A plastic-free toothpaste that does not compromise on the one ingredient that matters most. Plenty of natural toothpastes leave fluoride out. PÄRLA's dentist founders were clear that they would not, so both formulas carry 1450ppm, the same level as a standard adult toothpaste from the chemist. Both come in a tube and cap made entirely from aluminium, so the whole thing goes in your recycling without needing to be taken apart.
Enamel Protect is the everyday paste. A deliberately short ingredient list with no SLS, no palm oil and no artificial colours, plus four naturally sourced polishing agents that lift staining from tea, coffee and red wine without the harsh abrasion that whitening pastes often rely on.
Pro Whitening is the step up. It adds hydroxyapatite, the mineral that enamel is actually made from. Fluoride hardens the enamel surface and helps it resist acid; hydroxyapatite refills the microscopic defects in it, which PÄRLA's dentists put at up to 65% greater enamel hardness. The whitening comes from fine, low-abrasive polishing rather than peroxide, so there is none of the sting whitening pastes are known for. It also contains vitamin B12 and vitamin E for gum health, which is unusual in a toothpaste and genuinely useful if you are vegan and watching your B12.
Brush twice daily for two minutes with a pea-sized amount, covering the inside, outside and chewing surface of every tooth. Spit, do not rinse - rinsing washes the fluoride straight off. Avoid eating or drinking for around 20 minutes afterwards.
Glycerin, Calcium Carbonate, Aqua, Hydroxyapatite, Hydrated Silica, Kaolin, Perlite, Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Xylitol, Cellulose Gum, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil, Stevioside, Menthol, Sodium Bicarbonate, Mentha Viridis Leaf Oil, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Mentha Piperita Oil, Methylcobalamin, Limonene.
Contains Sodium Monofluorophosphate 1.1% w/w (1450ppm F). Not suitable for children under 7. Children aged 7 and over should be supervised. If you are taking fluoride from another source, check with your dentist first.
Aluminium tube with an aluminium cap. Both go straight into household recycling with no rinsing or separating. Aluminium can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality, which is the reason PÄRLA chose it over the mixed plastic and foil laminate used in conventional toothpaste tubes.
Which one should I choose?
Enamel Protect is the everyday paste and the cheaper one. Pro Whitening is worth it if you drink a lot of tea, coffee or red wine, or if you get sensitivity - the hydroxyapatite helps with both.
What is hydroxyapatite?
It is the calcium mineral that makes up most of your tooth enamel. Using it in toothpaste is a biomimetic approach - you are topping up the enamel with the same material it is built from, rather than coating it with something else.
Will it whiten my teeth?
Both lift surface staining through gentle polishing, which brings teeth back towards their natural shade. Neither will bleach them lighter than that, and nothing sold over a counter will.
Why no SLS?
Sodium lauryl sulphate is the foaming agent in most toothpaste and is a common trigger for mouth ulcers and irritation. Leaving it out means less foam and a milder feel.
Is the tube actually recyclable at home?
Yes. Tube and cap are both aluminium, so the whole thing goes in your kerbside recycling.
Is it suitable for children?
Both are full-strength adult toothpastes. Pro Whitening is not suitable for under 7s. Check the carton for Enamel Protect's age guidance before giving it to children.
PÄRLA was founded by three UK dentists - Dr Rhona Eskander, Dr Simon Chard and Dr Adarsh Thanki - and is a certified B Corp. They have kept over 107,000 plastic toothpaste tubes out of landfill so far.
