Turby and John

Oral hygiene is no laughing matter, and that’s why I’m always hunting for the perfect toothpaste. In the past few years, I’ve tried, loved, and hated several different brands. My most recent purchase was a cinnamon-flavored toothpaste called Thera Neem Herbal Neem Toothpaste. It had both its high and low points.

Ingredients- (provided at iherb.com)- “Calcium carbonate, aqua, sorbitol, glycerine, sodium lauroyl glutamate (derived from naturally occurring amino acid), xylitol, xanthan gum, guar gum (cyamopsis tetragonoloba), potassium sorbate, silica, supercritical extracts of grapeseed (vitis vinifera), clove bud* (eugenia caryophyllus), neem* (azadirachta indica) leaf and bark, cardamom* (elettaria cardamomum), star anise* (Illicium verum), cinnamon bark* (cinnamomum zeylenicum), licorice* (glycyrrhiza glabra), ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
*Certified organic”

This product earns a hazard score of three on the Cosmetic Safety Database, but none of the product’s ingredients are linked to cancer or reproductive toxicity. Phew, that’s a relief!

Product Description (also provided at iherb.com)- “Great Taste! Leaves teeth white, mouth fresh, healthy and clean. Neem has been traditionally used in India for oral health care. Commonly known in India as the toothbrush tree, Neem twigs are frequently used to clean the teeth. Modern science has validated the traditional use of Neem to support healthy teeth and gums.”

Price- $6-$8 for for 4.23 ounces

But, like many of the products that I’ve been reviewing lately, I got it for 40% off at a going out of business sale.

Performance- If you like cinnamon, then you’ll find the scent and taste of this product to be pretty pleasant. I like cinnamon just fine, but that’s not where my concerns with this product lie. I honestly don’t feel like it freshens my breath AT ALL. I enjoy mouth wash, but I don’t like feeling obligated to use it after brushing my teeth. Mouthwash is a sometimes treat for me. Shouldn’t flossing and then brushing my teeth and tongue be enough on its own?

Scent- I guess I already covered this bit. It smells like straight up cinnamon. Anyone who has ever taken the cinnamon challenge might be sickened by the scent (my friend Brittany, for example).

Rating- I’m gonna have to say 5. The ingredients are pretty solid, but what good is a toothpaste that doesn’t make my breath smell good? I’ve been brushing my teeth with this stuff, and then using Kirby’s Burt’s Bees Toothpaste to brush my tongue. The latter has fluoride, but at least it gets the job done.

A nice, natural toothpaste that I’ve had the best results with so far is Burt’s Bees Fluoride-Free Whitening Toothpaste. For what it’s worth, it’s cheaper, more effective, and it has the same hazard score as the Cinnamon Herbal Neem Toothpaste.

Filed under: health and beauty, natural products, product review
Tags: burt's bees, cinnamon, fresh breath, good ingredients, natural health and beauty, oral hygiene, product review