), or in compostable packaging. Ideally, they will offer plastic-free refills, making reducing waste a breeze.
Personally I adore the packaging of Unpaste toothtabs because it comes in a completely compostable paper pouch, and you can just refill and reuse a glass jar you have on hand to store them. The pouches are even resealable!
However, all of the zero waste toothpastes I have listed below (both DIY and product) are great eco-friendly toothpaste options.
How do you make toothpaste waste free?
To make homemade toothpaste waste free, you can acquire the ingredients from a bulk food store, and reuse any glass jar you have on hand to store it. Here are a few DIY toothpaste recipes that’ll keep your teeth fresh and clean:
My Toothpaste DIY– A simple DIY using just baking soda, essential oil, and coconut oil. If you use the correct essential oils, you can create great antibacterial toothpaste.
Salt Toothpaste DIY– Just use baking soda, natural salt, essential oil of your choice and water. You can also substitute the water with coconut oil if you’d prefer.
Natural Toothpaste DIY– Using baking soda, stevia powder, peppermint essential oil and coconut oil- you can make a toothpaste with a smooth texture.
Baking Soda Free Toothpowder– A great DIY recipe using bentonite clay, ground sea salt, clove powder, ground cinnamon, ground peppermint leaves (or peppermint oil), and stevia powder. Baking soda is optional!
All of these DIY recipes can be made at home and use very similar ingredients to keep those pearly whites clean.
1. Davids Toothpaste
- Squeezable toothpaste
- Flavors: Spearmint + peppermint options
- Sulfate-free, SLS-free, fluoride-free
- Comes in a recyclable metal tube with a metal key to squeeze out every last bit
- Ships plastic-free
- Made in the USA
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Image credit: Earth Hero / Davids Toothpaste
2. Unpaste
- *Ariana’s favorite*
- Toothpaste tablets (each packet contains 125 tablets)
- Flavors: Mint
- Contains fluoride (but has fluoride-free option)
- Free of palm oil, GMOs, gluten, dyes, aluminum, sulfates, + other petroleum products
- Comes in fully compostable packaging with a resealable pouch
- Ships plastic-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
3. Georganics
- Toothpaste tablets (120 tablets)
- Flavors: English peppermint
- Fluoride, SLS + Glycerin free
- Comes in a glass jar with metal lid
- Ships plastic-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Image credit: Earth Hero / Georganics
4. Huppy
- Toothpaste tablets (62 tablets)
- Flavors: Peppermint, charcoal mint, or strawberry
- sls-free, non-gmo, + Fluoride free
- Comes with a refillable tin + offers plastic-free, compostable refills
- Ships plastic-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Image credit: Earth Hero / Huppy
5. Canary Clean Co
- Toothpaste tablets (126 tablets)
- Flavors: Peppermint, watermelon, coconut mint, bubble gum, wintergreen, strawberry kiwi
- Fluoride free, no parabens, sulfates, aspartame, or gluten
- Comes in a glass jar with a metal lid
- Refills come in a compostable pouch
- Ships plastic-free
- Made in the USA
- Vegan + cruelty-free
Image credit: Canary Clean Co
6. Butter Me Up Organics
- Toothpowder (lasts ~3 months)
- Flavor: Bentonite clay, cinnamon + charcoal
- Certified organic, non-gmo, no fluoride, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, synthetic dyes, or synthetic fragrances
- Comes in a reusable glass jar
- Ships plastic-free
- Cruelty-free
Image credit: Shifting Gaia / Butter Me Up Organics
7. Bamboo Switch
- Toothpaste tablets (90 tablets)
- Flavors: Mint
- Free from preservatives, binders, aluminum, + nanoparticles
- Comes in a plastic-free pouch
- Ships plastic-free
- Vegan + cruelty-free
Image credit: Shifting Gaia / Bamboo Switch
8. Butter Me Up Organics
- Whitening toothpaste
- Flavors: Peppermint and sweet orange
- Certified organic, non-gmo, no fluoride, sulfates, phthalates, parabens, synthetic dyes, or synthetic fragrances
- Comes in a reusable glass jar with a wooden applicator
- Ships plastic-free
- Cruelty-free
- *Uses rosemary oil – please avoid if pregnant*
Image credit: Shifting Gaia / Butter Me Up Organics
9. Superbee
- Toothpaste tablets (100 count)
- Flavor: Spearmint
- Talc free, Fluoride free, sugar free, palm oil free, gluten free, + SLS free
- Comes in a cardboard box
- Ships plastic-free
- Vegan + cruelty-free
Image credit: Superbee
10. Me Mother Earth
- Toothpaste tablets (65 tablets)
- Flavors: Peppermint or strawberry
- Fluoride option or Nano-Hydroxyapatite option
- Comes in an amber Glass jar + a refill pouch with 195 tablets
- Refills pouches are made using eucalyptus, cassava root, + sugarcane
- Ships plastic-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Image credit: Me Mother Earth
What’s your favorite zero waste toothpaste brand or DIY?
If you’d like more oral care alternatives, check out these eco-friendly PFA-free floss options.
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Guest post: Sydney Montagna is an advocate for animals and plastic-free living. She is studying English and is an aspiring writer. In her spare time, you can find her watching classic TV shows and researching all things Michael Jackson related.
