"I can't use the majority of the mint flavored brands of toothpaste made for adults, because my mouth is very sensitive to the strong mint flavor. If I do use it, I don't brush long enough and my oral hygiene suffers. I can't afford this because I am diabetic and the health of our teeth and gums is related to our risk of heart disease. To solve the problem, I use either children's brands which have milder flavors, like fruit and bubble gum, or natural toothpaste brands which have milder mint flavors as well as alternative flavors.
The natural market has some very interesting products available for oral care. I have tried quite a few, and one that I enjoyed was Dr. Sharp's strawberry cream flavored toothpaste, which is made for children. This is a fluoride free toothpaste, which may not please a lot of dentists. There are some who say that we get enough fluoride in our fluoridated drinking water, so extra is not needed and may even be toxic. I am not sure where I stand on this, but I do believe that I get enough from using various types of products, so I generally don't mind if a paste does not include the ingredient. This natural product is also free of the detergent used in most toothpastes to make it foam, known as sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS.
When you see a product advertise as being "sulfate-free" this (and a few other sulfates) is what they are talking about. In some people, SLS causes a reaction when it is included in toothpaste and can even cause mouth sores. I have never had a reaction to SLS, but I do not think it is necessary for a product to foam for it to work, especially toothpaste. It can be a little difficult to get used to not having foam, since we are accustomed to it in mainstream brands, but I am ok with it. The Dr. Sharp paste is cruelty free and not tested on animals. It has no added color, and uses stevia as a sweetener instead of saccharin or other artificial products. What it contains is a mix of glycerin, silica, baking soda, sage extract, licorice extract, cellulose gum and several other substances for cleaning and texture.
When I saw that licorice was one of the ingredients, I was a little concerned that it would taste like licorice, but fortunately, it does not. It has a very mild, not overly sweet strawberry flavor. Although the paste itself looks a bit anemic in comparison to the bright and sparkly pastes you can get at any mass merchandiser, it does a very good job of cleaning the teeth, and without causing the burning associated with strong mint pastes. The silica removes stains, and the product leaves your mouth feeling fresh and clean.
If you have a problem with strong mint flavors, and can handle the lack of foaming, this is a good alternative that is more natural and will not expose you to chemicals you do not need."
--Reviewabit (Online)
http://www.reviewstream.com/reviews/?p=151064
“The flavors of Dr. Sharp's products lead to increased oral hygiene compliance with our patients who are impressed with their non toxic ingredients AND appealing taste!”
-Tammy DeGregorio, DMD, IAOMT-
“This [Strawberry Cream Kids Toothpaste] is an amazing product that my daughter loves! I am not worried if she swallows the toothpaste or brushes without my supervision.”
-Maria.
"You have two new fans for the kids product. Both my grandchildren (he, 8, she, 4) said it was the greatest toothpaste they had EVER tasted!!!!"
-Brian (Boca Raton, FL).
"Getting my 3-year-old daughter Ava to get her to brush her teeth is a feat but now, she actually looks forward to it thanks to the yummy flavors Dr. Sharp offers for tots."
-Maria- (Miami, FL).
"This is a natural flouride-free toothpaste, with a refreshing flavor and gentle no-lather formula. The amount of artificial colors, flavors and chemicals like SLS in the average toothpaste are concerning, and it's great to see something like this on the market. Definitely recommended."
-Kayelle-
"These vegan toothpastes were delightful (I try to be vegan 98% of my waking day) and they actually whitened my pearly browns a shade within a week, without having the harsh and stinging mint sensation that some people love to hate."
-Charu- (Weehawken, NJ)
"I'm glad to find a more natural alternative for my family. I love that their toothpaste doesn't contain synthetic colors, flavors or alcohol. My favorite is the Green Tea Whitening Toothpaste and my son's favorite is the Strawberry Cream Kids Toothpaste."
-Hil'Lesha- (Newburgh, IN)
"The children have loved the strawberry flavored kid's toothpaste. As most of you know, we have seven children to give it a passing or failing grade and this tube of toothpaste, with the cute little monkey, passed with flying colors according to our crew. They like is so much that they have even asked if we could use it from now on. That says a lot. My husband and I have really liked the mint toothpaste. I think I like the mint better than the green tea, but both are comparable to brand name toothpastes."
-Theresa- (Island lake, IL)
"These vegan toothpastes were delightful (I try to be vegan 98% of my waking day) and they actually whitened my pearly browns a shade within a week, without having the harsh and stinging mint sensation that some people love to hate."
-Whitney- (Denver, CO)
"I love the anise flavor of your toothpaste, I have given it as a gift for friends."
- Julie- (USA)
"My little girl has been using this toothpaste since we found it, she loves the flavor, and a little goes a long way. I also don't have to worry about her swallowing any because it is not harmful to her, thanks Dr Sharp!!
-Tiffany- (Co-Owner of Karmafarmonline)
"Your products are great. I have been recommending fluoride-free products to those who will listen with concern! Your specials make it easier to purchase a necessary product at a fair price. Thank you!"
-Nick- (New York, NY)
"We like your products. Anything fluoride-free is amazing! We have used two types of toothpaste so far and love them both. The mint one and the kids one. We only discovered you a month ago. You were the first dental products that we found that were fluoride-free. Thanks for not being mainstream!"
- Maren - (Boston, MA)
"I like the quality and the benefits of using both the mouthwash and the toothpaste."
-Carlos- (Miami, FL)
“I LOVE the Green Tea toothpaste! I also love that it has no fluoride. It is hard to find adult toothpastes without fluoride anymore.”
-Krista- (Spokane, WA)
“Love the toothpaste and the packaging/design is great and really supports the price point."
-Lauren- (New York, NY)
