Vegan Toothpaste Guide (Natural and Cruelty-Free Brands)

Keeping your teeth clean, fresh, and free of disease is a top priority. Preventing tooth decay and expensive dental bills is a very important form of self-care, and the best way you can avoid both is to keep up with your everyday dental hygiene routine. This vegan and cruelty-free toothpaste guide is the foundation for fighting cavities and getting your gums in tip top shape.

If you’re ready to make firm friends with floss, clean in-between after eating your greens, and savor slow, no-rush brush sessions, we can get started!

What to Consider When Buying Toothpaste

It can be a little terrifying to come upon a huge wall of toothpaste options and not know where to start. You can easily become overwhelmed and finally give in by buying the first tube that catches your eye. To avoid that feeling of frustration, take a quick look at this list and write down the top 1-3 things that are important to you. Here are some factors to think about.

Is The Toothpaste Cruelty-free and Vegan?

Cruelty-free means that the product was produced without the use of animal testing or experimentation (also known as vivisection) at any time. Vegan means that the products were made without any ingredients that come from an animal, including animal derivatives (such as honey and beeswax) and coloring agents or dyes (which can be made from crushed beetles).

Fluoride Vs. Fluoride-Free Toothpaste

Do you want your toothpaste to include fluoride or would you like to avoid it? These helpful videos by Dr. Greger of NutritionFacts.org may be worth watching.

Does it Contain Baking Soda?

As we mentioned above, baking soda has it’s positive and negative qualities. If you’re sensitive to baking soda on your body, you’re probably also sensitive in your mouth because the tissues are thinner and more easily irritated. Make the best choice for your own needs.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS)

A powerful cleanser and detergent, this ingredient is one of the top mouth irritants. It’s generally used to create the “foamy” bubbles you feel while brushing, but it’s not necessary for a good clean. Many people have uncomfortable reactions to SLS, such as canker sores, peeling tissues, dry mouth, bad breath, and sometimes bleeding of the gums.

Eco-Friendliness Factor 

Is the low or no-waste packaging important to you? Would you rather have a recyclable or compostable product? Now that there are more options on the market, you can choose tablets in a glass jar, paper pouch, or recyclable metal tube instead of the traditional plastic tube. It’s totally up to you.

Is Toothpaste Vegan? 

For the most part, toothpaste is inherently vegan-friendly. But, beware! There are some a number of dubious dental substances that can sneak into the mix. In order for a toothpaste to tempting enough to try, keep clear of the following ingredients.

Bee Products – In many all-natural toothpaste and oral care lines, there are a number of ingredients that are derived from bees such as honey, propolis, bee pollen, and beeswax. For vegans, these products are a no-go because they still exploit animals.

Colors and Flavorings – Occasionally, the artificial colors in toothpaste can be sourced from animals (especially red dyes, which are usually created from crushed insects). Finally, sometimes vague mentions of “natural flavoring” or added colors can come from animal products. If you want to be sure, you can contact the manufacturer to find the source of these ingredients.

Glycerin – Unless the company specifically labels their glycerin as vegetable-based, it’s sometimes very difficult to discover if the source is of animal or vegetable origin. You can always contact the company to get more information, but you might want to assume it’s animal-based unless you can confirm otherwise.

If you include toothbrushes under this category, you’ll also want to watch out for animal hair bristles. This is becoming less and less common (thank goodness!), but many companies create “natural” toothbrushes using stiff hair from animals, like wild boar. Eek!

To get a refresher on animal-derived ingredients, check out this article by PETA.

How to Find Vegan Toothpaste

The best way to find vegan toothpaste out in the wild (without this tooth-rific guide) is to check for the leaping bunny (certified cruelty-free) and/or PETA bunny (certified cruelty-free and vegan) symbols on the outside of the packaging. That’s the quickest and easiest way to grab your next teeth-cleaning tube or pearly-whites container.

Another obvious option is to take a good, long look at the ingredients. Many dental hygiene brands will clearly state whether they are cruelty-free or vegan because it’s a super helpful selling point at the moment. That way, you might also discover other ingredients that you may want to avoid (like baking soda, SLS, or fluoride) or wish to include (such as xylitol, a yummy flavor, or calcium carbonate).

It’s also easier to find vegan toothpaste if you visit a natural health food store or grocery store where you know they offer many vegan-friendly products such as Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joe’s, or Costco. Some stores like this sell their own brand which can be vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, as well as a much better price.

Why is Baking Soda in Toothpaste?

Baking soda is considered a mild, inexpensive abrasive for teeth. This extra scrubbing action has been said to take off the harmful biofilm that causes plaque and excess bacteria. It’s also been used to help whiten and brighten the surface of the teeth and as a fluoride alternative.

The downsides to using baking soda (both alone or in toothpaste) is its unpleasant taste and the fact that it may damage your tooth enamel if used too often or too vigorously. If you’re sensitive to abrasives (even natural ones), baking soda may cause the tissues of your mouth and gums to become inflamed.

It might be worth looking into, in order to see if baking soda is a good fit for you or an ingredient you may want to avoid.

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free Toothpaste Brands

Not sure where to start? No fear, friends! Here is a curated list of the current vegan and cruelty-free toothpaste brands. There are many great choices for your choppers and even more new products coming out every year.

• Auromere (non-GMO, fluoride-free, alcohol-free, no artificial sweeteners, available in tubes or jars, as well as travel-size, five herbal flavors)
• David’s (eco-friendly, recyclable metal tube, SLS free, fluoride free, six flavors for both kids and adults, travel-size available)
• Bite (this subscription-based toothpaste brand is highly eco-friendly offering both glass jars and compostable refill packaging. Bite has one fluoride option and three flavors of fluoride-free tablets. Their products are sulfate-free, paraben-free, and are free of artificial flavors and harsh chemicals.)
• Dr. Bronner’s (fluoride-free, SLS-free, four flavors, contains baking soda)
• Dr. Brite (fluoride-free, sulfate-free, gluten-free, baking soda-free, mineral based, for both kids and adults, and includes eight types and flavors)
• Essential Oxygen (fluoride-free, SLS-free, alcohol-free, gluten-free, BPA-free, biodegredable, women owned, and includes three tasty flavors)
• Hello (comes in both fluoride and fluoride-free, many flavors for both kids and adults, dye-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, and free of artificial sweeteners/flavors, triclosan, and microbeads)
• Himalaya Botanique (fluoride-free, SLS-free, gluten-free, triclosan-free, and offers six flavors)
• Huppy (eco-friendly, tablets, fluoride-free, SLS-free, GMO-free, and with three flavors)
• Jack N’ Jill (natural, adults/children, safe to swallow, sugar-free, fluoride-free, eight fruity flavors, as well as a flavorless option)
• Kiss My Face (fluoride-free, SLS-free, triclosan-free, and with three flavors)
• RiseWell (fluoride-free, adults/children, mineral-based, gluten-free, SLS-free, paraben-free, and sulfate-free)
• The Natural Dentist (fluoride-free, SLS-free, free of artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners, gluten-free, nut-free, and aloe vera-based)

Cruelty-Free Toothpaste Brands With Some Vegan Options

While not all of these brands have fully vegan products, they do sell easily accessible, affordable, and vegan-friendly alternatives. Give these a go!

• Burt’s Bees (Purely White Zen is fluoride-free, Charcoal Whitening has fluoride, tubes and cartons are 100% recyclable, SLS-free, paraben-free, preservative-free, free of artificial flavors and sweeteners)
• Theodent (non-toxic, SLS-free, remineralizing, fluoride alternative, both kids and adult options, vegan-friendly)
• Tom’s of Maine (fluoride or fluoride-free, SLS-free, no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, both kids and adults options, vegan-friendly, but avoid the Propolis & Myrrh and Peppermint Fluoride-Free Botanically Bright Toothpaste for they both contain animal products)

Mouthwash That’s Cruelty-Free and Vegan

Sometimes you just need a swish! A fresh-feeling mouth in the morning (or at night) is a wonderful way to start the day.

Using mouthwash can also assist in removing small particles of food and harmful bacteria from between your teeth and around your gums. The ingredients in mouthwash can help to reduce plaque and gingivitis, as well as clear away acids from the surface of your teeth. Your mouth will will adore a refreshing rinse!

• Auromere (non-GMO, fluoride-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, no artificial sweeteners, soy and corn-free)
• Bite (tabs, eco-friendly glass container, paraben-free, sulfate-free, no harsh chemicals)
• Desert Essence (alcohol-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, at least eight flavor choices)
• Dr. Brite (fluoride-free, sulfate-free, gluten-free, and with seven types/flavors)
• Essential Oxygen (organic rinses with food grade hydrogen peroxide, three fresh flavors, non-GMO, and biodegradable)
• Hello (available in both fluoride and fluoride-free, alcohol-free, dyes-free, SLS-free, sulfate-free, no artificial flavors or sweeteners, three flavors each for both kids and adults)
• Huppy (eco-friendly, fluoride-free, mineral-based, aloe vera, and essential oils)
• RiseWell (gluten-free, essential oils, contains baking soda)
• The Natural Dentist (alcohol-free, gluten-free, fluoride-free, free of artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors)
• Tom’s of Maine (fluoride-free, no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives; and four flavors, including a strawberry one for kids)

Vegan Floss

The perfect complement to brushing! Many dentists tell us that, in some cases, flossing might be even more important than brushing. But, doing both is always the best choice. In the past, most flosses were made with beeswax. Luckily, there are more and more choices for vegan-friendly floss on the market today – yay! For the best brands of plant-based floss, make sure to check out our Vegan Floss guide.

• Bambaw (eco-friendly, zero-waste container, floss made with plant-based PLA from cornstarch)
• Cocofloss (eco-friendly packaging made from recycled water bottles, textured, and toxin-free)
• EcoDent (recyclable paper box, three flavors, uses essential oils)
• EcoRoots (eco-friendly, compostable/recyclable, gluten-free, fluoride-free; no preservatives, colorings, or artificial sweeteners)
• Georganics (eco-friendly, corn-based PLA, with 3 flavors)
• Hello (PFAS-free, GMO-free, textured, non-shredding)
• Huppy (eco-friendly, plastic-free cornstarch based floss, peppermint flavor)
• Radius (eco-friendly, shred-resistant, SLS-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, paraben-free, and free of artificial colors, sweetneers or preservatives with four flavors)
• RiseWell (gluten-free, hydroxyapatite-infused, no artificial flavors or teflon, made of polyester)
• The Humble Co. (eco-friendly paper bag packaging, developed by dentists, primarily cornstarch based)

NOTE: Tom’s of Maine anti-plaque floss and Desert Essence floss both contains beeswax, so they are not vegan-friendly.

Vegan Toothpaste Deep-Dive

Looking for the best vegan and cruelty-free toothpaste brands? Here is a closer look at a few popular brands. This list includes eco-friendly, family-friendly, and budget-friendly options.

Auromere Ayurvedic Toothpaste

An Ayruvedic-based toothpaste brand that relies on the effectiveness of neem, peelu, and other herbal ingredients. This formula is gentle, but powerful. Fluoride-free, GMO-free, alcohol-free, and without any artificial sweeteners. Available in five different flavors, plus travel sizes and an eco-friendly jar option.

Dr. Brite’s Oral Care Line

This non-toxic, safe-for-the-environment company offers fluoride-free, sulfate-free, and gluten-free toothpaste options with seven types and flavors, including two award-winning kids’ toothpastes (Strawberry and Berrylicious). They also include Tooth Whitening, Anti-Plaque, Sensitivity Relief, and Healthy Gums kits in their oral care line.

Georganics Organic Toothpaste, Tablets, and Powder

A Certified B-Corp, eco-friendly company that sells organic tooth paste, tooth tablets, and tooth powder, as well as mouthwash tablets, toothbrushes, and tongue brushes. All of their product packaging is recyclable or compostable and the ingredients are 99% natural.

Hello

An easy-to-find brand, Hello’s dental care products are free of gluten, triclosan, parabens, dyes, microbeads, and artificial sweeteners/flavors. Their toothpaste and mouthwash is affordable and family-friendly. Hello offers both fluoride and fluoride-free options, as well as on-the-go travel tabs and kid-friendly flavors.

Huppy Plastic-Free Toothpastet Tabs

Award-winning toothpaste tablets that are 100% plastic-free. Their toothpaste tabs are non-GMO with clean ingredients, SLS-free, fluoride-free, and non-chalky. Huppy uses nano-hydroxyapatite, instead of fluoride, to remineralize the enamel of your teeth. Eco-friendly and refillable.

Jack N’ Jill Kids Toothpaste

This family-friendly brand has fluoride-free options for everyone! Besides the eight fruity and fun organic flavors, their toothpaste is SLS-free, BPA-free, and free of artificial flavors and colors. Jack N’ Jill also has a flavorless choice and is easily available online and in stores like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

Risewell

Developed by dentists, Risewell’s products are 100% safe, natural, and formulated with hydroxyapatite, a mineral fluoride alternative. Their line is sulfate-free, SLS-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, and made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They even have a Cake Batter flavor for the kids!

Vegan Toothpaste FAQs

Let’s Talk About Tabs and Textured Powders

If you’re eager to be more eco-friendly and wondering how you can reduce your plastic waste, these options deserve careful consideration. Both tablets and powders conserve space, are terrific to travel with, and (if you’re lucky) come in compostable or recyclable packaging. Totally worth a try!

• Bite (tabs, eco-friendly, compostable/recyclable refill, both in fluoride and fluoride-free, 3 flavors including a strawberry for kids and adults)
• EcoDent (powder, fluoride-free, baking soda, SLS-free, paraben-free, free of artificial sweeteners or colors, and peppermint flavored)
• Georganics (tabs or powder, eco-friendly, compostable/recyclable refill, fluoride-free, uses kaolin clay and diatomaceous earth, baking soda, offers six flavors)
• Hammond Herb (powder, eco-friendly, fluoride-free, free of synthetic flavors and preservatives, includes baking soda)
• Huppy (tabs, eco-friendly, fluoride-free, SLS-free, GMO-free, paraben-free, no artificial dyes or chemicals, and three flavors)
• Kaylaan (tabs, eco-friendly, compostable/recyclable refill, fluoride, baking soda, and offering six flavors)
• Primal Life Powder (mineral powder, fluoride-free, gluten-free, glycerin-free, sugar-free, includes bentonite, kaolin clay, and baking soda, eight flavors, plus flavorless option)
• Simply Sooney (powder, BPA-free reusable plastic jar, fluoride-free, bentonite clay, and peppermint flavor)
• SuperBee Dentos (tabs, eco-friendly, kid-friendly, fluoride-free, talc-free, sugar-free, free of palm-oil, and spearmint flavor with baking soda)
• T-Brush (tabs, eco-friendly, fluoride, gluten-free, SLS-free, with two flavors)

Alternatives to Toothpaste – Natural Options

While mainstream, dentist-approved are the safest and possibly best option for cleaning teeth, there are a number of tried-and-true, natural alternatives that have been used for decades or even longer. Here are the most popular and most effective of the bunch.

• Dry Brushing – You can easily dislodge a lot of debris and plaque from your gums and teeth using only a dry brush. If you’ve got nothing else, it’s better than nothing at all.
• Essential Oils – Many essential oils are beneficial to the teeth and gums, especially when a drop is added to your toothpaste. Consider trying peppermint, clove, cinnamon, spearmint, thyme, oregano, and tea tree.
• Hydrogen Peroxide – Assists in teeth whitening and also kills the bacteria to help reduce plaque. Make sure to use a half and half mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide. (Higher percentages are not recommended by dentists, unless under their supervision.)
• Sea Salt – Similar to baking soda, but a bit more harsh. Use light brushes and a long swish and gargle with water after you finish brushing. Finer grains would be best.
• Tooth Powders – Usually a mixture of fine, powered herbs (like clove, thyme, oregano, cinnamon, etc.), baking soda, and possibly a type of clay (usually bentonite) that can give your teeth a soft, abrasive treatment.
• Water Brushing – When you’ve got only water and a brush, go with the flow! Using warm water and a brush will do more cleaning than you think. Especially if you spend the full two minutes and also swish the water around thoroughly, gargle, and rinse completely. Just remember to get back to your toothpaste regimen when you’re able.

What About Coconut Oil for Teeth?

Coconut oil used for teeth cleaning (also referred to as oil pulling) is another natural option, though you may want to read and watch this series by Dr. Michael Greger, to learn the pros and cons before committing.

Instead of coconut-oil pulling, you may wish to consider adding Dr. Tung’s Oil Pulling concentrate to a sesame or sunflower base and using along with their stainless steel tongue cleaner. This tongue cleaner removes harmful bacteria and debris from the tongue, creating much fresher breath overall. Between the two, they can “…strengthen teeth and gums, help with mouth dryness and other oral conditions.”

What is Bentonite Toothpaste?

Bentonite is an absorbent, calcium-based clay that is said to extract heavy metals and toxins from around your teeth and gums. Many also claim that this earthy clay is good for remineralizing your teeth. Although there is a natural lead content to bentonite clay, it is not even close to dangerous levels in toothpaste. Especially since you won’t be ingesting it. A popular, FDA-approved brand of bentonite toothpaste is Redmond Earthpaste, which is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free.

Best Vegan Baby Toothpaste Brands

Adult teeth aren’t the only pearly whites we’re passionate about. Baby’s first teeth might be even more important for a firm foundation in dental health. Here’s a list of the most popular vegan/vegan-friendly and cruelty-free brands at the moment:

• Balm! Baby Teeth Paste (eco-friendly, fluoride-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, SLS-free, carrageenan-free, glass container, and features two flavors, sweet orange and fresh mint)
• Burt’s Bees (SLS-free, paraben-free, preservative-free, free of artificial flavors and sweeteners, bubblegum flavor is fluoride-free, strawberry flavor has fluoride)
• Hello Kids’ Oral Care (both fluoride and fluoride-free options, dye-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, and free of artificial sweeteners/flavors, triclosan, and microbeads)
• Desert Essence (safe to swallow, SLS-free, fluoride-free, gluten-free, plus two kids flavors of Green Apple Watermelon and Tutti Frutti gel toothpastes)
• Jack N’ Jill (fluoride-free, SLS-free, BPA-free, sugar-free, and natural with eight flavors, as well as flavorless)
• Jason Kids Only (fluoride-free, gluten-free, and free of artificial sweeteners, parabens, propylene glycol, saccharin, and SLS)
• Orajel Kids (available in both fluoride and fluoride-free, cleansers for babies and pastes for kids, paraben-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, silicone-free, SLS-free, dairy-free, alcohol-free, and free of artificial sweeteners, colors, dyes, and aspartame)
• Risewell (mineral-based, fluoride-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, SLS and sulfate-free, cake batter flavor with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives)
• Theodent (best for older babies or children, fluoride-alternative, chocolate flavored)
• Tom’s of Maine (contains SLS, Grape is fluoride-free, Strawberry and Blueberry contain fluoride)

Take care of your teeth and gums and you’ll be glad you did. May the floss be with you, Friends!

Discover More Vegan Health and Beauty

If you are captivated by the latest vegan makeup trends, you’ll love our Best Vegan Makeup Brands guide. We share the most up-to-date cruelty-free and vegan brands on the market today. Yay! Taking care of your skin is also super important, so make sure to check out these Vegan Skincare and Vegan Sunscreen guides, which can help to keep your skin supple and soft without any animal products or experimentation.

Your hair will never have a dull moment if you consult this Cruelty-Free & Vegan Shampoo & Conditioner directory. We guarantee you’ll find at least one new product to promptly pop into your shower routine. Also think about keeping your lips plump and beautiful by adding animal-free Luscious Vegan Lip Balm Brands to your life.

Searching for even more ways to update your bathroom routine? Our Best Vegan Deodorants line up is an excellent resource if you’re considering replacing your current deodorant. Or, if you enjoy DIY projects, you’ll have tons of fun creating your own vegan deodorant paste. Please feel free to share your favorites in the comments below. We’re always excited to try new vegan beauty and skincare products!