I’ve been using Hello Toothpaste Natural Whitening Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste in Mint to Be for three weeks now. Before that, I used the Tom’s of Maine and Burt’s Bees.
This is a first-hand, non-sponsored review of this toothpaste with a comparison to Tom’s of Maine and Burt Bees.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hello Toothpaste Natural Whitening Anticavity Flouride Toothpaste in Mint to Be Review
Claims
Hello Naturally Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste is made with a calcium mineral that naturally whitens teeth. Hydrated silica and sodium bicarbonate also whiten/remove stains.
Prevents cavities and strengthens enamel they say (it does have fluoride and xylitol).
Potassium citrate reduces tooth sensitivity.
Tea tree oil and natural peppermint tame bad breath they claim.
It is peroxide-free, dye-free, SLS-free, paraben-free, triclosan-free, preservative-free, and gluten-free. Also free of artificial sweeteners and artificial flavors.
Extra credit: Hello is vegan, cruelty-free, and not tested on animals (leaping bunny certified).
Ingredient Specifics
- Fluoride: Sodium monofluorophosphate 0.76% (0.14% w/v fluoride ion), one of the types without tin.
- Glycerin, a humectant, it can be naturally derived or synthetic.
- Hydrated silica – a natural teeth-whitening component.
- Calcium carbonate – a calcium teeth whitener and stain remover.
- Sweeteners: sorbitol, erythritol, xylitol, and rebaudioside A (from stevia) – are naturally derived, for sweetening, and it does have a nice sweet taste. Xylitol is also anti-cavity.
- “Flavor” and melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaf oil – they say the flavor is made from farm-grown peppermint, tea tree oil, and contains no artificial flavors.
- Xanthan gum, a thickener and stabilizer, partially naturally derived.
- Sodium bicarbonate – baking soda, for stain removal and more.
- Potassium citrate – helps reduce tooth sensitivity.
- Sodium cocoyl glutamate – a natural surfactant with an EWG rating of 1.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine – partially naturally derived surfactant with an EWG rating of 1-5, with a higher rating for products that can’t be washed off.
- Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil – to moisturize, they say.
First Impressions
Coming off of Tom’s and Burt’s Bees I like the taste of Hello Natural Whitening but have an aversion to tea tree oil being in my mouth so I’m a bit conflicted on it.
While this toothpaste isn’t in the most extreme “natural” category, it is mostly “clean ingredients”.
For me it was a good balance of ingredients I needed like silica, calcium, and baking soda for whitening, partially naturally derived surfactants for foaming, potassium citrate for sensitive teeth, and fluoride (non-tin version) to help repair my teeth.
It has everything I want in terms of active ingredients without any ingredients I would consider suspect.
Next time though I will try the Hello Charcoal with Fluoride since it doesn’t have tea tree oil but it does have Hydrated Silica, Charcoal, and Sodium Bicarbonate for whitening, Xylitol for strengthening teeth, Potassium Citrate for sensitive teeth and Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate for plaque.
Cost
$5.99 for 4.7 ounces on their website. On Amazon, you can find even better deals on the three-pack with the subscribe option.
Other Variations
Hello has a number of variations:
Antiplaque and Whitening Fluoride-Free – has additions of Zinc Citrate (for plaque/tarter and bad breath) and Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (for tarter). With tea tree oil.
Mighty Multi-Tasker Fluoride Toothpaste – has a fairly different ingredient list. Stannus fluoride is the type with tin. It also has tetrasodium pyrophosphate (for tarter), Zinc Phosphate (antibacterial), Sodium Citrate (to reduce tooth sensitivity). No tea tree oil.
Vitamin C Whitening Toothpaste with fluoride – contains Sodium flouride (naturally derived type), Pentasodium Triphosphate (stain prevention), Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate (anti-tarter), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (vitamin C neutralizes stains while preventing cavities, future stains, strengthens enamel and freshens breath, according to Hello), natural color (annato), and no tea tree oil.
Charcoal toothpaste in fluoride-free, and fluoride versions. Both have Hydrated Silica, Xylitol, Charcoal, and Sodium Bicarbonate for whitening. Potassium Citrate for sensitive teeth and Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate for plaque. No tea tree oil, no Titanium Dioxide.
Fluoride-Free SuperFresh mint flavor which is their most “natural” and organic line since it contains organic coconut oil and organic stevia. The glycerin is also naturally derived. It does contain tea tree oil and titanium dioxide.
Kids toothpastes in the following flavors:
Strawberry with fluoride and Titanium Dioxide, Dragon Dazzel, blue raspberry flavor, which contains mica for sparkle, fluoride, and Titanium Dioxide, Magical Mermaid, orange popsicle flavor which contains Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda), Potassium Citrate (for sensitive teeth), Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (for tarter), fluoride, no Titanium Dioxide, Smiling Shark, which is fruit punch flavor and fluoride-free, Titanium Dioxide free, and has the simplist formula, and Unicorn Sparkle, which is bubblegum flavor, contains mica for sparkle, fluoride, and Titanium Dioxide.
Comparison of Hello’s Adult Toothpastes
Natural Whitening Anticavity | Antiplaque and Whitening | Mighty Multi-Tasker | Vitamin C Whitening Toothpaste | Charcoal Fluoride-Free | Charcoal With Fluoride | Flouride-Free SuperFresh | |
Active Ingredients | Hydrated Silica Xylitol Calcium Carbonate Sodium Bicarbonate Potassium Citrate | Zinc Citrate Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate Hydrated Silica Calcium Carbonate Xylitol Sodium Bicarbonate | Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate Zinc Phosphate Sodium Citrate Hydrated Silica Xylitol | Hydrated Silica Xylitol Pentasodium Triphosphate Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate | Hydrated Silica Xylitol Charcoal Sodium Bicarbonate Potassium Citrate Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Hydrated Silica Xylitol Charcoal Sodium Bicarbonate Potassium Citrate Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Hydrated Silica Xylitol |
Flouride | Yes, Sodium Monofluorophosphate | No | Yes, Stannous Fluoride | Yes, Sodium Fluoride | No | Yes, Sodium Monofluorophosphate | No |
Titanium Dioxide | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Preservative | No | Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Potassium Sorbate |
Tea Tree Oil | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
Comparison to Tom’s and Burt’s Bees
After trying Hello, Tom’s, and Burt’s Bees, I will go with Hello’s Charcoal with Fluoride next. It has Hydrated Silica, Charcoal, and Sodium Bicarbonate for whitening. Xylitol to strengthen teeth, Potassium Citrate for sensitive teeth, and Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate for plaque.
No tea tree oil, no Titanium Dioxide.
Burt’s Bees Vs Hello
Burt’s Bees formulas are a little simpler: they don’t have that many active ingredients; the only active ingredients alongside fluoride (in their lines with fluoride) are silica and charcoal.
Burt’s Bees and Hello do offer lines with and without fluoride and titanium dioxide.
They use the safest surfactants, avoiding SLS and Cocamidopropyl betaine which has a higher rating on EWG (though mainly for products that can’t be washed off).
Their formulas are not 100% natural, but are almost natural.
See my full review of Burt’s Bees here.
Tom’s of Maine Vs Hello and Burt’s Bees
Tom’s claims to be 100% natural (even though Xantham gum is not exactly 100% natural).
Tom’s, Hello, and Burt’s Bees offer lines with and without fluoride and titanium dioxide.
Tom’s of Maine, like Hello, also has many lines with more active ingredients (Burt’s Bees is limited in active ingredients). But Tom’s sticks to natural ingredients in this category 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.
While Tom’s is more natural, they do use SLS in most of their lines.
See my full review of Tom’s of Maine’s toothpastes here.
Corinne Segura holds certificates in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.
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