In my journey to reduce waste and eliminate single-use plastic, I’ve found that some products are easier to replace with plastic-free alternatives than others. Today, I’m excited to share that I have finally found an eco-friendly toothpaste option that I am happy with.

Read on for my honest, unbiased review of Smyle Brush Mints.

This post was originally published in March 2021 and updated in February 2024.

Note: This is NOT a paid endorsement of any of these products.

As I shared in Why I reject some zero-waste swaps, I draw the line at any change that could be detrimental to my health. One of the products that I wrote about in that post was toothpaste. While I hate that plastic toothpaste tubes aren’t recyclable, I just hadn’t been able to find a product that I was confident in. One of the main sticking points was not being able to find a toothpaste tab or powder with fluoride, an important cavity-fighting ingredient.

Over the Christmas holidays, a friend shared a Facebook post with me about Smyle Brush Mints. She had read my blog post and commented that they had a fluoride option. This piqued my curiosity. I immediately checked out their website and decided to give them a try.

About Smyle Brush Mints

Smyle’s story

Located in the Netherlands, Smyle is hoping to start a toothpaste revolution. They are on a mission to reduce as many of the 1.5 billion plastic toothpaste tubes that end up in our landfills and oceans as possible.

The product

Offered in fluoride and non-fluoride versions, Smyle Brush mints are all-natural and cruelty-free. They don’t contain any sulfates, parabens, dyes or preservatives, and are never tested on animals. You can read about each of the ingredients on their website.

They are tested with the Academy of Dentistry Amsterdam, a globally renowned independent research institute.

Shipping and packaging

Smyle is located in the Netherlands, but they offer free CO2-neutral shipping anywhere in the world.

They don’t use any plastic packaging. The mints are shipped in paper envelopes. They also offer a refillable glass jar, and any cardboard packaging is compostable and recyclable.

Price

They are a little more expensive than regular toothpaste. I ordered the Smyle Starter Kit which came with a two-month supply of brush mints and a reusable glass bottle. It cost €18, or $30 CDN.

But, the larger quantity you buy, the lower the price. I recently ordered a one-year supply of refills for $84 CDN.

The most economical way to buy is the subscription service. At €5.99 a month, it works out to just over $9 CDN a month. And you don’t need to worry about forgetting to order. They automatically ship a 4-month supply to you.

My eco-friendly lifestyle saves me money in a lot of ways, so I’m okay with paying a little extra for some products.

My review

I was excited to receive my package in the mail just a couple of weeks after placing my order.

When I opened the box, there was no plastic packaging in sight. We were off to a good start.

I had never used toothpaste tabs before, so they took a bit of getting used to. To use them, you crunch them up with your teeth and then brush with a wet toothbrush for two minutes. They are a little less foamy than regular toothpaste because they don’t contain the harsh chemical sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). They have a pleasant, minty taste that leaves your breath feeling fresh.

Something else I like is, when we get the green light to travel again, they will travel well. No worries about spills or having too many liquids and gels to fit in your plastic baggie.

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The verdict

Overall, I am really happy with this product. My teeth feel clean, and my breath is fresh.

The only downside is after about a week of use, I noticed my teeth were very sensitive. Tooth sensitivity has been a problem for me in the past when using regular toothpaste. To solve the problem, I used a regular toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth a couple of times a week while continuing to use the Smyle Brush Mints the rest of the time. That kept the sensitivity under control, while reducing the number of toothpaste tubes I was sending to landfill.

Great news! In early 2024, when I placed an order, I saw that Smyle now offers a product for sensitive teeth. It’s early days so I’ll be sure to post an update after a few months of use.

This is a great product. I feel confident that the Smyle Brush Mints are good for my teeth and the planet. What’s not to love about that?

With the switch to Smyle and using a bamboo toothbrush, my oral care routine is now much more eco-friendly.

Have you made any eco-friendly dental care swaps? Tell us about them below.