Each tube of Earthpaste contains 0.0174 milliliters of tea tree oil, which is 0.00353 teaspoons, or roughly half a drop. This dosage is way too small to cause any safety concerns.
It'll only take a quick Google search to figure out the mainstream consensus about tea tree oil: it's safe for topical use and not safe for internal use.
Seems simple enough, right? Except it's not. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find conflicting opinions. Many herbologists and naturalists, for example, think tea tree oil can be used internally (as long as you're following certain precautions).
We're not doctors, so we're going to stay out of that debate for now. But we do want to share some info about the safety of tea tree oil in Earthpaste...
The small amount of tea tree oil in Earthpaste is perfectly safe for you and your family because tea tree oil really only poses a health risk when it's undiluted. And the tea tree oil in Earthpaste is extremely diluted.
Just how diluted is it?
Let's put it this way—if your tube of Earthpaste were as long as a blue whale, the tea tree oil would be shorter than a honeybee.
Each tube of Earthpaste contains 0.0174 milliliters of tea tree oil, which is 0.00353 teaspoons, or roughly half a drop. Let’s say you get 50 amazingly natural teeth brushings from each tube. Each time you brush, you’ll have 0.0000706 of a teaspoon of tea tree oil on your toothbrush.
Combine the minuscule dosage with the fact that you're barely ingesting any Earthpaste anyway (it's toothpaste, not your Grandma's famous potato salad), and you'll see that it's really nothing to worry about.
Why put it in then?
If the amount is so little, you might wonder why we include tea tree oil at all. The amazing thing about essential oils—and nature, in general—is how well simple things work when combined in the right way. Even in tiny, diluted ratios, tea tree oil is a strong antimicrobial, helping your teeth and gums feel fresh and clean.
Still feeling unsure?
We’re sold on the safety and benefits of using tea tree oil in Earthpaste, but we understand if you’re not. Fortunately, Earthpaste Lemon Twist is there for you. It has all the benefits you’d expect from Earthpaste, a fresh, citrusy taste, and no tea tree oil — the perfect option if tea tree oil isn’t your thing.