vegan and cruelty free toothpaste – good for you and the planet

brushing. rinsing. smiling. it’s all good. but you know what’s not so good? testing products on animals or adding in animal-derived ingredients where they aren’t needed. we’re all part of this planet, so it’s important that consumer products—including oral care ones—are good to our bodies, our furry friends, and the environment.

are hello products vegan?

our diverse team here at hello is comprised of omnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians, vegans, and a chocolaterian (don’t ask). but when it comes to the products we create at hello, they are all vegan, and completely free from any animal byproducts. so no matter what your dietary preference and moral mantra might be when it comes to our friends in fur, you’ll be able to brush happy with effective products that are nothing but friendly.

ethical and eco-friendly toothpaste and mouthwash is on the rise

the good news is that making sure your toothpaste and mouthwash are free of animal products has become easier as more people gravitate toward plant-based products. and hey, you don’t need to be vegan or vegetarian to want to limit your contact with animal-based products. today, many people seek vegan toothpastes and mouthwashes for ethical, health-based, or environmental reasons. there’s also no valid or scientific reason your toothpaste or mouthwash needs to include animal-based products. vegan toothpastes and mouthwashes work brilliantly.

which ingredients are vegan?

there are plenty of vegan ingredients that work well for oral care. some of the more popular plant-based pals out there are aloe vera, bamboo, coconut oil, palm oil, stevia, and mint. even ingredients that may have obscure sounding names are often derived from plants. tongue-twisters like xylitol and erythritol, which are natural sweeteners derived from corn, help to prevent bacteria from sticking to your teeth and prevent tooth decay.

fantastic cruelty free toothpastes and where to find them

at hello, we’re all about making naturally friendly stuff. and testing personal care products on animals is, well, the polar opposite of friendly. there are better ways to make sure toothpastes and mouthwashes are safe for human use, that’s for sure. and, happily enough, finding cruelty free products is now easier than ever.

organizations like the leaping bunny program and peta can help you find toothpastes and mouthwashes that aren’t tested on animals. in order to get leaping bunny certified, brands need to pass a list of six stringent requirements. these encompass everything from not direct testing on animals to not purchasing ingredients from suppliers that have direct animal-tested. certification even involves monitoring the suppliers who provide certain ingredients.

to be certified by peta as “cruelty free and vegan”, a brand must either sign peta’s statement of assurance or provide documented proof that “they do not conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future.”

while many toothpaste brands may proclaim themselves to be cruelty free, that term can be a little fuzzy (excuse the pun). they may even put cute little animal logos on their packaging. the fda notes that “there are no legal definitions for ‘cruelty-free” and ‘not tested on animals.’” so to be certain that your toothpaste is truly walking the walk, it’s really best to rely on certification from an independent organization. only then can you be sure that your toothpastes and mouthwashes are meeting these exact cruelty-free standard.

all our toothpastes and mouthwashes are leaping bunny and peta certified. now if you’ll excuse us, we have a dog friend who needs to be petted.