Chewable Toothpaste Tablets: Do They Work?
Toothpaste tablets are the latest innovation to hit the dental market. But is it a trend worth trying, or something we’ll instantly regret (like that time we decided to get bangs)? Keep reading to get the scoop on the pros and cons of toothpaste tabs and see if you’re ready to take a bite into this new way of brushing.
What’s the Appeal of Toothpaste Tablets?
1. They’re More Earth Friendly
We all want to find more ways to reduce waste and help the earth, so one of the intriguing aspects of toothpaste tablets is how eco-friendly they are.
The fact that there are no plastic tubes definitely gets a nod from Mother Nature, plus toothpaste tablets are formulated without water, which delivers a smaller carbon footprint.
Additionally, with many toothpaste tabs, you get refills in compostable or recyclable bags, so you’re only buying the container once. This is a big deal because according to Recycling International, around 1.5 billion tubes of toothpaste are thrown into the trash each year instead of being recycled.
Psst … If you’re a faithful toothpaste-tube user and your local recycling center doesn’t accept tubes, check out this free recycling program by TerraCycle®, where all brands of empty/used oral care products (tubes and caps, brushes, floss containers and packaging) can be recycled.
2. Great for Traveling
If you’re a backpacker, hiker, or camper, toothpaste tablets could be a great travel companion because they take up a lot less space and don’t require water to use them. Airplane travelers may also find them appealing to eliminate worries about carry-on sizes.
3. It’s Fun (er, sometimes) to Try New Things
Even if it doesn’t go as expected and you swear off toothpaste tablets forever, it can still be fun to try something new. Of course, if you’re an order-the-same-coffee-drink-every-time, don’t-mess-with-my-cereal-selection type of person, it’s probably best to just stick with the toothpaste tube you know and love.
The Cons of Toothpaste Tablets
Like many trends, sometimes the hype is more exciting than the actual results. Here are 6 reasons many people are turning up their noses (and taste buds) at toothpaste tabs.
1. Things Can Get Messy
Here’s how toothpaste tablets, aka chewable toothpastes, are supposed to work: you just pop the little pill-sized tablet into your mouth, chew it until it foams into a paste, then brush your teeth as you normally would. What could go wrong?
Well, if you have dry mouth, dissolving a toothpaste tab into a chewable paste would be virtually impossible because you wouldn’t have enough saliva. You’d need to get water into your mouth along with the toothpaste tab, creating a drippy situation and disaster zone in your bathroom sink.
2. Too Abrasive
Many people experience teeth sensitivity when they try out chewable toothpaste tabs, as they’re simply too abrasive for their smiles.
3. Unproven Effectiveness
Do toothpaste tablets work? Some users say yes, some say no. The bottom line is this: because they’re so new to the market, there isn’t the clinical research to back the effectiveness of chewable toothpastes yet, and they are not approved by the American Dental Association.
4. More Expensive
Toothpaste tabs are generally more expensive than toothpaste tubes. To further compound the strain on the wallet, many people find they need to use two tablets in order to form an effective paste.
5. It’s Hard to Find “Made in the USA” Toothpaste Tabs
If you love the peace of mind around the quality and safety of buying made-in-the-USA dental products, be prepared for a difficult search when shopping for toothpaste tablets.
6. Poor Mouth Feel + Questionable Taste
There are many different ingredients inside toothpaste tabs, depending on the brand. Some of the more common ingredients include clays, calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), tartaric acid derivatives, and various “aromas” and flavors.
While some people chew them up just fine without complaint, there are many poor reviews regarding the taste and mouth-feel, which can often be clumpy and chalky. (Here are snippets from four different brands on Amazon.)
“They taste like band-aids and peppermint, and have a very odd slimy texture when chewed up. The bad aftertaste lingers.”
“Tastes like I was chewing on a tree.”
“Like soap with a little bit of mint.”
“It tasted like pure baking soda and a little like rancid mint. It was awful. I can’t even tell you if it works because I had to spit it out.”
“Every time I pop one of these suckers in my mouth I can’t tell if I’m chewing a chalky lemon? Or lemony baking soda? Or salty mint? What is even going on here??”
Everyone’s Tried-and-True Favorite: Oxyfresh Non-Abrasive Toothpaste
Eco-friendly, non-toxic and USA-made, Oxyfresh toothpastes outshine other brands because we don’t use harsh abrasives, dyes or artificial flavors. And we never COVER UP bad breath – we neutralize it completely with our exclusive ingredient Oxygene® for fresh breath that lasts all day!
These unique toothpaste formulas – which include fluoride AND fluoride-free options – are some of the least abrasive toothpastes on the market (check out this Relative Dentin Abrasivity scale), so you can get your pearly whites sparkly clean without eroding your delicate enamel.
Best of all, Oxyfresh low abrasion toothpastes taste AMAZING, with natural essential oils and xylitol, a natural plaque-fighting sweetener. Your smile will feel completely fresh and clean with no weird aftertaste. Plus – a little goes a long way because they’re super concentrated. Less ordering, smaller footprint. Win, win.
So whether you try toothpaste tablets or not, the eco-friendly brand dentists have loved and trusted since 1984 is always here for you. Just head to oxyfresh.com.
