A Tale of Two Toothpastes

Yesterday as Ted and I walked the aisles at our neighborhood Whole Foods, we remembered that we were running dangerously low on toothpaste. We like to get as much toothpaste as possible out of each tube, squeezing the near-empty packaging for several days until it finally gives up the ghost. Sometimes we overestimate how much paste one tube can provide, and then we officially run out. In these times, we’ve tried brushing with baking soda (which is disgustingly bitter and fizzy), rinsing our mouths out with hydrogen peroxide (also fizzy but tasteless), and a few other improvised options.

So, we can say with authority that running out of toothpaste is never fun. Scanning the toothpaste shelf, we recognized all the usual suspects: Tom’s of Maine, Nature’s Gate, Weleda, and so on. I wanted to try something new, so I weighed my options.

Today’s contenders

I considered trying Weleda’s Salt Toothpaste, recently recommended by our friend Jessica. She said it was truly salty, but that it scoured her teeth into a state of cleanliness she hadn’t previously experienced. This sounded appealing, but I have to avoid abrasive toothpastes because over the past several years I’ve brushed my enamel to smithereens, and now my teeth are incredibly sensitive. It hurts my teeth if I smile during a cold wind, so I knew I’d have to pass on the salt toothpaste. After some discussion, Ted and I settled on two toothpastes: Kiss My Face Whitening Toothpaste, and Auromére Ayurvedic Herbal Toothpaste in Fresh Mint.

Last night before bed, we tried the Kiss My Face toothpaste. Verdict: It’s good. It has a fresh minty taste with a little earthiness, and the gel made my teeth feel super-clean without being too abrasive. Along with peppermint oil and tea tree oil, this paste has aloe vera and Icelandic moss, whatever the hell that is. My only problem with it is that it contains sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, a cleansing agent with a moderate caution score on Skin Deep.

With the first review in the bag, this morning I opened the Auromére toothpaste. The package says it’s Ayurvedic, which I assume means the formula contains herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine. I unscrewed the cap and took my first taste, and I liked it. Rather than a gel, the Auromére toothpaste is a little chalkier in texture and it’s slightly planty, probably due to the long list of herbal extracts and essential oils in the ingredients. Also on the list is sodium lauryl sulfate, a cleansing agent similar to the one in the Kiss My Face paste, but its Skin Deep score is a little better.

I’m having a hard time declaring a winner here. Both toothpastes are good, both are relatively clean (save for a little cleansing agent action), and both felt gentle on my overtaxed teeth. So, I say, try ‘em out and see which one you like better. Aren’t I helpful?

And if you’re a person who has tooth enamel to spare, try Weleda’s Salt Toothpaste, and tell me what you think.