Looking for toothpaste with a very mild amount of minty-ness

April 10, 2023 9:08 AM

My mouth is super-sensitive to a lot of things lately, and I can only handle a very small strength of minty-ness. I have bad oral care which probably contributes to this sensitivity. I feel a lot of pain with commercial brands that feel like 10/10 mint strength, so I am looking for recommendations of very mildly minty toothpaste, with a target of 2/10 mint strength. Children's brands are fine.

I think my mouth flora are way out of balance, because I cannot handle things I used to have no problem with: spicy food, acidic food (like vinegar), extra-salty food, or extra-sugary food. I am working on improving my oral care (it's a struggle), but the toothpaste I have has been way too strongly and harshly minty, to the point that it is downright painful. This of course contributes to my (irrational, problematic) aversion to brushing my teeth regularly.

I am looking for recommendations for toothpaste with a very mild mint flavor, or even without mint flavor. The strength of mint of major brands is just WAY too much for me these days. I have a small amount of an institutional brand called Dawnmist that I got when I was in the hospital, but I only have a little bit left. I looked at buying some, but it comes only in 144-tube amounts for $50+. I certainly don't need that much and I don't have that kind of money.

I am income-less at the moment, so something inexpensive is ideal. I don't have the money to buy a lot of different kinds to try out a bunch. I think some children's types of toothpaste might be good? I don't want bubble gum flavor, and I don't need unicorn sparkles, just something that won't hurt my mouth. Whitening or special features are not a particular goal - simple fluoride and normal stuff is all I need.

I'd be grateful for any recommendations. Thank you in advance.

posted by cats are weird to Shopping (29 answers total)

The brand Tom's has a children's toothpaste that's about $5 at places like Target. They have fruity flavors but it's extremely mild-tasting.
posted by BlahLaLa at 9:13 AM on April 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

I use Bits toothpaste and my main complaint about them is that I don't find them minty enough! Their main product may be more than 2/10 on the minty scale but there is a berry option.

https://bitetoothpastebits.com/products/berry-subscription
posted by Emmy Rae at 9:14 AM on April 10, 2023

Arm & Hammer toothpaste with baking soda is mildly minty and has a soothing feel. Highly recommend.
posted by mmf at 9:15 AM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I use kids Crest in strawberry rush flavor, and kids Act mouthwash in pineapple punch (formerly SpongeBob) flavor. I've also used kids Act toothpaste in grape and it's good but I don't like it as much as the strawberry Crest. My dentist is perfectly happy with the fluoride level in these brands and I have good reports on my dental health.

Harsh mint can get fucked.

That said, the mint in Sensodyne Pronamel is very sedate to my sensitive little mouth, so if you do want a grown up/mint toothpaste, that one should be ok.
posted by phunniemee at 9:23 AM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I am with you on this. Why why why.

My dentist recommended some toothpaste for sensitive mouths (not sensitive teeth), e.g. Hello brand. I tried Hello Brand; not 100% pain free, and it turns out I I need toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

So far, the least ouchie toothpaste I've ever tried (other than straight baking soda) is Sensodyne Deep Clean + Whitening.

Really! It has the deep cleaning + the sensitive teeth features, but even without that, it's been the mildest I've tried. I just ordered some specially to be shipped to my local Walgreens.

Also, it's a gel; I don't normally like gel toothpaste, but this is fine.
posted by amtho at 9:25 AM on April 10, 2023

Tom's of Maine Wicked Cool! Mild Mint is very mild and inoffensive.
posted by Redstart at 9:33 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Maybe Pepsodent? It's usually a dollar a tube at Walgreens, Dollar Tree, etc. I find it to be way less intense than other brands.
posted by extramundane at 9:37 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

AIM is similarly low mint and cheap.
posted by cobaltnine at 9:46 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Came here to suggest Aim and Pepsodent. Super mild, super cheap.
posted by tristeza at 9:47 AM on April 10, 2023

Have you considered Crest or Colgate's Cinnamon toothpastes? I can't stand brushing with mint; it burns and makes me gag and the mint sometimes even sets off my asthma. I don't have any problems with the cinnamon toothpastes. Tom's of Maine also makes a Cinnamon-Clove that is my favorite, but it's pricier than Crest or Colgate.
posted by headspace at 9:49 AM on April 10, 2023

If your teeth aren't in great shape, make sure your toothpaste has plenty of fluoride. I don't rinse my mouth until after I wash my face, as fluoride acts while in contact with teeth and I want to maximize it.
posted by theora55 at 9:55 AM on April 10, 2023

I use children's bubble gum flavored ACT toothpaste in the mornings because the mint flavor of my night toothpaste lingers too long and screws up the flavor of my coffee.
posted by Dr. Twist at 10:12 AM on April 10, 2023

I was raised on Toms of Maine's Silly Strawberry and Outrageous Orange. They are both extremely mild and come in fluoridated and non-fluoridated.
posted by pintapicasso at 10:19 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Tom's of Main Silly Strawberry (with fluoride) is a good pick; if you're near a Whole Foods their 365 brand is very similar and a few bucks cheaper.
posted by LKWorking at 10:21 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

If you're near a Trader Joe's, their peppermint TJ toothpaste is very similar to Tom's and is a nicely mild mint.

When I can't get that, I like the Jason toothpastes for a similar mild flavor. I think I get the "sea fresh" flavor.

The downside with "natural" toothpastes is that many of them eschew fluoride by default, so you have to really look for those with fluoride (as I prefer).

Now that I'm used to these milder flavors of toothpaste, when i have to use a 'normal' toothpaste, they are so over-the-top minty and over-flavored - I don't like it!
posted by hydra77 at 10:45 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

My kid can’t stand mint and we have had good luck with the fluoride-containing fruity kid’s brands. Mostly Tom’s and Colgate.
posted by tchemgrrl at 10:49 AM on April 10, 2023

Everyone has already recommended all the non-mint toothpastes I've used, I just wanted to say THANK YOU THAT SOME OTHER PEOPLE DON'T LIKE MINT. I had a roommate argue with me that you HAD to mandatorily like mint because mint is the only option in dental products. I hate the nasty after-mint taste in the mouth, thankyouverymuch, and only Thin Mint-chocolate covering seems to not have that go on so much.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:04 AM on April 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Also came in to say Sensodyne Pronamel--I use the gentle whitening formula and def less minty than most.
posted by greta simone at 11:20 AM on April 10, 2023

Marvis has a licorice kind
posted by brujita at 11:26 AM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

I love Oranurse brand. It's unflavored and non foaming and very very gentle. And has the recommended amount of fluoride too
posted by jebs at 12:10 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Are you sure the mint is the irritant? You might go to a toothpaste that has no mint, and also has no sodium laurel sulfate. Some people are sensitive to it (I'm one, and "mouth flora out of balance" is the first problem I run into with it). Most Sensodyne products don't have it. Tom's of Maine used to not have it but some of theirs have changed formulations so check before you buy.

Do make sure the formulation you choose has flouride, though, as mentioned above; since you have other dental issues you want that support.
posted by nat at 12:21 PM on April 10, 2023

I use Colgate kid's toothpaste in "bubble fruit" flavor. It tastes like Juicy Fruit gum. I like it so well I actually started chewing Juicy Fruit again because of it.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:30 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

In general the Toms of Maine toothpaste is less minty than the major brands, but I've found that their activated charcoal version is even less minty. I use the peppermint one, and there's just enough for it to have an identifiable flavor, but not much more than that. I'm shocked at how strong the flavor is every time I have to use another toothpaste. The specific version I use is this one (and as a bonus, it's weirdly fun to use black toothpaste, which honestly does help with motivation to brush for me). They do also have some non-mint flavors, but I think those are fluoride-free for the most part.
posted by duien at 1:40 PM on April 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

I hate minty toothpastes and am obsessed with Marvis. The licorice is my favorite but I’ve liked all of the flavors I’ve tried.
posted by anotheraccount at 1:58 PM on April 10, 2023

I agree with the aversion to the horrid Industrial Strength Mint of most toothpastes, and I strongly nth the Tom's of Maine brand.
posted by Greg_Ace at 5:01 PM on April 10, 2023

I have used the very mild mint toothpaste Ultrabrite for decades. Stronger mints give me mouth ulcers. It is difficult to find, maybe because it is so cheap that for retailers it's hardly worth using up the shelf space, but on a recent foray into Walmart I discovered that they carry it, and it is about the cheapest toothpaste around - It was $1.00 per large tube. I bought every tube on the shelf and am set for the near future. In fact, if you can't find it and want to try it, memail me and I will send you a tube.
posted by citygirl at 5:28 PM on April 10, 2023

Yes. Mint hurts. I hate the idea that I have to burn my mouth to brush my teeth.

That said, the "Bubble-Mint" flavor of Aqua Fresh for Kids doesn't taste minty to me (or burn my mouth) and doesn't taste much like bubble gum either. It's the best solution I've found. Most other kids' toothpastes are way too sweet.

And it has fluoride.
posted by wjm at 8:12 PM on April 10, 2023

I have the same problem - I used to really struggle with brushing my teeth often enough because normal adult toothpaste hurt. Using kids' toothpaste helped; I used Aquafresh Little Teeth for a bit, which is barely flavoured. Oranurse, that jebs mentioned, is even better, it's specifically designed for people with sensory sensitivities and literally tastes of nothing at all. It's not too expensive, either.
If you want mouthwash, Ultradex comes with a flavour packet that you can just not add. It tastes vaguely soapy, but doesn't burn and isn't unpleasant.
If brushing your teeth is a bit of a struggle in general, you might find a 360-degree toothbrush helpful. It gets all of the angles at once so the whole process is over a bit quicker.
posted by BlueNorther at 12:46 AM on April 11, 2023

My favorite barely tasting of anything toothpaste is Sensodyne in the original flavor (not sure what that flavor is, something mild and sweet).
posted by blueberry monster at 2:48 PM on April 12, 2023