What does the bentonite clay in Earthpaste do?

Bentonite clay can help polish and remineralize your teeth, among other benefits.

Outside of water, the main ingredient in Earthpaste is bentonite clay. The bentonite clay we use in Earthpaste is Redmond Clay, pure bentonite clay we mine ourselves in Redmond, Utah.

Redmond Clay comes from one of the most unique clay deposits discovered so far—rich in both calcium and sodium. The unique composition is one reason Redmond Clay works so well. In fact, it was our unique bentonite clay that inspired us to create Earthpaste to begin with.

After hearing how bentonite clay could help oral health, some of us started making our own toothpaste with our clay. We saw firsthand how it helped us achieve a healthier mouth, and we wanted to share this with our customers.

What exactly are the oral health benefits of bentonite clay? Here are a few of our favorites:

1. It helps polish teeth.

Bentonite clay is a mild abrasive, which means it can help scrub away surface stains and tartar. But it's not so abrasive that it damages your enamel.

Relative Dentin Abrasion (RDA) is the standard test used to measure the safety of abrasives. The ADA set the recommended upper limit RDA at 250, and the FDA set it as 200. In general, a rating of 0-70 is considered low abrasive, 70-140 is medium, 140-200 is high, and 200+ is the upper recommended limit. Earthpaste’s mean RDA is 105, which puts it safely in the middle range.

2. It's naturally alkaline.

Bentonite clay is also naturally alkaline (with a pH of around 8.7 - 9.8), which is great for supporting a healthy mouth. The acidic foods we eat and the acids produced by certain bacteria in our mouths can lead to tooth decay. Your enamel can also only withstand a pH of 5.5 or greater before it starts to erode. So raising the pH of your mouth could help you fend off enamel erosion and tooth decay. Research also shows that many types of bacteria thrive in an acidic environment. So by keeping your mouth more alkaline, you could help limit the growth of unhealthy bacteria as well.

3. It helps restore minerals.

Clay has natural levels of calcium and phosphorous. These minerals make up an important part of your dental enamel, but you gradually lose them due to age, diet, and other factors. Brushing with bentonite clay can help restore the minerals that play a key role in keeping your teeth strong.

4. It supports your mouth against toxins and bacteria.

Thanks to its unique chemical composition, bentonite clay has a pretty impressive ability to bind to toxins. Research shows that it reduced the toxic effect baby chicks experienced from a mold toxin called aflatoxin B1. It also reduced the number of cyanide toxins in rats. This means bentonite clay could be a powerful detoxifier of the body and potentially the mouth as well.

Bentonite clay also has a documented ability to act against certain strains of bacteria. In fact, some research shows it even acts against strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Since bacteria is the root of plaque, cavities, and gingivitis, this could provide substantial support to your oral health.

Want to read more about the many benefits of bentonite clay? Check out these articles: