It’s important to pay attention to the products that make up your oral care routine.
Especially if they are actually safe for you and if they test on animals or not.
In today’s world, there are numerous types of toothbrushes, brands of toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss to choose from..
..and honestly it can be very overwhelming to choose the best.
So, how do we know what’s best for our teeth and gums?
WHAT IS BEST?
Well, it depends on the ingredients in the toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss and it’s mechanism of action– like preventing diseases, removing plaque, freshening breath, whitening teeth, etc.
Another factor to consider for our oral care products is if they are vegan & cruelty-free.
A corporation is allowed to label their product ‘vegan’ if it contains no animals or their by-products, while labeling ‘cruelty-free’ if animals were not involved in the creation of the product.
This is very important as all the ingredients will be derived from plants and naturally healthier for you.
CHOOSING VEGAN & CRUELTY-FREE
To know if it is vegan & cruelty-free, we can use the labels on the product and/or research to make sure.
Specifically, there will be a label for ‘vegan’ and for ‘cruelty-free’ (never tested on animals), like displayed below.
When it comes to research, there are great resources to help us verify if the product is vegan & cruelty-free.
For example, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) created Bunny Free, which is a free phone app that allows you to search products or brands to verify if it is vegan and/or tests on animals.
So, does choosing a vegan brand of toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, etc. always mean it is cruelty-free?
I wish the answer was 100% yes, but it’s slightly more complex than a simple yes.
Beware that some large corporations such as Colgate, Aquafresh, Crest, Sensodyne, Arm & Hammer, and Biotene all test on animals.
Therefore, these products are not cruelty-free. They also are not vegan.
The answer gets complex in the fact that oral care brands like, HELLO and Tom’s of Maine, are both owned by the parent company: Colgate (non-vegan and not cruelty-free).
So, even though these two brands are vegan, and say cruelty-free, their creator tests on animals.
So with keeping all of this in mind, let’s dive into great vegan & cruelty-free brands of oral care products to get the job done!
TOOTHBRUSH
A great way to start your morning off and end your day right is by using a non-plastic toothbrush.
The common plastic toothbrushes that are widely available have started to become less popular.
This has to do with the fact they are not recyclable, ending up in landfills and our oceans.
Due to this, bamboo toothbrushes (biodegradable and/or compostable) are being widely made and sold.
There are so many available online and in-person, ready to try out!
TOOTHPASTE
Now, we can dive into toothpaste and choosing the right kind.
We want the toothpaste to be vegan & cruelty-free.
Fortunately, there has been rapidly growing demand for vegan and cruelty-free toothpastes.
In turn, small businesses are growing and have been able to provide us with vegan and cruelty-free toothpaste.
– Dr. Brite
– Davids
– Nature’s Gate
– Nature’s Answer Periobrite
– Auromere Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste
I personally use Dr. Brite as it is also fluoride-free.
Always remember, there are numerous recipes to create your own toothpaste available out there (just check the research)!
This is a bonus zero-waste way, if interested, instead of buying plastic toothpaste tubes.
MOUTHWASH
Oral rinsing can be extremely beneficial for numerous reasons.
Along with toothpaste, it fights oral and gum diseases, helps with plaque build-up, freshens breath, helps whiten teeth, and the list continues.
It’s important that the ingredients to your mouthwash also don’t contain animal ingredients or test on animals.
Here are some top vegan and cruelty-free brands of mouthwash:
– The Humble Co.
– Dr. Brite
– Auromere Ayurvedic Mouthwash
– TheraBreath
Make sure to check out any of these brands for other oral care products they offer!
And also, keep looking for new and great vegan & cruelty-free brands out there.
FLOSS
Flossing may not always feel as necessary as brushing our teeth does.
But, flossing is actually crucial for the health of our teeth- especially as an adult.
If you do not floss regularly, the contents of what you eat and drink get stuck in between your teeth, living there and causing decaying cavities and damage over time.
A toothbrush usually cannot get into these crevices- hence why flossing is so important.
Make sure to add dental floss to your oral care routine if you haven’t already.
Here are excellent vegan and cruelty-free brands of dental floss to get the job done!
– The Humble Co.
– Eco-Dent
– Me Mother Earth
I use the brand Me Mother Earth as it comes with this neat refillable container, extra floss, and is made from charcoal!
As always, continue to look for vegan and cruelty-free brands of oral care products available and spread the word!