Heavy Metals in Natural Toothpaste: What You Should Know

At Happy Tooth, transparency and safety are at the heart of what we do—especially when it comes to the ingredients in your family's toothpaste. We’ve received some great questions about heavy metals and wanted to address them head-on with facts, testing data, and a deeper look at how natural ingredients interact with the real world.

Why Are There Heavy Metals in Natural Toothpaste?

Because our toothpaste uses mineral-rich ingredients derived from the earth—like calcium hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate—it’s impossible to avoid trace levels of naturally occurring heavy metals. The same goes for organic produce, herbs, and even filtered drinking water. If it comes from the soil, it can carry trace elements of what’s in that soil—including heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

We want to be clear: this isn’t the result of contamination or carelessness. It’s simply a fact of using natural, mineral-based materials to remineralize and protect enamel.

Tested & Safe—Within Allowable Limits

Yes, we've had our toothpaste independently tested for heavy metals. And yes, there are trace amounts—but all levels fall well within the allowable safety limits set by regulatory bodies.

To break it down:

• Serving size (per CDC): ~0.5 grams, or the size of a pea

• Heavy metals detected in our formula: approximately 0.001625 ppm/serving

• California Prop 65 allowable limit: 0.5 ppm/serving

That means we’re significantly below the allowable threshold—by a factor of over 300x.

A Note on Misleading Comparisons

We’re aware of test results circulated by bloggers or advocacy groups. While well-intentioned, these often compare toothpaste levels using baby food standards (which are stricter and based on different use cases) and measure in parts per billion (ppb) instead of the proper parts per million (ppm) used for products like toothpaste.

This creates alarm without proper context. If you'd like to read a helpful peer-reviewed breakdown, check out this recent study that explores the actual health risks of heavy metals in toothpaste.

How Your Body Handles Trace Heavy Metals

For most healthy individuals, the liver, kidneys, and gut microbiome work together to filter out and excrete trace levels of heavy metals efficiently, especially when exposure is low and occasional. While high levels of heavy metals can certainly pose a health risk, the trace amounts found in natural foods and products like mineral toothpaste are typically well within what the body can manage without issue.

So for most people—especially those eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated—low-level exposure from natural sources isn’t something to fear. That said, individuals with compromised detox pathways or chronic exposure should consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

You Deserve to Choose What’s Best for Your Family

We're committed to constant improvement, and we're always exploring innovations in ingredient sourcing and processing. However, we have not found a reliable method to completely remove trace metals from earth-based minerals without compromising the efficacy of our formula.

We take the safety of our toothpaste seriously, and we’re proud to offer a better alternative than many synthetic or fluoride-heavy products available at the grocery store. Still, you get to make the call. If you feel more comfortable with synthetic formulations or fluoride-based products that do not use remineralizing minerals from the earth, that’s okay. Your peace of mind comes first.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

We’re always happy to share any info you need to feel confident in your choice. Email us any time at help@tryhappytooth.com.

Thanks for trusting us with your family’s oral health. ❤️

—The Happy Tooth Team 🦷✨