A much better clean (Weleda Calendula Toothpaste)

Member Name: Sussy2

Product:	Weleda Calendula Toothpaste
Date:	21/09/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: teeth feel cleaner; ideal with homeopathic treatment

Disadvantages: the tube splits and can be sharp, and it does not contain fluoride which to some may be a concern

This is a great alternative to the usual range of toothpaste on supermarket/chemist shelves. It comes in an orange and white tube, packaged in an identically designed box, and can be bought in many health food stores and homeopathic chemists. I first came to it 7 or 8 years ago because I was having homeopathic treatment, and any strong tastes - like the peppermint in many regular toothpastes - can inhibit that. At the beginning I was concerned that it does not have fluoride in it, and you always hear that that is essential to protect teeth. However, on asking around people told me they'd been using it for years with no extra cavities or deterioration in the condition of their teeth. (That persuaded me, but I think it's worth making a deliberate, informed decision whether to go without fluoride or not, especially for children. There is research and recommendation on both sides, and everyone can only make their own choice.)

The taste is a strong aniseed flavour which to begin with I found pretty unpalatable. Strangely, though, as I persevered I began to really like it. The paste itself is much denser and thicker than ordinary toothpaste, and as such you only need an approximately large pea-sized blob per clean. I find it is much better not to add water at that point but to brush with paste undiluted. It will not froth as you may be used to, but it does spread around your mouth easily on the brush. In my experience it is more abrasive on the teeth and makes them feel much, much cleaner than the average toothpaste. In fact if I have to switch back to a more common toothpaste for a couple of days I cannot wait to get back to my normal one: only then do I feel like my teeth are truly clean.

My one quibble is that the tube is made of fairly robust metal and it tends to split (which can be quite sharp). Once that happens the toothpaste tends to squirt out from all splits, making it messy and inconvenient. It also means that it's virtually impossible to get every last bit of toothpaste out below the splits: I've had to waste quite a lot like that. However I have now found the answer: squeeze the tube from right at the bottom and gradually work your way up.

Summary: I would never change back to a conventional toothpaste