Allo, Allo this is Aloe calling….. I first got to understand the soothing, rejuvenating and healing properties of the aloe plant whilst I was on holiday in Barbados. My travelling partner, in a fit of creative genius, had decided to forgo applying something called SUNSCREEN on their back, prior to going out snorkelling at midday. It got better, when they explained that the logic…. I use the term extremely loosely here. Apparently sunscreen made them sweat more! Yep, as I said…genius. To burn was better than to sweat!
It doesn’t take much calculating to work out that Barbados + midday snorkeling + no sunscreen + Scottish skin = this snorkeling sightseer finding themselves a little bit fried after 40 minutes of checking out the shallow water Caribbean fish. One of the gardeners in the hotel came to his rescue and said he had just the thing. He handed us some large aloe leaves that he had cut from plants situated outside our room. The green soothing pulp from the aloe plant was an instant relief and we found ourselves making midnight dashes to get some more throughout the visit.
I was interested to find out that aloe was being used in a toothpaste, in the form of Aloe Dent Triple Action fluoride free toothpaste. After reading about the effects of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) I had been researching an SLS free option.
SLS is used as a foaming agent in a number of products and with toothpaste, alongside the frothy foam, its effects would be recognised in the dryness the mouth feels after brushing. SLS is known to strip oils in skin and gums and reduce the amount of neutralising saliva, which leads to dryness. A dry mouth holds an acidic PH which is the perfect environment for bacteria, plaque and bad breath to flourish…..nice!
This toothpaste is clearly fluoride free, which was something that concerned me, solely due being brought up in a generation where fluoride was hailed as important to keeping your teeth healthy. There has been a number of reports which claim that fluoride, and the excessive use of it, can be damaging when ingested and lead to a number of medical disorders.
Given it is something we put in our mouths twice each day it was worth reading about. Aloe Dent Triple Action, along with other fluoride free toothpastes, use natural antibacterial ingredients to fight bacteria. Fluoride free toothpastes are also said to be beneficial to people who regularly experience mouth ulcers.
Aloe Dent Triple Action claims to fight bacteria, promote healthy gums and freshen breath. This toothpaste comes out pretty much looking like aloe – a pale green, slightly cloudy colour. (My son likens it to monster slime, but do not let this put you off). It was refreshing to taste but not overpowering. The kids used it with ease too. It has a similar foam texture to my old “all singing all dancing” brand of toothpaste.
After rinsing, my teeth still felt squeaky clean but without my mouth having that arid feeling that annoyed me. Along with the aloe, Aloe Dent Triple Action also has the following natural ingredients.
- Aloe Vera – helps soothe gums
- Tea Tree Oil – natural antiseptic
- Silica – for natural whitening
- Co Q10- helps keep gums healthy
- Peppermint & menthol – natural flavour.
Overall, I really liked it! Mouth felt really clean, fresh and non dried out. I found it to be a great alternative. I will be keeping this on my bathroom shelf. Thanks to Wholefoods in Giffnock for your great advice when I was purchasing this…..and quite a few other products!!
Ingredients: Glycering ( veg origin), Sorbitole, Hydrated Silica, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe vera), Aqua, Xylitol, Sodium Lauroyl Sarconsinate, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Carboxymethyl Chitosan ( from shellfish), Escin (from Horse Chestnut), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxymethlyglycynate, Ubiquinone ( CO- Q10), Melaleuca Alternifolia Oil (Tea Tree), Citric Acid, CI 75810, Limonene (natural constituent of essential oils).
