Toothpaste tablets, also called ‘tooth tabs,' are little tablets that you chew and let mix with your saliva to form a paste — similar to traditional toothpaste. So why use tablets instead of normal paste?
There are a few reasons, and some of them are pretty good. The most common reason people opt for tablets instead of paste that comes in a tube is to help reduce the amount of plastic generated by toothpaste tubes.
In this article, we'll talk all about toothpaste tablets, including:
- How to use them
- Eco-friendly options
- How to make your own
We'll also do a roundup of the 5 best toothpaste tablets that you can purchase in 2024.
Brand | Best for | Features | Get now |
  Colgate | Toothpaste tablets with fluoride |
| |
  Hello | Toothpaste tablets without fluoride |
| |
  Chewtab | Whitening toothpaste tablets |
|
In This Article
What are toothpaste tablets?
Toothpaste tablets clean your teeth just like normal toothpaste. In fact, they are made from toothpaste, but the water is removed and they are formed into little pill shapes.
They contain many of the same ingredients as standard toothpaste, but some brands contain fewer preservatives because since they are dry, they don't run the risk of turning into a breeding ground for bacteria.
How to use toothpaste tablets
Tablets are easy to use — all you have to do is:
- Place 1 tablet in your mouth
- Chew it and mix it up with your saliva until a paste forms
- Wet your toothbrush with water, and then brush like you normally would for 2 minutes
There may be a grittier texture with tablets than with toothpaste, but just rinse your mouth an extra time to remove any leftover paste.
Do this twice per day just as you would with normal toothpaste.
Why use them instead of toothpaste?
There are multiple reasons why you might want to use tablets instead of regular toothpaste. Let's look at the most common now:
- Eco-friendly: Toothpaste comes in plastic tubes that end up in landfills, but tablets tend to come in recyclable glass and tin containers, or compostable envelopes.
- Natural ingredients: More tablet brands tend to include natural ingredients and fewer preservatives. It's also easier to find tablets that are vegan and cruelty-free.
- Fluoride options: Most dentists recommend using fluoride in toothpaste, because it really can't be beat when it comes to fighting cavities and decay, and keeping your enamel strong. So if you want to switch to tablets but you don't want to give up fluoride, chances are you'll be able to find an option that works for you.
- Great for traveling: Tablets tend to come in compact packaging, making it easy to take them on the go.
Best 3 toothpaste tablets in 2024
Now let's have a look at our top 3 picks based on your criteria.
Colgate Anywhere — Best with fluoride
Colgate Anywhere Travel tablets are made with fluoride and come in an eco-friendly glass jar.
You get 60 toothpaste tablets with fluoride in each jar, costing around $13. These tablets will help protect your teeth from cavities, and in fact, during tests, these tablets were shown to allow fluoride absorption similar to regular tube toothpaste.
The plastic-free glass jar is eco-friendly, recyclable, and refillable. The tablets themselves are vegan and SLS-free.
The fresh mint flavor is no different than normal toothpaste, and a child-proof lid will keep the little ones out.
Hello tablets — Best fluoride-free
These fluoride-free tabs are designed with a big emphasis on natural ingredients. They are made with tea tree oil, coconut oil, and real farm-grown peppermint.
They have no artificial sweeteners or artificial flavors. They also don't have fluoride, peroxide, dyes, SLS sulfates, or gluten.
It practically goes without saying that these tablets are vegan and have never been tested on animals. What's more, they're made in the US.
You get 60 tablets per canister for under $10. The container they come in is plastic-free and made from tin.
Chewtab Advanced Whitening tablets — Best whitening
These tablets are fluoride-free, but they contain nano-hydroxyapatite (PAP) which has been shown to be an effective replacement for fluoride. PAP doesn't harm tooth enamel, and causes no sensitivity, making these ideal toothpaste tablets for sensitive teeth.
PAP is also a natural teeth whitener and remineralizes enamel, all at once. These tablets contain xylitol to reduce plaque and acid.
Each recyclable glass bottle comes with 60 tablets and costs around $10.
If you're interested in learning more about whitening teeth and remineralizing enamel with PAP, you can read all about it in our full guide here.
DIY toothpaste tablets
You can make your own natural tablets at home, usually with a combination of baking soda, calcium carbonate, a sweetener like stevia, and essential oils.
Check out the video below to learn how to make your own DIY toothpaste tablets in a few simple steps.
Conclusion
Toothpaste tablets are like little pills that you chew on. They dissolve in your mouth and mix with your saliva to form a paste. You can brush your teeth with tablets just as you normally would with typical toothpaste.
You may want to try toothpaste in tablet form if you are interested in a more eco-friendly oral hygiene routine. That's because toothpaste tubes are typically thrown away and head to landfills, whereas tablets come in recyclable and reusable glass or tin packaging. Some even come in compostable pouches.
If you're really feeling crafty, you can even make your own tablets at home.
FAQs
How do you use a toothpaste tab?
Using a toothpaste tablet is easy! Just place it in your mouth, chew it, and let it form a paste with your saliva, and then brush your teeth like you normally would, twice per day.
Do they make waterless toothpaste?
Toothpaste tablets are a type of waterless toothpaste. When you chew on them, they crumble and dissolve and form a paste with your saliva. You do typically need to rinse your mouth after.
How do you make toothpaste pills?
You can make toothpaste by mixing a combination of calcium carbonate, bentonite clay, baking soda, stevia, and essential oils. Find a tutorial on youtube, or play around with the quantities.
Science Direct: A bio-safety tooth-whitening composite gels with novel phthalimide peroxy caproic acid. Consulted 25th July 2022.