Sweet, Safe, and Seriously Smart: Why We Use Xylitol & Stevia in Our Tooth Care

If you’ve browsed our labels (and we sure hope you do), you’ve seen two ingredients that raise eyebrows for a handful of people: xylitol and stevia.

There’s been chatter online—some valid, some not—about whether these ingredients are truly healthy or just cleverly marketed. So let’s unpack it. 

We’ve done the digging, and here’s why we stand by these two sweet ingredients—not just for flavor, but for their supportive role in oral health. With conditions.

💧 Xylitol: A Hidden Hero?

Let’s start with xylitol. It’s a naturally occurring sugar alcohol (not actually sugar or alcohol) that’s found in small amounts in fruits, vegetables, and even your own body. Ours is non-GMO (and organic, and birch-derived, whenever possible).

Xylitol is traditionally believed to support oral health by helping to create an environment in which cavity-causing bacteria like (fancy word here) "Streptococcus mutans" are less likely to thrive. It's been shown that these bacteria can't metabolize (or use) xylitol in the same way they can with sugar, and when they attempt to, it weakens them.

So while we can’t say that xylitol "treats" or "prevents" anything (because, well... FDA), it’s long been used as a supportive ingredient in oral care for these reasons:

• Supports the starvation of bad bacteria. The cavity-causing bacteria Streptococcus mutans can’t metabolize xylitol. That means they can’t feed on it—and when they try, it actually weakens them.

• Supports remineralization of enamel. Xylitol may encourage your saliva to produce more minerals like calcium and phosphate, which can help strengthen your teeth naturally.

• Supports a balanced oral pH. By promoting a less acidic environment in the mouth, xylitol helps balance pH, potentially reducing enamel wear and encouraging healthier enamel.

Multiple peer-reviewed studies back this up. A 2010 review in the International Journal of Dentistry called xylitol "a well-documented anticariogenic agent." Another systematic review in Caries Research (2006) showed that regular use of xylitol significantly reduced dental caries in children and adults.

It’s completely safe when used appropriately, but note that xylitol is toxic for dogs—so be sure to keep your toothpaste out of their reach!

🌿 Stevia: Not Just a Sweet Face

We've only ever used whole green stevia leaf (an herb) in our ToothPowder, but we have used organic stevia extract in our ToothPaste. However, in the coming months (hopefully weeks), we’re transitioning to whole green stevia leaf—the unprocessed, nutrient-rich version that’s been used in herbal traditions for centuries, for our ToothPaste, too.

Stevia is believed to support healthy oral microbiomes by promoting a naturally fresh breath and may contribute to the overall well-being of your mouth. While we can’t claim it "heals" anything, the use of stevia in traditional herbalism dates back centuries, and it’s long been believed to help maintain oral freshness and healthy gums.

Here’s why we love it (and think you will too):

• Natural sweetness without sugar. Stevia adds a light sweetness without contributing to cavity-causing sugars.

• Freshens breath naturally. It’s thought to support fresher breath due to its natural antibacterial properties—without any harsh chemicals.

• A whole-leaf wonder. We're shifting to whole-leaf stevia in our formulas because it's unprocessed and maintains more of the plant’s natural properties—offering an even cleaner, more effective way to freshen up your smile.

🤰 What About the Infertility Rumors?

There's been some concern about stevia, so let’s break it down:

• 1960s Stevioside Study:
  There was an old study where high doses of stevioside (a refined extract of stevia, not the whole leaf) caused reduced fertility in rats. But here's the catch:

  • The amounts used were extremely high—far beyond what humans would typically consume.

  • Stevioside was given in massive quantities in this study, not something you’d encounter in your daily life.

  • Whole-leaf stevia wasn’t even used in this study.

• Water Decoction of Whole Stevia Leaves:
  In a more recent study, a water decoction of whole Stevia rebaudiana leaves was used, and some reproductive effects were observed in rats at very high doses. But again:

  • The doses in this study were much higher than what humans would ever consume in real life.

• Modern Research & Safety:
  Modern research and organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) confirm that stevia is safe when used appropriately.

  • There is no evidence that normal external use (like brushing your teeth with it) impacts fertility in humans.

  • Typical human consumption of stevia, especially in the small amounts used in food and personal care products, does not pose reproductive risks.

So, while some studies (with very high doses) have shown reproductive effects in rats, current research backs up the safety of stevia for everyday use in humans.

In addition, we're not promoting ingestion. These are for your daily brush-and-spit routine—plain and simple. But while we don’t recommend swallowing, if your kid does accidentally swallow some, there’s no “Call Poison Control!” panic like with those mainstream, fluoride-filled grocery store pastes.

🦷 Why We Chose These Ingredients

We didn’t add xylitol and stevia just because they sounded nice. We use them because they:

• Support a healthy oral microbiome

• Help your body do what it was designed to do—naturally
  

• Help make brushing a sweet & gently scrubby experience you actually look forward to.

As always, this information is for educational and historical context only. Our ingredients aren't intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease—just to support your body’s natural systems. That’s important. If we ever claim otherwise, we’d have to register our toothpaste as a drug. So feel free to research for yourself & draw your own conclusions. ;)

✨ Your Mouth Deserves Better Than A Plastic Tube

Better is our Perfect Pearlies™ Toothpaste and Perfect Pearlies™ Tooth Powder—created for a healthy kind of clean that goes deeper than minty freshness. 

You’re not average, and your toothpaste shouldn’t be either. :)