Pick up your toothpaste tube and read the ingredients list. Not the front — the back. Most people have never done this. What you'll find is a list of a dozen or more ingredients, and it is worth knowing what each one is there for.
This post walks through what is typically in a conventional toothpaste, then lists everything in ENML Mint Toothpaste Tablets — the complete formula, not a highlights reel — so you can compare the two for yourself.
What's in Conventional Toothpaste
A standard fluoride toothpaste — the kind in most bathroom cabinets — typically contains the following:
Sodium Fluoride (Active Ingredient)
Fluoride is the anticavity active ingredient in most conventional toothpastes, and it is what dental organisations such as the American Dental Association recommend. Because too much fluoride can be harmful if swallowed, fluoride toothpaste sold in the US carries a warning to keep it out of reach of children under six.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a detergent and the main foaming agent in most toothpaste. It is also found in shampoo and dish soap. Some people find it irritating. A small 1994 study of ten people who regularly got canker sores reported fewer ulcers during the months they used an SLS-free toothpaste (Herlofson and Barkvoll, 1994, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica). The evidence is limited, but it is one reason some people look for SLS-free toothpaste.
Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a thickener derived from red seaweed. It gives toothpaste its paste consistency and prevents the formula from separating. It is generally considered safe in the amounts used in personal care products.
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium dioxide gives toothpaste its bright white colour. It is there for appearance. In 2021 the European Food Safety Authority concluded that titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive, and the EU banned it in food in 2022. It remains permitted in toothpaste and cosmetics in most markets, including the US. See the European Food Safety Authority statement on titanium dioxide.
Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that was used in some toothpaste for many years. In 2016 the FDA ruled that it could no longer be used in consumer antibacterial soaps, and it has since been phased out of mainstream toothpaste in the US. It is a useful reminder that ingredient lists change over time, and that it is reasonable to read them.
Other Common Additions
Most conventional toothpastes also contain one or more of: propylene glycol (humectant — keeps paste from drying out), sodium saccharin (artificial sweetener), carbomer (thickener and emulsifier), sodium hydroxide (pH adjuster), and various artificial flavours. They are there for texture, sweetness and shelf stability. Conventional toothpaste is a wet product, and wet products need more chemistry to stay stable.
What's in ENML Mint Toothpaste Tablets
The complete ENML Mint ingredient list, grouped by what each ingredient is there for:
- The mineral: hydroxyapatite (micro-hydroxyapatite, 10%)
- Cleaning and polishing: calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), silicon dioxide (silica)
- Gentle cleanser: sodium cocoyl glycinate
- Sweetness: sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, stevia leaf extract
- Flavour and freshness: natural spearmint flavor, natural peppermint flavor, menthol, zinc citrate
- Tablet forming: microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate
No SLS. No fluoride. No carrageenan. No titanium dioxide. No triclosan. No preservatives. The same list appears on the ENML Mint Toothpaste Tablets product page.
Micro-Hydroxyapatite
Hydroxyapatite is the calcium phosphate mineral that makes up most of tooth enamel. 'Micro' describes the particle size: micro-hydroxyapatite particles are larger than the nano-sized particles used in some other toothpastes. Each ENML tablet is formulated with 10% micro-hydroxyapatite. You can read what the published research says about hydroxyapatite.
Calcium Carbonate, Baking Soda and Silica
These are the cleaning and polishing agents. They gently clean the tooth surface and help remove surface stains. Calcium carbonate is the same mineral found in chalk and limestone.
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
A mild, amino-acid-based cleanser used in place of SLS. It gives a light, creamy lather rather than a mouthful of foam.
Sorbitol, Xylitol, Erythritol and Stevia
These provide sweetness without sugar. Sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol are sugar alcohols found naturally in fruits and vegetables; stevia leaf extract comes from the stevia plant. One caution: xylitol is toxic to pets, especially dogs, so keep the jar out of their reach.
Spearmint, Peppermint, Menthol and Zinc Citrate
Natural spearmint flavor, natural peppermint flavor and menthol provide the mint taste. Zinc citrate is a mineral salt commonly used in oral care products to help keep breath fresh.
Microcrystalline Cellulose and Magnesium Stearate
The tablet-making aids. Microcrystalline cellulose is a plant-derived fibre that gives the tablet its body, and magnesium stearate helps the powder press cleanly into shape.
Why a Tablet Needs Fewer Extras Than a Tube
ENML's tablet format is not just an aesthetic choice. Conventional toothpaste is a wet product, and water-based formulas need humectants, thickeners and preservatives to stay stable on the shelf. Tablets are dry, so the formula does not need them.
The packaging follows the same logic: ENML comes in a glass jar with a metal lid, both widely recyclable. A conventional toothpaste tube is typically made from multiple bonded layers of plastic and metal, which makes it hard to recycle. Ready to make the switch? Try ENML Mint Toothpaste Tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does hydroxyapatite toothpaste compare with fluoride toothpaste?
Fluoride toothpaste is the standard that dental organisations recommend for cavity prevention, with decades of evidence behind it. Hydroxyapatite is the most-studied ingredient in fluoride-free toothpaste, and published clinical studies have compared the two, including a one-year trial in children (Paszynska et al., 2021, Scientific Reports). Those studies were not conducted on ENML products. ENML tablets are cosmetics that clean and polish teeth and freshen breath.
Does ENML toothpaste foam?
Only lightly. ENML tablets do not contain SLS, the main foaming agent in conventional toothpaste. They use a mild amino-acid-based cleanser instead, so the tablet turns into a creamy, low-foam paste when you chew it and start brushing. Most people adjust within a week.
Are toothpaste tablets approved by dentists?
ENML tablets were formulated by a dentist. There is no official 'dentist approval' for toothpaste, so the best person to ask whether a fluoride-free tablet suits you is your own dentist.
Are ENML tablets suitable for children?
Tablets need to be chewed, so they may pose a choking hazard for children under three, and adult supervision is recommended for children under six. Keep the jar out of reach of children, and ask your paediatric dentist which toothpaste is right for your child.
What is micro-hydroxyapatite?
Micro-hydroxyapatite is a calcium phosphate mineral, the same mineral that makes up most of tooth enamel, in micro-sized particles. It is the ingredient ENML tablets are built around in place of fluoride.
Want to go deeper? Read Micro vs Nano Hydroxyapatite — learn the difference, or find out whether Fluoride Free Toothpaste: Is It Safe?
A note on the research referenced on this page
The studies referenced here examine hydroxyapatite as an ingredient and are provided as publicly available scientific literature for general information — they are not claims about ENML products. ENML products are cosmetics: they clean and polish teeth and freshen breath, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. For questions about your oral health, talk to your dentist.