You probably don't read the back of your toothpaste tube. Most people don't. It's toothpaste — how complicated can it be?
Turns out: pretty complicated.
Here's what's hiding in a lot of standard toothpastes, why it matters, and what to look for instead.
SLS: The Ingredient That Makes It Foam
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant. Its job is to create the lather you associate with cleaning. The problem: it doesn't actually clean your teeth. It just makes the experience feel more satisfying.
SLS is a known irritant. Some research suggests it can increase the frequency of canker sores in people who are prone to them. The European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has flagged concentration limits. And yet it remains in the majority of mainstream toothpastes.
If you get mouth ulcers regularly, switching to an SLS-free toothpaste is one of the simplest experiments you can run.
Triclosan: Banned in Soap, Still Around in Paste
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent. In 2016, the US FDA banned it from hand soaps — the evidence that it worked better than plain soap was weak, and concerns about hormonal disruption and antibiotic resistance were mounting.
The FDA made a separate ruling on toothpaste. Most major brands quietly removed it anyway. But if you're using an older product, or a brand that hasn't reformulated, it may still be in there. Worth checking.
Artificial Sweeteners
Toothpaste needs to taste acceptable or people won't use it. Fair enough. But saccharin — the artificial sweetener used in many conventional pastes — has had a complicated regulatory history. It was once listed as a possible carcinogen, later delisted, but the science remains mixed enough that many people prefer to avoid it.
Natural alternatives exist: xylitol is a common one. It actually has some evidence for reducing cavity-causing bacteria. Stevia is used in others. Neither is perfect, but both are better-understood than saccharin for daily use.
Microplastic Microbeads
Many countries — including the EU and UK — have now banned plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics. But the ban doesn't cover every product in every market, and not every paste has reformulated globally.
Microbeads were added to some toothpastes as gentle abrasives or texture agents. Dentists reported finding them lodged in patients' gums. They don't dissolve. They pass straight into the water system.
If your toothpaste lists polyethylene or polypropylene in the ingredients — those are plastics. Move on.
What to Look For Instead
A good natural toothpaste leans on a short ingredient list: fluoride or hydroxyapatite for remineralisation, a mild abrasive like calcium carbonate or baking soda, and a natural flavour like peppermint or spearmint oil. That's essentially it.
Xylitol as a sweetener is a bonus. No SLS, no triclosan, no microbeads.
Reading the back of the tube takes thirty seconds. It's one of the easiest swaps in your bathroom.
The Toothbrush Side of the Equation
Clean toothpaste pairs naturally with a clean toothbrush. Most toothbrushes — even ones sold as "eco" — use nylon bristles: a plastic that sheds particles into your mouth with every brush.
The KYND toothbrush uses natural horsehair bristles on a bamboo handle — no nylon, no glue, no plastic, fully compostable including the packaging. One thing worth knowing: horsehair is not vegan, sourced from horse grooming. If that's a dealbreaker, it's a genuine trade-off. If you're primarily focused on removing plastic from your routine, it's worth a look.
A box of four covers about a year of brushing. Free EU shipping over €60, and every order plants a tree via Ecologi.
If you're already paying attention to what's in your toothpaste, it makes sense to pay the same attention to what's touching your gums twice a day. Read more about whether bamboo toothbrushes are actually eco-friendly — the answer is more nuanced than most brands admit.
This article is educational content, not medical or dental advice. If you have concerns about oral health, sensitivity, or specific ingredients and your personal health, speak to your dentist or a qualified healthcare professional.