#toothpaste review

totally real point about the flavor... mints and bubblegums can be so bad that rock flavor is better

I've tried four of Grant's of Australia's toothpastes with varying degrees of success. They're definitely a brand I want to stick with because they're natural and most of their toothpastes are vegan as well. But not all of them are quite as friendly to my sensitive mouth.

The four toothpastes I've tried are: Mild Mint, Whitening (Peppermint), Strawberry Surprise, and Fresh Mint (with Fluoride). I've liked and finished tubes of two of these, one of them I will never use again, and the last is one I've just started using but think it will be my new permanent toothpaste.

Disclaimer: I'm not a dentist, you should see a qualified dentist for any dental advice.

What's a Sensitive Mouth?

Before I get into the toothpastes, I should tell you a bit about my mouth. If your mouth is nothing like mine then you might not find this post very helpful!

In general, toothpaste makes my mouth tingle. It can vary from just being a slight sensation to being quite intense, making a toothpaste unpleasant to use. Of course, some toothpastes are worse than others, and for most of my life I've thought it was normal to feel this way (maybe it is, but it doesn't mean you have to put up with it!)

Baking soda is also not my friend! I've had problems with baking soda in deodorants as well (it gives me a rash!), so it should have come as no surprise that it's a no go in my toothpaste as well.

So, that's a little about my sensitive mouth, on to the toothpastes!

Mild Mint Toothpaste

I started using Grant's of Australia's Mild Mint toothpaste about 6 years ago and I used it for quite a few years. It's a good toothpaste and I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to switch to a natural vegan toothpaste.

However, for me, it's not mild enough. While it doesn't make my mouth tingle the way regular toothpaste does (e.g. Colgate, Macleans), I've realised after using some of Grant's of Australia's other toothpastes that there are toothpastes out there that won't make my mouth tingle at all!

Whitening Toothpaste (with Peppermint)

At some point, I decided to try one of Grant's of Australia's whitening toothpastes. I liked Mild Mint so maybe this one would be good, too? It wasn't. In fact, I'd say it's the worst toothpaste I've ever used and I would never use it again.

Why do I have such an extreme opinion of this toothpaste? Well, it contains my enemy, baking soda! Now, if you don't have any problems with baking soda, then I'm sure this toothpaste is perfectly fine for you to use. But for my sensitive mouth it's a no go.

The first time I used this I noticed a little bit of blood when I rinsed my mouth. A fairly normal amount, maybe I'd cut my gum while flossing, or eaten too many hard sugary lollies or too much salty food and made my tongue bleed (I believe that's another example of how my mouth is quite sensitive).

The next time I used Grant's of Australia's whitening toothpastes I noticed even more blood! I was so confused, what had I done? Well, nothing but use the wrong toothpaste for me, it seems. So, I will never use a toothpaste with baking soda in it again because I have this rather extreme reaction to it with it making my mouth bleed, definitely not what you want when you're brushing your teeth.

Strawberry Surprise Kids Toothpaste

Grant's of Australia's Strawberry Surprise toothpaste is the first toothpaste I've tried that didn't make my mouth tingle! I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor, I LOVE strawberries, but something about it is a little off for me. Still, I used the whole tube, before switching back to Mild Mint.

Unfortunately, my grocery store stopped selling this toothpaste, I bought it because it was reduced to clear and I was tempted by the strawberry flavour.

I'd definitely recommend Grant's of Australia's Strawberry Surprise Kids toothpaste for anyone with a sensitive mouth looking for a natural vegan toothpaste.

I would happily use this toothpaste again, but alas, I also have sensitive teeth and my dentist recommended I use a toothpaste with fluoride in it.

Fresh Mint Toothpaste (with Fluoride)

This is Grant's of Australia's only fluoridated toothpaste and luckily for me, it gets along with my sensitive mouth and doesn't make it tingle!

I have been switching between a fluoride toothpaste sample my dentist gave me (it's Colgate) and Grant's of Australia's Fresh Mint toothpaste and the difference in how it makes my mouth feel is so obvious! While the Colgate has a higher concentration of fluoride, I'd much prefer to use Grant's of Australia's toothpaste.