Owned by Colgate-Palmolive, hello is a popular oral care brand that sells a wide variety of dental care products like toothpaste, mouthwash, toothpaste tablet, and toothbrush.
The brand sells many types of toothpaste, most of which are effective at preventing plaque buildup and cavity formation in the teeth. There is one particular type of hello toothpaste with activated charcoal which is mildly abrasive to teeth and can erode the enamel and make the teeth prone to cavities.
If you use the charcoal toothpaste once or twice a month, then you are good to go. As far as the other pastes are concerned, they are pretty safe to use and teeth-friendly.
Want to know more about hello toothpaste? Keep on reading.
Table of Contents
What are the ingredients in hello toothpaste?
First of all, hello has created a very impressive range of toothpaste catering to the many dental needs of its vast customer base. It also has a separate Kids toothpaste range. You will find the following pastes in that range:
- Unicorn toothpaste with fluoride
- Dragon dazzle toothpaste
- Juicy grape fluoride toothpaste
- Watermelon toothpaste
- Strawberry toothpaste
There is also a hello Toddler Training Bundle that consists of an Apple Flavor training toothpaste along with a BPA-free toothbrush.
Apart from these kinds of toothpaste, you will find a wide variety of products suited to the dental needs of adult customers. They are:
- Naturally whitening toothpaste
- Charcoal whitening with fluoride
- Charcoal whitening without fluoride
- Charcoal + matcha
- Sensitivity relief + whitening toothpaste
- Antiplaque and whitening
- Good morning toothpaste
- Good night toothpaste
- Brightening booster with white turmeric
- Super fresh + whitening fluoride-free toothpaste
- Charcoal + hemp seed oil toothpaste
In general, the three most common ingredients in toothpaste are abrasives, fluoride, and detergents.
Abrasives like aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate help remove plaque from teeth. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces plaque formation. Detergents like SLS are added as a foaming agent which improves the cleaning function of the toothpaste.
Let’s find out which of these common ingredients are present in hello toothpaste.
Fluoride
As you have already understood from the names, some of the hello toothpaste is fluoride-free while others contain fluoride. The hello toothpaste that contains fluoride include
- Unicorn kids’
- Kids’ dragon dazzle
- Kids’ juicy grape
- Strawberry
- Naturally whitening
- Charcoal whitening
- Charcoal + matcha
- Sensitivity relief
While fluoride in small quantities (as in toothpaste) is harmless, they are not meant to be ingested. So, if you want to go with fluoride-free toothpaste, then these are some hello toothpaste products you can choose
- Kids’ watermelon
- Charcoal whitening fluoride-free
- Antiplaque and whitening
- Good morning
- Good night
- Brightening booster with white turmeric
- Super fresh + whitening fluoride-free
- Charcoal + hemp seed oil
SLS
SLS stands for sodium lauryl sulfate. It is a chemical compound that acts as a foaming agent in many personal care products like shampoos, body washes, and toothpaste.
Hello asserts on its website that all its toothpaste is free of SLS. Some people experience irritation or develop an allergic reaction by using SLS-containing toothpaste. Keeping this in mind, hello has crafted its toothpaste without this chemical.
Instead, hello uses naturally-derived SLS alternatives like Cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl glutamate.
Alcohol
The hello toothpaste contains sorbitol which is a type of sugar alcohol. Sorbitol is added to the toothpaste to maintain freshness and to lock in moisture. It will also fight against bacteria and help in preventing plaque buildup.
The other two sugar alcohols present in hello toothpaste – xylitol and erythritol also prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth and prevents teeth decay.
Xylitol
As already explained in the previous section, hello toothpaste contains xylitol. This sugar alcohol is not bad for your teeth. It prevents cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to your teeth, and thus prevents plaque buildup in teeth.
Palm oil
Yes, hello is a vegan brand and so it uses many plant-derived ingredients in its toothpaste. One of those “plant-based pals” is palm oil. For instance, hello uses lauryl glucoside made from non-GMO corn, coconut, or palm oil. Lauryl glucoside is another vegan alternative to SLS.
Stevia
Stevia is another vegan ingredient used by hello in its toothpaste. Stevia is a natural, zero-calorie sweetener that does not promote cavity formation. Hello proudly asserts that the stevia it uses is sustainably sourced.
Carrageenan
No, hello does not use Carrageenan in its toothpaste. Carrageenan (also known as Irish moss) is widely used in the food industry as a thickener. Many toothpaste brands also contain this ingredient.
Hello explains that there are certain reports of Carrageenan increasing digestive problems in humans and animals. So, despite Carrageenan being FDA-approved, hello has decided to make its toothpaste thick without Carrageenan. It instead uses xanthan gum.
Pork
Does hello toothpaste contain pork? Debatable. Glycerin, a commonly used preservative in toothpaste, can be derived from both plant and animal sources. The plant source is mostly soybean, while animal sources can be beef or pork fat. So, glycerin is a gray area when it comes to being vegan or non-vegan.
Usually, companies that use plant-derived glycerin, list it as vegetable glycerin. Hello however does not list glycerin as vegetable glycerin in case of all its toothpaste.
In the case of the Charcoal and Antiplaque toothpaste, vegetable glycerin is listed. While in Naturally whitening and Sensitivity relief, only glycerin is written. So, it is best to check what is written in the ingredients list of the specific hello toothpaste you are using.
Sugar
No. hello toothpaste does not contain sugar. Instead, hello uses xylitol as a sweetener in its pastes. Xylitol boosts saliva production in the mouth which prevents harmful bacteria from sticking to teeth. Also, unlike sugar, xylitol does not convert to acid, and so does not damage the teeth.
Gluten
All hello toothpastes are completely devoid of any sources of gluten. Gluten is often used in toothpaste as a thickener. Hello has replaced gluten with xanthan gum.
Baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate is not listed as an ingredient in any of the hello toothpastes. Most toothpaste brands use sodium bicarbonate which helps in teeth whitening, prevents tooth decay, cavity formation, and gum disease.
Microplastics
You can find out if your hello toothpaste contains microplastics or not by looking at the texture of the paste. If it is sparkly and glittering, then there is a high probability it contains some amount of microplastics.
Now the Unicorn Kids Toothpaste with Fluoride has a certain glittery texture, which might be due to the presence of microplastic particles. If you are concerned, you can steer clear of this particular hello toothpaste. The others look fine.
Is hello charcoal toothpaste good for your teeth?
Well, there are reports of two lawsuits having been filed against hello for their charcoal toothpaste which says otherwise. Both these lawsuits were filed in the last two years.
Hello claims that its charcoal toothpaste naturally whitens teeth and removes bad mouth odor. However, the lawsuits report that the charcoal toothpaste caused serious dental problems including enamel damage, cavities, stains, and gum disease.
Report of the 2020 lawsuit states that when the client went to her doctor, the latter pointed out that she had more cavities than before. She had been using hello charcoal toothpaste for 3 years.
However, there are hundreds of customer reviews on the web that claim otherwise. Customers have jubilantly asserted that hello charcoal toothpaste indeed brightened their teeth even after a single use!
While we cannot be sure, it should be pointed out that hello charcoal toothpaste whitens teeth and gives visible results after a few uses, but the long-term effects of this toothpaste may not be positive. There are scientific reports which assert that using charcoal toothpaste can seriously damage teeth enamel and increase cavities.
Is hello toothpaste good for sensitive teeth?
Hello has a specific toothpaste that caters to the dental needs of people with sensitive teeth. Hello Sensitivity relief fluoride toothpaste is ADA approved. It contains fluoride, aloe vera gel, coconut oil, and mint all of which not only clean teeth, but also leave a fresh fragrance after brushing.
Most importantly, hello Sensitivity relief fluoride toothpaste contains an FDA-approved permissible amount of potassium nitrate which desensitizes tooth nerve endings and reduces tooth sensitivity.
There are a bunch of customer reviews on the internet that claim that hello Sensitivity relief toothpaste relieves teeth sensitivity while protecting the enamel and preventing cavities.
ALSO READ: Can you use Sensodyne toothpaste every day?
Is hello toothpaste good for braces?
Hello claims that their toothpaste is safe to be used by people with braces. None of the ingredients in their pastes can cause any damage to dental or orthodontic hardware.
Hello however recommends its customers to check with their dentists before using any of their toothpastes while wearing braces.
Is hello charcoal toothpaste enamel-safe?
As already pointed out, any type of charcoal toothpaste is not good for your enamel, as activated charcoal is abrasive. It erodes the enamel and makes the teeth prone to cavities. So, hello charcoal toothpaste also is not enamel-safe.
Is hello toothpaste safe for babies?
Hello has a toothpaste made specifically for toddlers – the Apple flavor toddler training toothpaste. Although it is meant for babies, it is suitable for children of all ages, and it is okay if the kid accidentally swallows the toothpaste.
Is hello toothpaste safe for pregnancy?
Hello states that Sensitivity relief fluoride toothpaste and all fluoride-free toothpastes should be avoided during pregnancy as they contain aloe vera gel. They also suggest that customers should consult a doctor and select which hello toothpaste to use during pregnancy.
Is hello toothpaste safe for dogs?
Hello clearly asserts on its website that “while they love our furry friends”, the toothpastes are strictly meant for humans. So, hello toothpastes are not safe for dogs.
Is hello toothpaste safe to swallow?
It is best if you do not swallow hello toothpaste (or any toothpaste). Ingesting small quantities of your hello toothpaste should be fine. However, you are likely to experience stomach pain if you happen to ingest larger volumes. This is especially true with hello toothpaste that contains fluoride. These are riskier and can even cause intestinal blockage.
Does hello toothpaste whiten teeth?
Yes. Hello has created a bunch of toothpastes that whiten teeth, such as,
- Naturally whitening toothpaste
- Charcoal whitening with fluoride
- Sensitivity relief + whitening toothpaste
- Charcoal whitening without fluoride
- Super fresh + whitening fluoride-free toothpaste
- Antiplaque and whitening
These toothpastes either contain calcium carbonate, activated charcoal, or hydrated silica, all of which whitens teeth by gently removing the surface stains. They also work to freshen your breath.
How long does it take for hello toothpaste to whiten teeth?
Some people have reported seeing visible results after their first use. However, you are expected to see whiter teeth within the first 10 days of brushing.
Does hello toothpaste prevent cavities?
Yes. Hello uses fluoride and a bunch of vegan ingredients like xylitol, erythritol, stevia that prevent tartar buildup and cavity formation.
Hello asserts on its website that its fluoride toothpastes have been tested by both ADA and third-party labs which reported hello fluoride toothpastes as being effective in preventing cavities.
Does hello toothpaste expire?
Yes, hello toothpaste has a shelf life of two years from its date of manufacture.
However, if you use the toothpaste beyond its expiry date, it will not be harmful. Only the efficacy of the product reduces, as the primary active ingredient – fluoride may degrade and become less effective at preventing cavities over time.
References:
- https://www.hello-products.com/shop/toothpaste/
- https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/880728-Hello_Naturally_Friendly_Antiplaque__Whitening_Fluoride_Free_Toothpaste_Natural_Peppermint/
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