The best natural toothpaste you can buy

Don't let the color of Schmidt's Activated Charcoal Tooth and Mouth Paste fool you. This is an excellent whitening toothpaste that tastes minty fresh.

Don't be alarmed: Schmidt's Activated Charcoal Tooth and Mouth Paste comes out of the tube a disconcerting shade of dark gray, but it's worth overlooking the initial shock because of the whitening benefits. It is part of a lineup of natural toothpaste from Schmidt, which is known for its natural deodorants. Of the Schmidt's natural toothpaste flavors I tested, my favorite is the Activated Charcoal.

I get bad stains on my teeth, which are partially due to the texture of my tooth enamel and partially due to my insistence that water and coffee are interchangeable substances. This toothpaste lessened the impact of those stains so much that my mom noticed without me even mentioning it, which is pretty much the highest compliment I can give it.

My teeth stayed even noticeably lighter after I moved on to using a formula without the activated charcoal. Schmidt's Activated Charcoal Tooth and Mouth Paste is formulated with COQ10, vitamin E, and goji berry and pomegranate extract, and is vegan and cruelty-free.

Fast Company writer Rina Raphael gave it a mostly positive assessment, though she was initially put off by the grey color of the activated charcoal toothpaste. Best Products listed it as one of the activated charcoal toothpastes you should buy.

Pros: Nice minty flavor, whitening activated charcoal, cute packaging

Cons: Toothpaste is dark gray and will stain your sink if you don't rinse thoroughly after brushing

Buy Schmidt's Activated Charcoal Tooth and Mouth Paste at Target for $4.99

Got sensitive teeth? Hello Sensitivity Relief Fluoride Toothpaste is packed with soothing ingredients and lacking in dye, artificial flavor, parabens, and SLS.

Toothpaste for sensitive teeth doesn't tend to inspire medicine cabinet envy — the packaging is often clinical and unattractive. But Hello Sensitivity Relief Fluoride Toothpaste is the exception. The metallic pink tube looks great next to all your fancy face creams, while the formula delivers soothing ingredients and a fresh, minty taste.

There's so much to love about Hello Sensitivity Relief that it's hard to know where to start. It has all the great benefits you get from the brand's other formulas, like teeth-whitening and cavity-fighting, plus the addition of desensitizing ingredients like aloe vera, xylitol, and coconut oil (commonly used in a dental care technique called oil pulling).

Then, there are all the things this toothpaste doesn't have: parabens, artificial dyes or flavors, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), gluten, preservatives, etc. Additionally, all Hello products are cruelty-free, vegan, and packaged in boxes "made from 100% recycled paperboard and printed with soy inks."

Allure named Hello Sensitivity Relief as a great pick in an article on natural toothpaste, and it has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon based on more than 500 customer reviews.

Pros: Contains soothing and moisturizing ingredients for sensitive teeth, cruelty-free, comes in recycled packaging, no SLS, contains fluoride

Cons: Contains fluoride

Buy Hello Sensitivity Relief Fluoride Toothpaste on Amazon for $5.22

If you really want to avoid fluoride, try Tom's of Maine Antiplaque and Whitening Fluoride-Free Toothpaste, which uses naturally derived silicas to whiten teeth and comes in a variety of great flavors.

While most experts agree that fluoride is safe in small doses — and recommend for its teeth-protection properties — Tom's of Maine Antiplaque and Whitening Fluoride-Free Toothpaste is a good option if you prefer to avoid the ingredient.

This toothpaste helps brighten your smile and prevents plaque buildup thanks to naturally sourced ingredients like zinc citrate and hydrated silica. There's also a comprehensive breakdown on the Tom's of Maine website that shows you exactly what's included in the toothpaste, why it's there, and how it was sourced.

Tom's of Maine toothpastes are highly recommended by experts and reviewers, including us — we love it as a great natural option for people with sensitive teeth. Good Housekeeping listed the entire brand among some of the best natural toothpastes on the market, and Best Products named the Antiplaque and Whitening Fluoride-Free formula the "Best Organic Toothpaste." The product has more than 2,600 Amazon reviews and a 4.4 rating.

Pros: Great taste, fluoride-free, antiplaque and whitening properties

Cons: Contains SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) which some people prefer to avoid, fluoride-free (could be a pro or a con, depending on preference)

Buy Tom's of Maine Antiplaque and Whitening Fluoride-Free Toothpaste on Amazon starting at $7.39

For a natural toothpaste that kids will love, consider Hello Kids Fluoride-Free Natural Watermelon Toothpaste.

It's hard enough for me to make myself brush my teeth after a long day, so I can only imagine what that experience is like with children. A lot of natural toothpastes are known for tasting a little, well, different, but Hello Kids Fluoride-Free Natural Watermelon Toothpaste's fruity flavor is bound to be youngster-approved.

Parents, on the other hand, will love that it's formulated without "dyes, sls/sulfates, artificial sweeteners/flavors, microbeads, triclosan and gluten," just like all of the Hello Oral Care toothpastes. This variety is sans fluoride, but the brand carries some kid-friendly options that do contain fluoride, in other flavors like "Bubblegum" and "Blue Raspberry."

Pros: Great taste, BPA-free packaging, cruelty-free and vegan, made without artificial ingredients like dyes and flavorings

Cons: Fluoride-free (but brand carries fluoride options if you prefer)

Buy Hello Kids Fluoride-Free Natural Watermelon Toothpaste on Amazon for $3.79

The best toothbrushes you can buy

There's plenty to be said for the classic manual toothbrush: It can't run out of batteries and it's compact, lightweight, and portable. The Oral-B Pro-Health All-in-One Soft Bristle Toothbrush is our top pick because its myriad bristle types and built-in tongue, cheek, and gum cleaners leave your whole mouth clean and fresh.

You might also like the Primal Life Organic Charcoal Infused Bamboo Toothbrush, the SmileMakers Pre-Pasted Disposable Toothbrushes, the Colgate Premier Extra Clean Toothbrushes, and the Fridababy SmileFrida Toddler Toothbrush.

The best toothpaste you can buy

Nobody likes going to the dentist, but if you take good care of your teeth between visits, the cleaning will go easier. We researched and tested many kinds of toothpaste to find the best ones you can buy. Sensodyne's Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste is our top pick because it whitens gently while building up tooth enamel to lessen sensitivity.

We've researched and tested many tubes of toothpaste to find the best ones you can buy. Whether you want an all-natural toothpaste, one with fluoride, one with charcoal, one with whitening powers, or one that rebuilds your enamel to reduce sensitivity, we have a toothpaste for you.

• Best overall: Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste
• Best for kids: Hello Oral Care Fluoride Toothpaste
• Best for fresh breath: Colgate Total Advanced Fresh Toothpaste
• Best for sensitive teeth: Sensodyne True White Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste
• Best all-natural toothpaste: Nature's Gate Natural Toothpaste
• Best for stain removal: Colgate Optic White Platinum Stain-Less White Toothpaste

The best electric toothbrushes you can buy

If you want clean teeth and healthy gums without breaking your budget, you can't go wrong with the highly effective Oral-B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush. You might also like:

• Best mid-priced electric toothbrush: Goby Electric Toothbrush
• Best electric toothbrush with replaceable battery: Quip Plastic Electric Toothbrush
• Best high-end electric toothbrush: Oral-B Pro 7500 Electric Toothbrush
• Best electric toothbrush for kids: Philips Sonicare for Kids
• Best flosser kit: Waterpik Complete Care Water Flosser and Sonic Toothbrush
• Best electric toothbrush for gums: Philips Sonicare 2 Series Plaque Control

The best teeth whitening kits you can buy

The best teeth whitening kits come with everything you need to whiten your teeth, are easy to use, and do not irritate your gums or teeth. The Active Wow Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder has all of these features, plus it's affordable, does not use harmful chemicals, and comes in different flavors.

You might prefer the Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips, the GLO Science Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Device, and the Miswak Club Natural Teeth Whitening Kit.

The best mouthwash you can buy

Used in tandem with brushing, flossing, and avoiding salt water taffy before bed, a good mouthwash can play a pivotal role in your oral health and hygiene regimen. Listerine Cool Mint Antiseptic Mouthwash is our top choice thanks to its ADA-accepted, clinically-proven ability to kill off germs that contribute to plaque buildup, bad breath, and gum disease.

You should also consider the Crest Scope Outlast Mouthwash, the CloSYS Gentle Mint Mouthwash, the Uncle Harry's Natural Products Miracle Mouthwash, and the ACT Anticavity Fluoride Rinse Mouthwash.

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