It’s the first thing people notice about you, it goes a long way in creating a good first impression, and it plays a big role in highlighting your natural beauty! Indeed, your megawatt smile is valuable and precious – and it should be protected naturally too.
Believe it or not, many of today’s toothpastes can actually do more harm than good. Check the ingredient list on the tube and you’ll find that many contain ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, peg/ppg, triclosan and artificial coloring, which have been linked to problems from dry mouth, gum irritation and even gastrointestinal disturbances. Google to find out more.
Thankfully you do not have to subject your pearlie whites to harsh chemical ingredients. Here are 6 mild and soothing ingredients to look for in your toothpaste that are all-natural and all-beneficial.
1. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
If you have sensitive gums, when searching toothpaste ingredients, look out for this one: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract. We probably most commonly know it as aloe vera. You might have even grown up with a pot of aloe outside your home, and mum might have cut open a leaf and rubbed the cooling gel inside onto your wound. You might have even purchased a bottle of aloe gel to soothe a sunburn after a beach party or two. No doubt then you wouldn’t be surprised that in toothpaste, aloe serves to soothe your gums amidst all that plaque-removing action. Aloe also has a wide array of antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral properties, further boosting your oral health.
2. Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
This ingredient comes from the flowers of the Roman chamomile plant, which goes into the chamomile tea you drink. Beyond that, chamomile flowers also promote soothing and reduce irritation, hence making them perfect in all kinds of cosmetic and skincare products. For some extra soothing properties in your toothpaste, make sure you look out for this ingredient.
3. Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
This is another ingredient you might have seen before on creams, popular for its anti-inflammatory and intensive healing properties, yet while being so mild, it’s perfect for babies. Studies have shown that using calendula extract in toothpaste goes a long way towards helping reduce discomfort in sore gums.
4. Pearl Powder
The secret behind the impeccable complexion of the empress of China a long, long time ago, this ingredient has made a comeback now, offering various benefits from calming redness and mattifying skin externally, to boosting antioxidants and regeneration of collagen from within. In toothpaste, the power of pearl takes effect to whiten and strengthen your teeth. It is thought that what makes pearls luminous and beautiful and strong, could very well do the same for us. So for a sparkling set sans stubborn stains, pearl powder is your answer to truly pearly whites.
5. Papain
You might be able to guess from its name – papain is also known as papaya proteinase, the enzymes present in papayas. Known for its superpower in breaking down cells, papain is sometimes used as a meat tenderiser too. In toothpaste, it breaks down the “net” around teeth that all the icky stains adhere to. This not only means that stains are most thoroughly rid of, but it is also a very gentle way of removing plaque build-up without causing any harm to the teeth.
6. Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil
Vitis Vinifera is the name for the common grape vine, so you might have heard of it as grapeseed oil. Grapeseed oil is a big thing in skincare because it’s a light oil with super exceptionally strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cell membrane-protection effects, perfect for use on your face, body and even in your hair. In toothpaste, grapeseed oil boots out all the acid-producing bacteria which slowly disintegrates your teeth and thus says a firm bye-bye to cavities. It also fortifies the collagen found in your teeth, making them more resilient to further harmful enzymes and bacteria in future.
7. Xylitol
Xylitol is naturally found in the fibres of many fruits and vegetables. It helps keep a neutral ph level in your mouth and because plaque-causing bacteria in the mouth are unable to digest xylitol, they cannot grow steadily/rapidly. And this simply means, less occurrence of cavities.
Xylitol also stimulates saliva flow. This not only helps relieve discomfort of a dry mouth but allows more minerals of calcium and phosphate in saliva to be deposited onto enamel, making it strong and healthy.
Best news of all, you can find these amazing ingredients in the new Pearlie White® All-Natural Whitening Toothpaste with whitening super ingredients pearl power and papain, and Pearlie White® All-Natural Antiplaque Toothpaste with ultra-soothing aloe. They both contain grapeseed oil, calendula extract and chamomile oil to give you that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory boost.
So instead of further harming your teeth with the wrong toothpaste ingredients, look out for these natural ingredients the next time you go shopping for a natural toothpaste and start building up your oral defences and keep those pearlie whites pearlie!
