What ingredient in common toothpastes' combat cavities and will this product provide that protection?

Hey Joe, Great question. Most "common" or mainstream toothpaste use fluoride as the primary active ingredient to combat tooth decay. Fluoride is simply a chemical that helps harden the enamel on your teeth, so that the bacteria in plaque have a harder time eating through the enamel, causing a cavity. The ADA (American Dental Association), states in their own literature that fluoride helps prevent about 30% of cavities....not 100% or 90%....30%....so the perceived benefit of fluoride has been exaggerated, but there still is some benefit there. The problem with fluoride is that it is a very strong chemical, and every time you brush your teeth, this chemical is absorbed through your gums and enters your bloodstream, making contact with the rest of your bodily organs. Every tube of fluoride toothpaste is required by law to have a warning label which reads "Contact Poison Control if more than brushing amount swallowed"....you wont find this warning label on Davids. Many consumers are making the personal health choice to avoid having another chemical enter their body, so have chosen to avoid fluoride due to the potential health risks to the rest of their body. With Davids, instead of using chemicals, we use a very finely crushed powdered limestone, which acts a a natural abrasive to help remove the plaque from your teeth....plaque is what causes cavities, so by removing the plaque, this aids in working to prevent cavities. As long as you brush your teeth regularly, and work to remove the plaque, you dont need to put another chemical into your body, to artificially harden the enamel on your teeth. Also, Davids uses xylitol which is a natural sweetener, but studies have also shown that xylitol aids in the remineralization of the enamel on your teeth. Alot of Dentist are onboard with this, and are recommending to their patients to find a toothpaste with xylitol. Also, Davids includes some baking soda, which helps neutralize the acids in your mouth, which kills the bacteria that forms plaque...again working to help fight against cavities. Also, most mainstream toothpaste uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which is the ingredient that makes their toothpaste foam up....check your shampoo bottle...it's usually the main ingredient in shampoo....basically it's liquid soap...it's what causes the burning sensation with most mainstream toothpaste and causes many people to get mouth sores. This is another ingredient that many health minded consumers are looking to avoid.....Davids is also SLS free...we use a natural alternative derived from coconut oil. Every aspect of Davids is focused around maintaining optimal oral health without the need of harmful chemical ingredients. Yes...the ingredients cost a lot more to make Davids, but it's what makes Davids a truly premium natural & effective toothpaste.

I am concerned about the 2% ingredients from Japan. I have read about about the high levels of radiation on their lands and ocean. Any worries?

Paula, If this one ingredient was being manufactured right next to the where the radioactive leak took place, then this might be a concern, but that is not the case. Did you know that there are over 1,300 sites in the United States designated by the EPA as Superfund sites for toxic cleanup....does that mean everything coming from the USA is toxic? All Davids ingredients come from top tier suppliers that meet very stringent test requirements, so rest assured your fears are for nothing.

How does this toothpaste compare to himalaya neem & pomegranate fluoride-free toothpaste? why is it better?

Both Davids and Himalaya are Fluoride Free & SLS Free. Davids places a large emphasis that they use 98% USA ingredients. Davids does this because they can get the highest quality ingredients in the United States, and also to support American jobs! The mint oil Davids uses comes from the Pacific Northwest which is considered the highest quality mint oil in the world and the flavor is exceptional. Himalaya on the other hand is company from India, and the toothpaste is made in India. Also, Davids uses a recyclable metal tube and comes with a free tube roller vs. Himalaya uses a plastic tube which is not eco-friendly. Lastly, Davids uses ingredients to naturally whiten your teeth, which Himalaya does not. I would say, is it important for your to support American jobs? Do you care about the sustainability of the packaging? Do you want whiter teeth? I would recommend trying Davids and comparing yourself....Davids is an exceptional toothpaste in almost every way!

When it says that 2% of the ingredients are sourced from Japan, which ingredients are those?

Most toothpaste companies use large amounts of imported ingredients...they will bring in mint oil, calcium carbonate, silica,etc. for China/India/Malaysia...mix it up in their USA factory, and stamp Made in USA on their packaging, but there is very often a high % of imported ingredients in much of the "Made in USA" toothpaste. At Davids we went out of our way to use USA Origin ingredients, because the quality is the highest, but also to support American Jobs! For competitive reasons we do not make public the source of specific ingredients.

ASIN	B00ZTJC26C
ASIN	B00ZTJC26C
Age Range Description	Kid
Allergen Information	Allergen-Free
Best Sellers Rank	#3,013 in Health ( See Top 100 in Health ) #104 in Toothpaste
Brand	Davids
Customer Reviews	4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (5,590)
Customer reviews	4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (5,590)
Date First Available	2 September 2015
Format	Paste
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Item model number	natural toothpaste
Manufacturer	Davids Toothpaste
Product Dimensions	18.42 x 3.51 x 3.51 cm; 149.69 g
Product Name	natural toothpaste
Units	5.25 Grams
material_composition	Recyclable Metal Tube, FSC Certified Paperboard Packaging

Fluoride Free Whitening & Antiplaque Toothpaste, Natural Peppermint, Mouth & Gum Detox, SLS Free, EWG Verified Clean & Safe Ingredients, 5.25oz, Made in USA

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