Not all toothpaste is created equal, and that includes all natural varieties. We gave Himalaya Botanique all natural toothpaste a try.
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
If you’re trying to limit your exposure to toxins and additives, you’ve probably already taken a look at the ingredients in what you eat and drink and in what you put on your body— fabrics, lotions, makeup. Toothpaste is a stickier wicket, though. You want it to be free of concerning ingredients like propylene glycol and sodium lauryl sulfate, and fluoride can be dangerous if ingested in large amounts (not that I’m implying you eat your toothpaste, but little kids have been known to do it).
On the flip side, you need your toothpaste to be effective in cleaning your teeth and dealing with bad-breath-causing bacteria. Trust me on this one: not being really proactive about oral health is setting yourself up for a world of physical hurt (dental pain is awful) as well as serious financial pain.
Now, I’ve tried a lot of all natural toothpastes in the past few years, and to be honest I hadn’t found one I loved. Ironically, a lot of them include sweeteners (this is true of conventional toothpastes as well, especially those geared towards kids) and I either didn’t like the taste while brushing, the aftertaste, or the texture.
Himalaya Botanique All Natural Toothpaste
As a Moms Meet blogger, I was sent a package including several flavors of a new-to-me brand of all natural toothpaste to try: Himalaya Botanique. Himalaya was founded in 1930 and is a family-owned company. The founder, while in Burma, witnessed a villager calming an elephant by feeding it the root of a plant (Rauwolfia serpentina) and was inspired to study and test it, resulting in Serpina, the world’s first anti-hypertensive drug.
That’s a cool story.
The company continues to work to develop Ayurveda-based (Ayurveda referring to a holistic, balancing method of medicine), pharmaceutical-grade herbal medicine products. Besides their all natural toothpastes, their products include stress relievers and supplements to support liver health and healthy joints.
But we’re here to talk about toothpaste.
Himalaya Botanique’s all natural, organic toothpaste comes in seven flavors in really cool, environmentally friendly packaging: Whitening Complete Care Simply Peppermint, Whitening Complete Care Simply Mint, Complete Care Simply Peppermint, Simply Mint, Simply Cinnamon, Simply Spearmint and their Original Neem and Pomegranate toothpaste. All seven flavors are fluoride free, sodium lauryl sulfate free, and gluten free. It’s also carrageenan free (carrageenan has been linked to gastrointestinal inflammation in some studies).
So what IS in Himalaya Botanique’s formulations?
- Neem leaf: this herb is said to have anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It cleans the teeth and works to keep on keeping your mouth clean. (Side note: I have a neem oil spray that I use for mosquito bites and it’s the only thing I’ve found that really calms the itch.)
- Pomegranate: works as an astringent for healthy gums
- Triphala: a traditional herbal formulation made from the dried powder of three myrobalan fruits, triphala has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda. It’s generally used for its detoxifying and naturally cleansing properties.
- Xylitol: I still think it’s weird that toothpastes have sweeteners in them, but I guess whatever works to make tooth brushing enjoyable. In any case, xylitol is in dentist recommended chewing gums— for when you don’t have access to a toothbrush and want to clean your teeth on the go— so it’s considered a tooth-friendly sweetener, with clinical studies suggesting it supports good oral hygiene.
- Papain and Bromelain: these are enzymes from papaya and pineapple. They’re the ingredients in the Whitening Complete Care Toothpaste that help remove stains.
Our experience
I replaced everybody’s toothpaste with a Himalaya Botanique all natural toothpaste without mentioning it, and only my husband noticed. He commented on the taste of the sweetener in the cinnamon flavor; I really don’t taste it, myself, but I do prefer a minty toothpaste.
The texture is good; not thick or gritty some some brands, and while it’s not super foaming like some conventional brands it does give you good foaming action. My teeth look and feel clean with no noticeable aftertaste.
I mean, it’s toothpaste. It’s not the sexiest thing to describe, the tooth brushing experience. No fireworks went off and my fancy feet weren’t compelled to do the dance of joy or anything.
Basically, it combines all the best things about conventional toothpaste— foaming action, clean taste, clean feeling mouth and fresh smelling breath afterwards— without the worst things about conventional toothpaste— questionable ingredients, harsh abrasives— or the worst things about other all natural toothpastes— weird taste, unpleasant texture or aftertaste.
That’s pretty impressive, honestly.
Where to find it
Himalaya Botanique Complete Care Toothpaste retails for $5.99. You can get it online at Himalayausa.com or places like Amazon and Vitacost, or at health food stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Mother’s Market (full list of locations here). If you join Himalaya’s sampling program at himalayatoothpaste.com, you can receive samples and coupons.
Give it a try, tell me what you think, and for the love of everything that’s holy, please floss and take good care of your teeth!
prAna’s 
Fun story: I wore these pants to see Office Space (Movies on Tap: cult classics + local beer tastings) and was asked about them, and when I said they were prAna, she misheard and thought I said Prada. So, that’s the level of classic styling and careful tailoring and overall impression of quality we’re talking about here. 