What Are Toothpaste Tablets?

Chances are that you have a tube of toothpaste in your bathroom. Like most disposable products, those tubes are made of plastic, and it goes straight to the landfill once you’ve used up the paste. In fact, 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are discarded worldwide each year.

Some manufacturers have taken notice and begun making tubes from recyclable materials. Some companies have also developed more eco-friendly solutions in the form of toothpaste tablets. Learn how these tablets work and whether these are a legitimate alternative to traditional paste and gels.

Toothpaste Tablets Defined

Toothpaste tablets, or toothpaste tabs as they’re sometimes referred to, are what their name implies. These are toothpastes that come in tablet form similar to a multivitamin pill. You use one tablet per brushing session.

How to Use Toothpaste Tablets

Put one pill in your mouth and chew on the tablet. As you mix the crushed pill with your saliva, it becomes foamy. As the pill takes on a paste-like texture, use your toothbrush to brush your teeth like you normally do.

Are Toothpaste Tablets Effective?

Like conventional toothpaste, these tabs come in a variety of ingredients. The common ingredients, though, typically include sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, and xylitol. Some may contain fluoride, while others may consist fully of natural herbal ingredients.

Since toothpaste tablets are still relatively new, there isn’t a whole lot of research available. However, they appear to be safe for daily use. If you do use a fluoride-free variant, consider alternating between the tabs and regular fluoridated toothpaste.

The Benefits of Toothpaste Tablets

Consider these advantages associated with toothpaste tablets.

Eco-Friendly

The main benefit of using toothpaste tablets is the environmental advantage. This is a sustainable solution to using toothpaste in a tube, where the tube will eventually end up in your garbage bin and subsequently in the landfill, or even worse, in the ocean.

Unfortunately, these tubes aren’t recyclable. The tubes are usually made up of multiple layers containing polyethylene, polyethylene copolymer, and aluminum foil. Most recycling facilities don’t have the ability to separate these materials. The inner lining also contains toothpaste residue, which also needs to be removed before the material can be reused.

Portable

Toothpaste tablets are also incredibly travel-friendly. You can just bring along the amount you need for your trip. For example, bring six tablets for a three-day trip. There’s no need to bring an entire toothpaste tube or go out of your way to buy a smaller tube specifically for the trip.

No Waste

Finally, with tablets, you make use of every tablet, and nothing goes to waste. With toothpaste in a tube, there’s likely still enough paste for a few more brushings when throwing out the tube. However, you don’t have the hand strength to squeeze every last bit of paste from the tube.

What Are the Drawbacks of Toothpaste Tablets?

Since toothpaste tablets are still kind of a novelty, most brands are on the pricier end. In addition, tablets may not be available at your local pharmacy or Walmart, so you may have to order them online. In addition, toothpaste tablets have not yet been approved by the American Dental Association due to a lack of clinical trials.

Finally, using toothpaste tablets may take a while to get accustomed to. We’re conditioned to squeeze toothpaste from a tube onto our toothbrush and immediately begin brushing. With tablets, you have to chew the pill first until it turns into a paste. This may slightly extend your oral hygiene time.

Read also: Different Toothpaste Types You Might Not Know About

Don’t Forget About Regular Dental Exams

Whether you use toothpaste tablets or stick to conventional toothpaste in a tube, it’s essential to continue to see a dentist in Lafayette, LA, for regular exams every six months. No form of toothpaste is a substitute for a professional dental checkup.

Schedule your appointment at Maestri Family Dental today! Our experienced team of dental specialists will work with you to achieve the smile you deserve.

 

Source:

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/toothpaste-tablets-benefits-how-to-use-them-and-8-best-brands

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