You Swallow a Tube of Toothpaste a Year. What's Actually in Yours?

Between residue, saliva and the odd accidental gulp, the average adult swallows roughly a full tube of toothpaste every year. Worth knowing what's in it.

Ingredients to understand:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

SLS is a foaming agent used in many toothpastes. Some people find it irritating, it's been associated with mouth ulcers in those prone to them, though reactions vary from person to person. If you get frequent mouth ulcers, an SLS-free toothpaste is worth trying but always check in with your dentist with any concerns.

Titanium dioxide

Titanium dioxide is used in some toothpastes as a whitening pigment. It's worth noting the EU withdrew approval for titanium dioxide as a food additive (E171) in 2022 over inconclusive safety data; a food-additive ruling, not a cosmetic-ingredient one, so it isn't a like-for-like comparison to toothpaste use. Even so, several brands, including ApaCare, have moved away from it as a precaution.

Microplastics

Some toothpastes use microplastic particles for texture or mild polishing. These don't break down and there's ongoing environmental concern about microplastics entering waterways. ApaCare's formulas are microplastic-free.

Abrasiveness (RDA)

RDA (relative dentin abrasivity) measures how abrasive a toothpaste is on enamel. A high RDA can wear enamel down over time with regular brushing; ApaCare's toothpaste is formulated to RDA 40, within the range considered gentle enough for daily use.

What to look for instead

Hydroxyapatite

The same mineral your enamel is made of, supporting remineralisation of the tooth surface. More in our remineralisation guide.

Fluoride at 1450ppm.

The ingredient NHS guidance recommends as the everyday baseline for reducing tooth decay.

Xylitol.

Helps reduce the bacteria linked to tooth decay.

No SLS, titanium dioxide or microplastics.

ApaCare's Toothpaste is developed in Germany to these standards, and is vegan, SLS-free, titanium-dioxide-free and microplastic-free.

FAQs

Is SLS bad for your teeth?

SLS itself isn't linked to tooth damage, but it can irritate the mouths of people prone to mouth ulcers or sensitivity to it. If that's you, an SLS-free toothpaste is worth trying.

Is titanium dioxide banned in toothpaste?

No, the 2022 EU ruling applies to titanium dioxide as a food additive, not as a cosmetic ingredient. Some brands, including ApaCare, have removed it as a precaution rather than a regulatory requirement.

What ingredients should I avoid in toothpaste?

As a general guide: SLS if you're prone to mouth ulcers, titanium dioxide and microplastics if you'd rather avoid them on precautionary grounds, and toothpaste with a high RDA if you're concerned about long-term enamel wear.