Living plastic-free is a real challenge. Every day anew. I actually find that it’s still easiest in the bathroom. Solid shampoo, bars of soap, etc. That’s no problem at all. But toothpaste? The tubes are just plastic. Sometime in the last few years, toothpaste tabs hit the shelves. Before that, I really only knew them from outdoor stores. Now they’re also available at your local drugstore. Reason enough for me to take a look at how sustainable the little tablets really are.

Toothpaste tabs vs. toothpaste in a tube

Point 1: The packaging

Toothpaste tubes are made of plastic and aluminum. I have yet to come across a truly different form. Sure, sometimes you can find toothpaste in small cans or glass jars, but that’s pretty rare in a regular drugstore.

Most toothpaste tabs that you get in the drugstore are packed in (coated) paper bags, which are supposed to be mostly compostable. We could write a separate blog article though about the problem with the term “compostable” on plastic alternatives, but just a quick note here: compostable doesn’t necessarily mean it’s compostable in your backyard. Even in the organic waste garbage can, a lot of such packaging has no business being there. So the packaging ends up in the residual waste.

Alternatively, tabs are increasingly available packaged in glass, which is easier to recycle or reuse at home. The lack of water also makes them lighter, which makes transport somewhat more environmentally friendly.

So a slight advantage for the tabs.

Point 2: Quantity

If you believe a well-known tab brand, 125 tabs replace two tubes of toothpaste. I haven’t tested this yet, but if we assume that we brush our teeth twice a day, one pack will last us about 2 months. So, I don’t know about you, but I don’t use a tube of toothpaste a month. At least, if you use the realistic tube sizes. So it’s hard to gauge which is really better here. A lot just comes down to reference.

So it’s a draw. Without bonus.

Point 3: Usage

I don’t think we need to go over the normal toothpaste use, do we? Unlike toothpaste, obviously, tabs don’t go on the toothbrush. Instead, they are thoroughly chewed before brushing, then brushed. Simple, isn’t it? Of course, the feeling is different at first: Tabs don’t foam as much and you don’t need as much water. If in doubt, you can even use them for oral hygiene without a toothbrush. This makes them extremely practical, especially when traveling, hiking and the like. And they do not count as liquid 😉

Plus one for the tabs.

Point 4: Dental health

Honestly, this is almost impossible to assess as a layman. Even the experts argue. What I can say perhaps: The small crumbs that form when you chew the tablet act quite automatically like a polishing agent. And you can feel that, too. The rest is up to the dentists.

I give it a layman’s draw.

My opinion. Your opinion?

My final score: 2 : 4 for the tabs.

My opinion: I like toothpaste tabs. I find them especially on trips and multi-day hikes super handy. Of course, the use takes some getting used to and it’s nice to use “normal” toothpaste from time to time, but in general I have to admit that I’m a fan.

What about you? Have you ever tried toothbrush tabs? What are your experiences with them?

By the way, find tips on how to save water here.