Burts Bees Toothpaste Review (Firsthand, Non-Sponsored)

I’ve been using Burt’s Bees Charcoal + Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste in Mountain Mint for 2 weeks now. I will also compare it to the brand’s non-fluoride options and their Extra White (with fluoride).

Before that, I used Tom’s of Maine which I review here (also with fluoride).

This is a first-hand, non-sponsored review. Plus a comparison table of all of the Burt’s Bees toothpastes.

This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

1. Burt’s Bees Charcoal + Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste Review

Claims

Burt’s Bees Charcoal + Whitening toothpaste “gently whitens teeth by removing surface stains”.

Made with fluoride (fluoride-free option is below).

Made without SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), Triclosan (no longer used in toothpaste as far as I have seen, though not technically banned), parabens, artificial flavors and sweeteners, preservatives, blue, red, yellow dyes, gluten, titanium dioxide, plastic microbeads.

They also say it’s made of “ingredients from nature”, they don’t make the claim it is 100% natural.

Environmental specs: Leaping Bunny certified/not tested on animals. Recyclable packaging. Carbon-neutral operations.

Ingredient Specifics

1. With Sodium Fluoride 0.243% (0.13% W/V Fluoride Ion) – Sodium fluoride, the type that is naturally derived and without tin. I was looking for a fluoride-based toothpaste after my teeth started quickly deteriorating prior to using fluoride. They also make the charcoal toothpaste without fluoride.
2. Glycerin – a humectant, can be naturally derived.
3. Hydrated silica – is the natural teeth-whitening component along with charcoal.
4. Sodium cocoyl glutamate or Cocamidopropyl betaine – they use one of these two naturally derived surfactants instead of the more common SLS. However, Cocamidopropyl betaine has a rating of 1-5 on EWG (higher than SLS which has a rating of 1 for this use), Sodium cocoyl glutamate has a rating of 1.
5. Flavor – peppermint, eucalyptus, spearmint oils, and other natural flavors.
6. Xanthan gum and Carrageenan – these are thickeners and stabilizers. Both can be naturally derived, but xanthan gum is only partially naturally derived.
7. Stevia rebaudiana extract – a natural and sugar-free sweetener.
8. Charcoal powder – natural whitener along with the silica made from coconut or bamboo.

First Impressions/Overview

Coming off of Tom’s Simply White toothpaste I like that the mint flavor was more subtle in Burt’s Bees and didn’t have a burning sensation. It didn’t seem overly sweet to me and I could not pick up on the stevia flavor but I am someone that uses stevia a lot.

It still foams up well without SLS (though it’s slightly less foamy).

I wanted the fluoride since before using fluoride-based toothpaste my teeth were quickly deteriorating. But I like that they offer both options.

I like that it has charcoal and silica for whitening, and the charcoal did not leave any stains.

I liked that it’s mostly natural ingredients.

Cost: 5.99 on their website. But you can find better deals on Amazon for a pack of three.

2. Charcoal + Whitening Zen Peppermint Toothpaste Fluoride-Free

Claims

Same claims as the charcoal with fluoride version, minus the fluoride.

Burt’s Bees Charcoal + Whitening toothpaste “gently whitens teeth by removing surface stains”.

Ingredient Overview

The ingredients are the same as the first option, minus fluoride and the potentially problematic Cocamidopropyl betaine.

1. Glycerin – a humectant, can be naturally derived.
2. Hydrated silica – is the natural teeth-whitening component along with charcoal.
3. Sodium cocoyl glutamate – a naturally derived surfactant instead of the more common SLS. Sodium cocoyl glutamate has a rating of 1 on EWG.
4. Flavor – peppermint, eucalyptus, spearmint oils, and other natural flavors.
5. Xanthan gum and Carrageenan – these are thickeners and stabilizers. Both can be naturally derived.
6. Stevia rebaudiana extract – a natural and sugar-free sweetener.
7. Charcoal powder – natural whitener along with the silica made from coconut or bamboo.

Cost: 5.99 on their website.

3. Extra White Fluoride Toothpaste Mountain Mint

Claims

Like their other toothpastes, it’s made without: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), triclosan, parabens, artificial flavors & sweeteners, preservatives & blue, red, yellow dyes, gluten, and microbeads.

ADA Accepted, (American Dental Association Accepted) (the other lines didn’t have this).

Environmental specs: Leaping Bunny certified/not tested on animals. Recyclable packaging. Carbon-neutral operations.

Ingredients:

1. With Sodium Fluoride 0.243% (0.13% W/V Fluoride Ion) – Sodium fluoride, the type that is naturally derived and without tin.
2. Glycerin – a humectant, can be naturally derived.
3. Hydrated silica – is the natural teeth-whitening component along with charcoal.
4. Flavor – peppermint oil, and other natural flavors.
5. Sodium Lauryl Glucose Caboxylate – a naturally derived surfactant with an EWG rating of 1.
6. Lauryl Glucoside – a sugar- and lipid-based surfactant with an EWG rating of 2.
7. Carrageenan – a thickener and stabilizer. Can be naturally derived.
8. Stevia Rebaudiana and Stevia Rebaudiana Extract – a natural and sugar-free sweetener.
9. Titanium Dioxide – a metal that makes toothpaste white.

Cost: 6.39 on their website but you can get a better deal on Amazon for a pack of three.

They also have Purely White which is similar to Extra White but without fluoride.

Comparison of Burt’s Bees Toothpastes

	Charcoal + Whitening Fluoride	Charcoal + Whitening Fluoride Free	Extra White	Purely White
Active Ingredients	Silica Charcoal	Silica Charcoal	Silica	Silica
Fluoride	Yes	No	Yes	No
Surfactants	Sodium cocoyl glutamate or Cocamidopropyl betaine	Sodium cocoyl glutamate	Sodium Lauryl Glucose Caboxylate and Lauryl Glucoside	Sodium cocoylglutamate
Titanium Dioxide	No	No	Yes	Yes

Comparison to Tom’s of Maine

• Compared to Tom’s of Maine, Tom’s claims to have all naturally derived ingredients (even though the end ingredient might be the same, for example, both have glycerin but Tom’s uses naturally derived glycerin).
• Both brands contain options with and without fluoride.
• Tom’s also has Xylitol which is beneficial for teeth remineralizing, I like it for that reason. Burt’s Bees uses stevia instead for sweetening though this does not have any anticavity effects.
• Some of Tom’s options have SLS and some don’t. Burt’s Bees does not use SLS.
• Tom’s also has more active ingredients (also natural) like Zinc Citrate, Sodium Bicarbonate and Calcium Carbonate in the Anti-Plaque & Whitening, Calcium Carbonate and Licorice Root Extract in the bad breath fighting Wicked Fresh, and Arginine, Calcium Carbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate in the Rapid Relief Sensitive. Burt’s Bees doesn’t have any of those ingredients.
• Some of Tom’s lines contain preservatives, none of Bert’s Bees do.
• In terms of Titanium Dioxide, both brands have lines with and without it.

See my full review of Tom’s of Maine toothpastes here (I used them for a total of 9 months).

Comparison to Hello Toothpaste

Both of these brands are mostly natural.

Both brands contain options with and without fluoride.

Hello uses Xylitol which is beneficial for teeth remineralizing, I like it for that reason.

Hello also has more active ingredients depending on the line like Zinc Citrate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Hydrated Silica, Calcium Carbonate, Charcoal, Xylitol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate.

In terms of Titanium Dioxide, both brands have lines with and without it.

Many of the Hello lines have Tea Tree oil which could be a point either for or against them.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.