Dentists Say Toothpaste Tablets Are Legit If They Have These Ingredients (2024)

If you’ve ever thrown away a tube of toothpaste in the airport security line, or had to clean out leaked paste from the bottom of your cosmetics bag (#same), you may benefit from a more travel-friendly option. Enter: toothpaste tablets.

These bite-sized tabs are practical, environmentally friendly, *and* look cute sitting on your bathroom counter. But since this modern form of toothpaste is relatively new to the market, and not yet approved by the American Dental Association as a whole due to a lack of clinical trial data, it’s natural to wonder if they are the best option for taking care of your pearly whites. Here, our top questions about the tabs answered by dental pros. Plus, 11 of the best options to consider.

What are toothpaste tablets?

Simply put, toothpaste tablets are made with similar ingredients to traditional paste, sans water, then pressed into a pill-like shape, says Matthew Reck, DDS, senior dentist of Chikaming Dental Center in Sawyer, Michigan. “Toothpaste has all the ingredients to foam in your mouth on its own and doesn’t need your spit [because it contains water], but the tablets require saliva in order to foam.” That being said, if you have dry mouth, you may want to stick with traditional paste since the tablets rely on saliva to lather and cover the entire surface area of your mouth, he explains.

What are the benefits of toothpaste tablets?

In addition to being easier to travel with, toothpaste tablets can be more sustainable since most are sold in glass jars or recyclable aluminum bottles. And considering 1.5 billion traditional toothpaste tubes are discarded worldwide every year (and most end up in landfills), tablets are the more environmentally-minded alternative, says Lori Risser, DDS, a dentist at Erskine Family Dentistry in South Bend, Indiana.

Can tablets whiten your teeth?

You might be looking to show off a sparkling smile, but toothpaste tablets may not deliver immediate whitening results. “Traditional whitening paste usually contains liquid hydrogen peroxide to chemically lighten your teeth, but tablets do not,” says Dr. Reck. However, some tablets contain sodium bicarbonate (a.k.a baking soda) which can act as a mild surface stain remover to whiten acid-based stains like coffee, tea, and red wine, he explains. “Nano-hydroxyapatite also repairs enamel, so it can subtly lighten your teeth, but it may take three to four months to see a difference,” he adds.

If you are looking for immediate whitening action, it’s best to visit your dentist, says Dr. Risser. “Dentist-dispensed whitening gel and in-office whitening procedures are the best way to whiten your teeth so the doctor can monitor sensitivity or any issues while whitening.”

Can toothpaste tablets protect against cavities?

Tablets that contain fluoride, nano-hydroxyapatite, and/or xylitol can prevent cavities, says Dr. Reck. Fluoride has antimicrobial properties and protects against cavities by binding to the tooth and creating a barrier on the surface, while nano-hydroxyapatite strengthens the tooth and repairs enamel by replacing missing minerals, he explains. Many tablets also contain xylitol, a natural anti-plaque ingredient that decreases the amount of decay-causing bacteria in your mouth, he adds.

So, in order for tablets to prevent cavities, you need to read the ingredients and check for fluoride, nano-hydroxyapatite, or xylitol.

Side note: Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs, so if your pup is known to jump on the counter, make sure you keep all tabs in a safe spot, stresses Dr. Risser.

Can tablets freshen your breath?

Whether you use paste or tablets, the goal for a healthy mouth and fresh breath is to flush out the bacteria. This means brushing for at least two minutes, routinely flossing, and using tablets that contain fluoride and/or xylitol which decrease the bacteria that cause bad breath, explains Dr. Risser. And while a lot of tablets also contain essential oils like peppermint or spearmint to give a “fresh mouth” feeling, these just add flavor to mask bad breath and do not necessarily kill bacteria.

Convinced? These are the 11 best toothpaste tablets to try right now, according to dentists:

Made with menthol, natural peppermint flavor, nano-hydroxyapatite, and no harsh chemicals, preservatives, or artificial flavors, these toothpaste bits are an easy and travel-friendly way to brush your teeth, says Dr. Reck. “The added xylitol helps fight cavities and promote gum health by warding off bacteria, and the sodium bicarbonate levels out the pH in your mouth and works on stain removal.”

Dr. Risser strongly encourages products with fluoride, so Unpaste tablets are a great option, she says. Each tab also contains cellulose to gently polish your teeth and minimize plaque buildup. Win-win!

As one of the top dentist-approved toothpaste brands, these bites get the thumbs up. “It’s hard not to put this at the top since Colgate knows what they are doing, and the fluoride concentration [in the tablets] helps protect against cavities similar to the traditional tube paste,” says Dr. Reck.

Huppy tablets are known for sustainable packaging along with safe ingredients like sodium bicarbonate, aloe vera, and peppermint oil (for that extra minty flavor). Plus, since these bites contain nano-hydroxyapatite and xylitol, they can help restore enamel and kill unwelcome bacteria, explains Dr. Risser.

Even though these tablets do not contain fluoride, they do have xylitol to work against bacteria and nano-hydroxyapatite to prevent cavities, says Dr. Reck. The bites also come in four flavors: bubble gum, cinnamon, peppermint, and vanilla mint.

No plastic, no waste, no GMO, no nonsense! These minty tablets are packed with fluoride to ward off tooth decay and contain calcium carbonate to remove plaque and surface stains, says Dr. Reck.

If you’re looking for a more natural product that still protects tooth enamel and gently polishes your teeth, Good Organics has got you covered. Reviews also boast that the tablets foam nicely and have a refreshing minty taste.

These anti-cavity toothpaste tabs are a great solution for a zero-waste lifestyle, says Dr. Reck. Not only are they packaged in an adorable, eco-friendly, paper bag, but instead of dyes and artificial sweeteners, each tablet contains fresh yuja, an East Asian citrus with a subtle minty taste.

Kaylaan makes fluoride and fluoride-free tablets. Each tab also contains baking soda for surface stain removal. Plus, the cute and earth-friendly packaging is convenient to throw in your purse, gym bag, or suitcase for easy access.

“Mintly uses all natural ingredients and contains fluoride to prevent cavities and decay,” says Dr. Reck. Each $32 glass jar contains 240 vegan, sulfate- and paraben-free tablets, so it’s a worthy investment. (According to our math, that’s a four-month supply if you’re brushing twice a day!)

Even though these tablets do not contain fluoride or xylitol, the nano-hydroxyapatite has anti-cavity properties and will help whiten your teeth, says Dr. Reck. Chomp also gets extra points in sustainability because each bottle is made with recyclable aluminum.