How I build a natural dental care routine

I like to keep oral care simple and consistent. Here is how I think about building a clean routine with the products in this collection.

1. Brush twice a day. I recommend brushing morning and night with a toothpaste that meets the Clean Nectarine Standard. I rotate between a hydroxyapatite toothpaste like Grants Whitening + HA Natural Toothpaste in the morning and something like Weleda Salt Toothpaste at night. The Grants feels fresh and whitening, while the Weleda tastes like a salty peppermint patty and leaves my whole mouth feeling incredible.
2. Floss once a day and keep floss picks in your bag. Flossing gets into the spots your toothbrush misses, so I aim for once a day, usually at night. I love Dr Tung’s Smart Floss because it gently expands between the teeth and has been shown in brand testing to remove significantly more plaque than regular floss. For during the day, I keep a tin of Gem Floss Picks On The Go in my bag so I can quickly freshen up after eating. They are not technically better than my other floss picks, I just love that the little tin makes flossing on the go feel cute and easy.
3. Clean your tongue. A quick sweep with a tongue cleaner, I like copper, helps remove that coating that can hold onto bacteria and contribute to bad breath. The Black Chicken Remedies Cuprum Tongue Cleaner is my pick. It takes seconds and makes your whole mouth feel fresher.
4. Finish with mouthwash. Mouthwash is the last step in my routine. I like the Weleda Ratanhia Mouthwash Concentrate because it is a concentrated formula in a glass bottle. You add a splash to water to dilute and use. It contains ratanhia, a traditional herb used in oral care, along with myrrh and essential oils of sage and peppermint, so it leaves the mouth feeling very fresh and gives a nice sense of support around the gums.
5. Use whitening on top of the basics. If you drink coffee or tea, a gentle whitening step can help keep things looking bright. I love Grants Whitening + HA Natural Toothpaste and the Gem Whitening Pen rather than harsh conventional whiteners.

If I had to start somewhere

I get asked all the time which products I actually use. These are a few I keep coming back to in my own routine:

1. Weleda Salt Toothpaste Tastes like a salty peppermint patty and leaves the whole mouth feeling incredibly clean.
2. Grants Whitening + HA Natural Toothpaste A non nano hydroxyapatite whitening paste that is Aussie made, vegan and preservative free.
3. Oh GiGi Hydroxyapatite Tooth Powder I am usually too busy to mess with powders, but this one is worth it. It is a non nano hydroxyapatite powder, Aussie made and a great low waste option.
4. Jack N’ Jill Kids Toothpaste You cannot get a better brand for kids. Both of my kids grew up using this and it comes in lots of yummy flavours, plus a flavour free option for fussy little ones.
5. Dr Tung’s Smart Floss My pick for best toxin free floss. It has a soft, expanding texture and brand testing shows it can remove noticeably more plaque than regular floss, while still feeling gentle.
6. Gem Floss Picks On The Go These are not technically any better than my other floss picks, but I love the carry case. It makes flossing on the go feel cute and practical.
7. Weleda Ratanhia Mouthwash Concentrate My favourite mouthwash. It is a concentrate you add to water and it contains ratanhia and herbal mint for a very fresh, clean mouth feel.
8. Gem Whitening Pen It is hard to find truly clean teeth whiteners. This is the best I have found so far and it does a very good job of brightening without feeling too intense.

I talk about these and a few other favourites in more detail over on my social posts, but this list is a good starting point if you feel overwhelmed by choice.

Natural Dental care FAQs

1. What is hydroxyapatite and why do you choose it instead of fluoride?

Hydroxyapatite is a form of calcium that makes up most of our tooth enamel. In toothpaste it is used as a gentle non fluoride option to help coat and protect the tooth surface and support smooth, strong looking teeth. I see it as my preferred alternative to fluoride because it fits my clean ingredient standards while still supporting effective everyday oral care.

2. Why are all your toothpastes fluoride free?

I created Clean Nectarine so you can shop without having to decode ingredient lists or wonder where the line is drawn. Many “clean” stores already avoid ingredients like SLS and triclosan, which is a good start, but I choose to go further.

Under the Clean Nectarine Standard, fluoride is one of the ingredients I have chosen not to stock, even though it is still commonly found in natural and health store toothpastes. By keeping every toothpaste fluoride free, you know that every option here already meets the same higher ingredient standard.

If you want to understand exactly how my ingredient policy works, you can read more about it on Our Clean Nectarine Standard.

3. Are all of your dental products natural?

Yes. Every dental product in this category is checked against the Clean Nectarine Standard before it is listed on the site.

While many stores stop at banning common ingredients like SLS, triclosan, parabens and mineral oils, my standard goes further. I also exclude ingredients that are still widely sold in other “clean” stores, including fluoride, phenoxyethanol, all silicones, propylene glycol and other additives that do not align with my definition of genuinely clean oral care.

4. Do you stock natural dental care for kids?

Yes. Kids dental care is about habits first, perfection second. I sell kids toothpastes and brushes that are fluoride free, naturally flavoured and gentle, with mild tastes that children actually enjoy. Some are hydroxyapatite based, others are simple herbal formulas, but they all meet the same clean ingredient rules as the rest of the site.