Natural toothpastes come in a variety of flavours and options.
In this post I look at the best natural toothpaste in various categories, and recommend some products you can trust.
If you don’t need a natural toothpaste specifically, you may find our more generalised best toothpaste article more helpful.
And to see our full range of toothpaste content, visit our toothpaste hub page, which lists all of our content in an easy-to-find format.
What does natural mean to you?
Regardless of whether you have a health reason for wanting to avoid certain ingredients, or whether your ethical beliefs mean that you are looking for an alternative toothpaste – there are an increasing number of toothpastes being marketed as natural.
But “natural toothpaste” can have a few different meanings, including:
- Avoiding unnecessary chemicals and artificial ingredients.
- Avoiding fluoride.
- Searching for naturally derived and naturally sourced ingredients.
- Searching for ethically sourced ingredients and processes.
- Searching for toothpastes that take the planet into consideration.
- Wanting a herbal toothpaste.
In fact, the FDA has no official definition for natural, so it is important you do your own research too.
Generally speaking, though, a natural toothpaste will aim to avoid foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate, or artificial colours and sweeteners. They may also be preservative free. Although having one of these types of ingredients may not necessarily prevent a toothpaste from making it to this list of best natural toothpastes, if you are specifically looking for an SLS free toothpaste, see our article on the best SLS-free toothpastes.
For some people, they search out a natural toothpaste because of concerns about fluoride. Some of the natural toothpastes on this page will still contain fluoride as this is the only ingredient proven to help prevent cavities, and is the key ingredient recommended by almost all dentists. But some of the toothpastes may contain an alternative – such as calcium phosphate – which can also protect the teeth against decay but is not yet widely available.
Another reason someone may turn to natural toothpaste is in search of a more responsible toothpaste or brand. Natural toothpastes will often have organic ingredients (which must be USDA approved), and will try to meet high ethical concerns such as avoiding animal ingredients, being vegan and being cruelty free.
Finally, when searching for natural toothpastes, you may also be thinking about sustainability, both when it comes to sourcing ingredients and in the packaging used. This is still an area requiring development as many toothpastes still come in plastic packaging, with few alternatives available for those who are eco-conscious.
The best natural toothpaste: 5 good options
When identifying the best natural toothpaste I have gone back to our guide on what to think about when choosing a toothpaste. Toothpastes that have made it into this list:
- Contain fluoride or other remineralising ingredients (continue reading to find out why.) If non-fluoride is what you are looking for I have these covered later on in the article).
- Preferably contain herbal ingredients, avoid SLS, parabens and preservatives.
- Have a small ingredients list.
If you are choosing your own toothpaste, I recommend factoring the above points in as well as the general advice on choosing a toothpaste from our toothpaste hub page.
I have not focussed these toothpastes to be vegan, whitening, or for a specific problem such as sensitivity. But if they meet these criteria, it’s a bonus. If you want a toothpaste that specifically meets these criteria you can check the table further down the page.
The Humble Co Toothpaste in a Jar
I have included this toothpaste as one of my top recommendations due to the focus on sustainability and natural products.
Their toothpaste in a jar is one of a few products they provide that are aiming to reduce plastic waste, but I have chosen this one as it is totally plastic free whilst also being a good product and a fair price.
It also contains fluoride for protection against cavities.
They are also an ethical company, and each purchase helps the Humble Smile Foundation, which helps prevent suffering caused by oral disease.
Pros
- Contains fluoride
- Vegan
- Cruelty free
- Plastic free packaging
- Non mint flavour available
- SLS free
- No Parabens
Cons
- Niche product, only available online
Where to buy
Price Comparison
- 50ml jar
- Approx. £5 / jar
- ££
Green People Organic Children’s toothpaste with fluoride
Green People do a range of toothpaste products, however only this children’s toothpaste contains fluoride (1000ppm), which is why it has made it into the list of recommendations.
Pros
- SLS free
- Gluten free
- Organic ingredients
- Non mint flavour
- Contains fluoride
- Vegan
Cons
- Plastic packaging
Where to buy
Price comparison
- 50ml tube
- Approx £3.50-4 per tube
- £
Hello toothpastes
Hello toothpastes are a good alternative to the mainstream toothpaste brands.
In terms of being natural, they avoid any unnecessary ingredients, whilst keeping the important active ingredients. They still contain active ingredients such as fluoride for protection against cavities, and potassium nitrate for protection against sensitivity.
The toothpastes are vegan, not tested on animals, and are also moving towards responsible packaging (although ditching the box altogether would go a long way to reduce waste!)
For a natural toothpaste that protects against decay you could opt for:
- Hello sensitivity relief with fluoride
- Hello toothpaste naturally whitening with fluoride
- Hello kids toothpaste with fluoride
These toothpastes are not included in my recommendation:
- Activated charcoal epic whitening fluoride toothpaste – due to uncertainty about abrasiveness
- Activated charcoal fluoride free toothpaste – due to concerns about abrasiveness and lack of fluoride
Pros
- Contains fluoride
- Natural toothpaste, and is also SLS free
- Vegan
Cons
- Could have a stronger fluoride concentration
- Plastic packaging
Where to buy
Price comparison
- 4.7 ounce/133g tube
- Approx. £5 – £6 / tube
- ££
Colgate Smile for Good Toothpaste
This is the newest offering from Colgate. It aims to please the health conscious market, being minimalist on ingredients, whilst still containing important fluoride.
I have included this toothpaste due to its availability on the market, and it being a popular and well known brand across the UK. Actually, it seems to be one of the only toothpastes marketed as “natural” from the most common toothpaste manufacturers (Oral-B, Sensodyne, Colgate). You may be more tempted to go for this toothpaste because you are familiar with the branding, and there is no problem with that.
Colgate are making a move towards environmentally friendly packaging by making the tube recyclable, but unfortunately there is still some single use plastic in the tube.
Denttabs Toothpaste Tablets with Fluoride
This is the go-to option if you want a natural toothpaste that doesn’t cost the earth – in both environmental terms as well as financially. Toothpaste tablets still aren’t the most cost effective option, but as someone looking for a natural toothpaste you will probably be very interested in the compostable packaging.
Make sure you go for the fluoride option to protect your teeth from cavities (although a fluoride free version is available).
Pros
- Contains fluoride
- Minimal packaging.
- Travel friendly (no liquids).
- Just the right amount each time (1 tablet = one dose).
- Vegan and cruelty free.
- Gluten free.
- SLS free.
Cons
- More expensive than regular toothpaste.
- Initial taste and texture can take a bit of getting used to.
Where to buy
Price Comparison
- Packet of 125 (approx 2 month supply)
- Approx. £4 / packet
- £
Best natural whitening (stain removal) toothpaste
Below is my recommendation for a natural toothpaste that will also lift stains on your teeth, helping them to appear whiter.
Just be aware that toothpastes will only lift stains off your teeth, they will not bleach them in the same way that professional whitening does.
- Biomed Superwhite Toothpaste (view on Amazon) which contains no fluoride, instead containing HAP. It promotes stain removal due to the presence of papain and bromelain, enzymes that they claim help remove plaque and poish the tooth surface.
- Ecodenta Organic Whitening Toothpaste with Papaya (view on Amazon) is a natural toothpaste that contains fluoride and is whitening. It isn’t clear exactly how the toothpaste aids stain removal, although it does contain some abrasive ingredients.
Best natural toothpaste without artificial sweeteners
Almost by definition, natural toothpastes will exclude artificial sweeteners. I have included below toothpastes that contain no artificial sweeteners, or even no sweeteners at all.
Kingfisher Natural Toothpaste with Fluoride
As far as natural toothpastes go, Kingfisher Natural Toothpastes are up there. They are an ethical company, having been awarded Best Buy status by Ethical Consumer Magazine. I would recommend either the Mint with fluoride or Fennel with fluoride options for a natural toothpaste which does not contain sweeteners.
Their naturally sourced ingredients are GM-free, Vegan, Halal and Kosher so really are accessible to everyone.
I think the core beliefs of this company really set them out as a top brand for natural toothpaste. Although you may need to go outside of your regular supermarket to find them, Kingfisher toothpastes are readily available around the world in health food shops and from internet suppliers.
Just to note, Kingfisher also does fluoride free options and I would not recommend these as they do not provide the protection against decay. But if you choose to go fluoride free, they are available.
Pros
- No artificial colourings, flavourings, sweeteners or preservatives
- Contains no sweeteners
- Contains fluoride
- British Dental Health Foundation approved
- Mint and Fennel flavours available
Cons
- Non-fluoride options also available which do not protect against cavities
Where to buy
Price Comparison
- 100ml/3.5 ounces
- Approx. £2.85 / tube
- £
Best natural toothpaste without fluoride
Whilst I don’t recommend fluoride free toothpaste, as you miss out on the known anti-cavity properties of fluoride, I respect that some people may still wish to avoid toothpastes containing fluoride.
In which case, there are two main options available to you:
- A natural fluoride free toothpaste that contains no fluoride and no major source of remineralizing agent. Whilst ingredients like xylitol have a small anti-cavity effect, it would not be enough to be remineralizing in the same way as fluoride.
- A natural fluoride free toothpaste that contains no fluoride and which does contain an alternative remineralizing agent. Calcium phosphates (such as hydroxyapatite) help reharden the tooth surface in a similar way to fluoride. These ingredients are newer than fluoride and are still undergoing long term studies, but have been FDA approved. They are normally more expensive than fluoride, but there is lots of evidence supporting their effectiveness.
DoTERRA On Guard® Natural Whitening Toothpaste
Whilst this toothpaste does not contain fluoride (which I really would recommend), it does contain hydroxyapatite as an alternative for remineralisation.
It also contains essential oils and a stain removal agent.
Best organic toothpastes
There is actually no evidence to support whether an organic toothpaste is better for your oral health than a regular toothpaste. A natural toothpaste is not automatically organic and vice versa.
One advantage of organic is the stricter environmental controls when growing ingredients. This may be something of interest to you if you are choosing a toothpaste with minimal environmental impact.
However, there is no one specific law or definition for natural and organic relating to cosmetic products. There are general laws surrounding advertising and claims that should reassure you, but you will need to do some research to check your product is what it says it is.
Some standards to look at include COSMOS and NaTRUE.
To provide some context, the following labels may be seen:
- “100 percent organic.” A product with this label must contain only organically produced ingredients, with the exception of water and salt.
- “Organic.” At least 95 percent of the product’s ingredients must be organically produced to earn this label, excluding water and salt.
- “Made with organic ingredients.” This label applies to products containing between 70 to 95 percent organically produced ingredients.
- “Organic [ingredient].” Products made with less than 70 percent organically produced ingredients.
Toothpaste brands available which contain at least some organic ingredients include:
- Hello toothpastes
- Denttabs
- DoTerra
- Green People
- BioMed
- EcoDenta
- Georganics
Best herbal toothpaste
Whilst a natural toothpaste would look to avoid artificial ingredients, and will likely go for naturally sourced or naturally derived ingredients, they may still have a relatively long list of ingredients.
If you are wanting a super simple toothpaste, with ingredients that are as close to their natural form as possible, you may choose a herbal toothpaste. My main recommendation in that case is Redmond Earthpaste.
Redmond Earthpaste
Whilst I really would recommend an option with fluoride, if it is simplicity you are after then this is your toothpaste. It has an incredibly small list of ingredients, none of which should cause any damage.
Without any remineralising ingredients like fluoride or calcium phosphate, this toothpaste provides no protection against tooth decay. You should keep to a low sugar diet if using this paste.
Pros
- No glycerin
- No artificial colouring
- Only 5 ingredients
- SLS free
- Mint or non-mint flavours available
- Vegan
Cons
- No fluoride or other remineralisation ingredient to protect against cavities
- Plastic packaging
Where to buy
Price Comparison
- 4 Ounce/113g per tube
- Approx £12 per tube
- ££
FAQ
What is meant by naturally sourced?
Ingredients that are minimally processed or altered after being sourced from nature. They may have some processing, but the final product is still very similar to the original ingredient. This might include essential oils for example.
What is meant by naturally derived?
Naturally derived ingredients are not made artificially, but they have undergone quite extensive changes from the original ingredient. This may be to make the ingredient safer or more useful. An example of this could be xylitol derived from birch trees.
What is a vegan toothpaste?
The Vegan Society explains “vegans avoid exploiting animals for any purpose”. Vegan products will avoid animal product, by-product or derivative. They also avoid products tested on animals. Vegan toothpastes can be recognised by the presence of the Vegan Society trademark (although not all vegan products will have this).
What is the difference between a vegan toothpaste and a cruelty free toothpaste?
A cruelty free toothpaste should not have been tested on animals. And if they are “Leaping Bunny” certified there will have been no animal testing at any point during process. This does not necessarily mean that the product does not contain animal derived products.
Should I be avoiding SLS?
Not necessarily. There are some people who may find some relief of ulcers when switching to an SLS free toothpaste, but most people would not know the difference whether their paste contains SLS or not (apart from the amount of foaming).
Why do your Best 5 all contain fluoride?
Fluoride is a well-known and well-tested ingredient, proven to help protect teeth against cavities. As such, most recommended toothpastes will contain fluoride.
Other Natural toothpastes
In case none of the products from our list above appeal to you, here are some additional natural toothpastes to consider.
When picking a toothpaste, I recommend considering the general advice on choosing a toothpaste from our toothpaste hub page.
| Name of Product | Anti-cavity protection | Also good for | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| hello toothpaste sensitivity relief | fluoride | Sensitivity SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Hello activated charcoal epic whitening fluoride toothpaste | fluoride | SLS free Whitening Vegan | ££ |
| hello activated charcoal fluoride free toothpaste | no | SLS free Whitening Vegan | ££ |
| hello toothpaste naturally whitening without fluoride | no | SLS free Whitening Vegan | ££ |
| Hello kids toothpaste with fluoride | fluoride | Kids Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque and Whitening fluoride free toothpaste | no | Whitening | ££ |
| Tom’s of Maine Fluoride-Free Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste | no | Sensitivity | ££ |
| Tom’s of Maine Whole Care Natural Toothpaste | fluoride | Non-mint available | ££ |
| Kingfisher Natural toothpaste with Fluoride | fluoride | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Kingfisher Natural toothpaste | no | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Kingfisher Natural toothpaste without Fluoride – Baking soda | no | Baking soda SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Kingfisher Natural toothpaste without Fluoride – Naturally whitening charcoal | no | SLS free Vegan Whitening | £ |
| Denttabs Toothpaste Tablets with Fluoride | fluoride | Eco-friendly SLS free | £ |
| Denttabs Toothpaste Tablets Fluoride Free | no | Eco-friendly SLS free | £ |
| DoTERRA On Guard® Natural Whitening Toothpaste | hydroxyapatite | SLS free Vegan Whitening | £££ |
| Radius USDA Organic Toothpaste | No | Organic SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Auromere Ayurvedic Toothpaste | no | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste | No | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Dr Bronners All-in-One Toothpaste | No | Eco-friendly Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Jason Healthy Mouth® Tartar Control Anti-Cavity Toothpaste | fluoride | Gum disease Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Jason Simply Coconut | no | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Uncle Harry’s Toothpaste | no | Eco-friendly Non-mint available SLS free | £ |
| Redmond Earthpaste | No | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Redmond Earthpowder | no | Eco-friendly Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Colgate Smile for Good Whitening Toothpaste | fluoride | Organic SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Davids Toothpaste | no | Eco-friendly SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Lush Toothy Tabs | no | Eco-friendly Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Twice Toothpaste | fluoride | SLS free Vegan Whitening | ££ |
| The Natural Dentist Healthy Teeth & Gums Whitening Plus Toothpaste | Fluoride (fluoride free available) | Gum disease SLS free Whitening | ££ |
| Green People Organic Toothpaste | none | Gum Disease Non-Mint Available Organic Sensitivity SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Green People Organic Children Mandarin and Aloe Vera Toothpaste | Fluoride | Gum Disease Non-Mint Organic Sensitivity SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Hydrophil Pure Mint Toothpaste | fluoride | Eco-friendly SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Hydrophil Sweet Herbs Toothpaste | none | Eco-friendly SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Hydrophil Toothpaste Tabs Mint Lemon | none | Eco-friendly SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Hydrophil Toothpaste Tabs Sage | fluoride | Eco-friendly Non-mint SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| The Humble Co Toothpaste in a Jar | fluoride | Eco-friendly Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| The Humble Co Natural Toothpaste | fluoride | Non-mint available SLS free Vegan | £ |
| The Humble Co Natural Toothpaste Tablets with Fluoride | fluoride | Eco-friendly SLS free Vegan | £ |
| The Humble Co Natural Toothpaste Fluoride Free | none | Eco-friendly SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Georganics Mineral Toothpaste | none | Eco-friendly Non-mint available Organic SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Georganics Toothpaste Powder | none | Eco-friendly Non-mint available Organic SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Georganics Toothpaste Tablets | none | Eco-friendly Non-mint available Organic SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Georganics Toothsoap | none | Eco-friendly Non-mint available Organic SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Ecodenta sensitive whitening | HAP | Sensitivity SLS free Vegan Whitening | £ |
| Ecodenta Multifunctional Toothpaste | fluoride | SLS free Vegan | £ |
| Ecodenta Pineapple Mornings and Bilberry Nights toothpastes | fluoride | Non-mint SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Ecodenta Organic Anti-Plaque Toothpaste With Coconut Oil | none | SLS free Organic Vegan | ££ |
| Ecodenta Organic Whitening Toothpaste with Papaya | Fluoride | Organic SLS free Vegan Whitening | ££ |
| Ecodenta Organic Salt Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth | none | Organic Sensitivity SLS free Vegan | ££ |
| Biomed Superwhite Toothpaste | HAP | Non-Mint Organic SLS free Vegan Whitening | £ |
| Biomed Propoline Natural Toothpaste | HAP | Gum disease Non-Mint SLS free Organic | £ |
| Biomed Sensitive Toothpaste | HAP | Non-mint Organic Sensitivity SLS free | £ |
Thank you very much for all this information on these toothpastes. It is very useful.
Have you any idea if manufacturers could be urged to published the bar code colour on the end of their tube? I have to break open the pack to see the colour, Black, Red, Blue or Green.
Many thanks
Hi Catherine. I am not sure what you mean by the barcode colour? Excuse me if I am missing something but what is the importance or need for this?
Hi
I could take a photo if you had an email address I could send to?
At the base of a tube, there is a bar printed in either of those colours. The black bar means the toothpaste has most chemicals, the green is the most natural.
As the tubes come in a box, the bar isn’t advertised on the box, you have to break open the box to see what is printed on the tube itself.
Kind regards
Catherine
Catherine, you can email us on hrllo[at]electricteeth[dot]com however I think what you are referring to is incorrect, as explained by one of the world’s largest toothpaste manufacturers, Colgate in this article.
Hi,
That’s very interesting & useful.
I am not convinced regarding fluoride though. What’s wrong with Bicarbonate of soda? Ill look on your website. I’m sure you’ve covered that.
Many thanks for taking the time to answer me.
Kind regards
Catherine
Here Catherine is a post all about toothpaste ingredients. Bicarbonate of soda (sodium bicarbonate) doesn’t have the same protective capabilities as fluoride for the teeth.
An alternative to fluoride is hydroxyapatite as I am sure you are aware.