What Makes This Good Stuff
At long last, we finally found a toothpaste that we can recommend! Earthpaste is made from a unique list of ingredients that includes bentonite clay, which is shown to help remineralize teeth. We also like that Earthpaste excludes the Bad Stuff found in most toothpastes–even the natural ones–like foaming agents, sodium lauryl sulfate, glycerin (not toxic but may coat the teeth), saccharin, polyethylene, hydrated silica, sorbitol, and titanium dioxide (which makes toothpaste bright white). Earthpaste is simply the best toothpaste we’ve found, and they even offer a xylitol-free version (spearmint).
Here’s what’s in Earthpaste:
- Food-grade Redmond bentonite clay, a polishing cleanser with antibacterial properties that has been used for centuries to promote digestive health.
- Purified water, to moisten the clay into a paste.
- Xylitol, a natural sweetener that has been shown to promote healthy teeth. If you want to avoid xylitol, the spearmint variety doesn’t contain it.
- Redmond Real Salt, to enhance the flavor and lend antibacterial properties.
- Tea tree oil, a natural essential oil, which supports oral health with anti-viral and anti-fungal properties.
- Menthol (used only in Peppermint and Wintergreen Earthpaste) leaves your breath fresh and mouth feeling clean.
- The following essential oils, for flavor and dental health: peppermint, cinnamon, spearmint, lemon, lemon verbena, tangerine, and lime.
Earthpaste has no foaming agents, no coloring, no glycerin, and no fluoride.
*A note about lead: When we first were looking into clay toothpastes, we were really worried about the possibility of trace amounts of lead, especially since our kids are brushing with this. After lots of research and digging into the independent testing of the clay used in Earthpaste, we are convinced that it’s safe, mostly because the amount of lead in clay is much less than the naturally occurring amounts found in food like spinach or sweet potatoes, but also because the lead in clay doesn’t seem to bio-available (meaning your body won’t absorb it even when present). Even better, there is compelling evidence that bentonite clay might actually RID the body of lead. You should always do your own research, but this is where ours has led us, and we feel fine with our kids using–and likely swallowing!–Earthpaste twice a day.
Lauren –
Hey there- I recently discovered that my baby (3 months) has a major sensitivity to tea tree oil. What would be your #2 toothpaste choice? Thanks!
Maia James (store manager) –
We are publishing a Safe Toothpaste Guide this week, and it’ll include all our picks for Good Stuff:)
Jeanette (verified owner) –
I’m confused. Just got this from you and on the back it says contains trace amounts of naturally occurring lead which can be harmful to children and pregnant women, etc… Did they change their packaging since you wrote your review or am I missing something? Thanks you!
Maia James (store manager) –
Hello! We address this lead issue here on the product page. Here is the excerpt: *A note about lead: When we first were looking into clay toothpastes, we were really worried about the possibility of trace amounts of lead, especially since our kids are brushing with this. After lots of research and digging into the independent testing of the clay used in Earthpaste, we are convinced that it’s safe, mostly because the amount of lead in clay is much less than the naturally occurring amounts found in food like spinach or sweet potatoes, but also because the lead in clay doesn’t seem to bio-available (meaning your body won’t absorb it even when present). Even better, there is compelling evidence that bentonite clay might actually RID the body of lead. You should always do your own research, but this is where ours has led us, and we feel fine with our kids using–and likely swallowing!–Earthpaste twice a day.
Dr. Margo Robinson (verified owner) –
I’m a dentist and I use this toothpaste for my 2 year old son, and have since he was little. It took a little for him to get used to it, but I like the all natural products in it and agree with the research that was done about the lack of bio-availability of lead in the clay. I’m very happy with this product and will continue to use it until my son knows how to spit out and can use a fluoride-based toothpaste.
Julie (verified owner) –
When I tell people I use a clay toothpaste they look at me weird, but I really like it and do not think it’s any weirder than any other toothpaste. My whole family (incl. my parents) has been using it for at least 6 months now, and all of us have received great reports from the dentist. As for myself, I haven’t been to the dentist for 2 yrs, since getting pregnant with my youngest, so I was quite worried but really the dentist was very impressed and even joked about starting to use the Earthpaste. I will mention though that the Earthpaste doesn’t help onion bad breath, so I end up chewing gum sometimes.
Beth –
After using this toothpaste for a while, I noticed that in the morning I wake up with a bad taste in my mouth, & bad breath. In addition, this toothpaste does not leave my mouth with that fresh feeling after brushing – which I look forward to after brushing my teeth. So I’m quite disappointed with this product.
Suzanne Weaver-Goss (store manager) –
Yes, this is not like the Crest that we are used to using. However, the bad taste when you wake up is not from the toothpaste. Overnight we are detoxing while we sleep. Any toxins that we consume during the day (through eating, drinking or breathing) are released as we sleep and heal. The real purpose of toothpaste is to help clean the teeth and mouth. The feeling from commercial toothpaste is not from a clean mouth but from the chemicals in the toothpaste. It just takes getting used to. The brown color also takes getting used to for me!
DeeP (verified owner) –
I used a whole tube of toothpaste. At first it was hard to get used to no foaming. I loved how clean it made my teeth feel, like I had just had my dental cleaning. However, I noticed my teeth turning brown. I’ve always had white-ish teeth, and now they didn’t look clean. I switched back to my regular toothpaste and they are whitening again. I hate to not be able to use this toothpaste, I think it cleaned well. I just don’t think it keeps your teeth white – a trade off I’m willing to make.
clang0406 –
I love this toothpaste. I have dentures and use this just on my gums and tongue. I’ve been using it for the past couple of years but Raleys has stopped selling it. I’m so happy you’re selling it now 😊
Grace –
According to the Mayo Clinic: “Avoid oral use of tea tree oil, which is toxic when swallowed.”