I tried both of these toothpastes firsthand and I am also comparing them on ingredients and cost.
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Comparison Overview
Tom’s of Maine claims to be 100% natural (even though Xantham gum natural status is somewhat debatable), while Hello does not make this claim.
However, Hello’s ingredient list is still very clean.
Tom’s and Hello both offer lines with and without fluoride. Most lines use natural fluoride, though Hello has one line that uses stannous fluoride.
Both brands have lines with and without titanium dioxide.
Hello, like Tom’s, also has many lines with extra active ingredients.
Tom’s natural active ingredients include Silica, Xylitol, Zinc Citrate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Calcium Carbonate, Charcoal, Licorice Root Extract, and Arginine.
Tom’s shines in keeping these extra actives (for bad breath or sensitive teeth) totally natural whereas that is where Hello adds some synthetic ingredients like Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate.
Hello’s active ingredients include Zinc Citrate, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Hydrated Silica, Calcium Carbonate, Charcoal, Xylitol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate.
While Tom’s is more natural, technically, they do use SLS in most of their lines. Hello does not.
Hello uses Tea Tree oil in many lines, which could be a positive or negative note. Tom’s does not use Tea Tree oil but uses peppermint oils which are quite strong.
Prices are generally the same.
Tom’s Claims
Tom’s Simply White toothpaste claims to be “natural” and it does have all naturally derived, or partially naturally derived, ingredients, with “clinically proven whitening” due to the silica, and “remineralizing” due to fluoride and xylitol.
It’s gluten-free, paraben-free, Trisoclan-free (not found in toothpaste anymore as far as I know, but still technically allowed), formaldehyde-free, artificial-color-free, artificial flavor-free, and no preservatives in this variety.
Extra credit: All of their toothpaste lines are not tested on animals, and they are also a B Corp.
Review of Tom’s
Coming off of a more natural “crunchy” variety of toothpaste with odd flavors I like the mint flavor of Tom’s though it is very strong while brushing, and I like how it foams up and gets into the crevices of the teeth.
While this toothpaste isn’t in the most extreme “natural” category, for me it was a good mix of ingredients. I needed silica for whitening, SLS for foaming, and fluoride to help repair my teeth while still being 100% naturally derived and avoiding problematic ingredients.
After 6 months of using the Simply White (or maybe more if we include my time using the kid’s version reviewed below), two of my small cavities have naturally repaired themselves. Before using these two fluoride toothpastes I was using an all-natural fluoride-free type.
In terms of whitening the results are very subtle but I do think it helped a very small amount.
Overall I think Simply White is a good mix of effectiveness and natural ingredients. I’m going to try their charcoal type next which I decided after seeing the comparison chart I made at the end of this post.
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.
Hello’s 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 (no longer used in toothpaste but not technically banned), 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).
Review of Hello
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”. I did not feel like this line was a step down in terms of safe ingredients. (Though I would personally avoid their line with stannous fluoride).
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 (no SLS), 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.
Comparison Table Tom’s vs. Hello Toothpastes
| Tom’s of Maine | Hello | |
| Natural Ingredients | All Natural | Mostly natural, still very clean |
| Fluoride | Options with natural fluoride and without fluoride | Options with natural fluoride stannous fluoride, and without fluoride |
| Titanium Dioxide | Options with and without Titanium Dioxide | Options with and without Titanium Dioxide |
| Basic Active Ingredients | Hydrated Silica (whitening) Xylitol (anti-cavity) | Hydrated Silica (whitening) Xylitol (anti-cavity) |
| Extra Actives in Special Lines | Calcium Carbonate (whitening) Sodium Bicarbonate (whitening) Charcoal (whitening) Zinc Citrate (plaque/tarter/bad breath) Licorice Root Extract (bad breath) Arginine (sensitivity) | Calcium Carbonate (whitening) Sodium Bicarbonate (whitening) Charcoal (whitening) Zinc Citrate (plaque/tarter/bad breath) Potassium citrate (sensitivity) Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (tarter) Pentasodium Triphosphate (stain prevention) Zinc Phosphate (antibacterial) Sodium Citrate (sensitivity) Tea Tree Oil (antibacterial) Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate (tarter) Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (vitamin C for stains, cavities) |
| Surfactants | SLS in most lines Except Lauryl Glucoside & Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate in Botanically White & Activated Charcoal | Sodium cocoyl glutamate & Cocamidopropyl betaine in all the adult lines |
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 | Fluoride-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 |
| Fluoride | 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 |
Comparison of Tom’s of Maine’s Toothpastes
| Simply White | Whole Care | Anti-Plaque & Whitening | Botanically White | Activated Charcoal | Luminous White | Propolis & Myrrh | Wicked Fresh | Rapid Relief Sensitive | |
| Active Ingredients | Silica Xylitol | Silica Xylitol Zinc Citrate Sodium Bicarbonate | Silica Xylitol Zinc Citrate Sodium Bicarbonate Calcium Carbonate | Silica Xylitol | Charcoal Silica Xylitol | Silica Xylitol | Silica Xylitol Calcium Carbonate Propolis Myrrh | Silica Xylitol Calcium Carbonate LicoriceRoot Extract | Arginine Silica Xylitol Calcium Carbonate Sodium Bicarbonate |
| Sodium Fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| SLS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preservative | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vegan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
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