Davids Premium Whitening + Antiplaque Toothpaste Natural Peppermint
Summary
Davids Premium Whitening + Antiplaque Natural Peppermint scores 1/100. Cleanest formula on paper of any major toothpaste tested in 2025 — fluoride-free, SLS-free, EWG VERIFIED, no titanium dioxide, no dyes, made in USA — yet Lead Safe Mama (Feb 2025) detected 457 ppb lead AND 202 ppb mercury (the highest mercury reading among all major brands tested). Suspected source: the calcium carbonate (limestone) abrasive. Owned by Davids Natural Toothpaste.
At a glance
Contaminants 4
Source: Lead Safe Mama 2025
Lead 457 ppb High
Detected at a high level — at or above health-based exposure limits. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. No safe level of lead exposure exists per CDC, AAP, and WHO; chronic ingestion is associated with lowered IQ, neurodevelopmental harm, and cardiovascular and kidney effects. Suspected source: the calcium carbonate (limestone) abrasive feedstock — limestone is mined and can carry trace heavy metals depending on the deposit.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (SGS North America, Feb 2025, AOAC 2015.01) detected 457 ppb lead.
Mercury 202 ppb High
Detected at a high level — at or above health-based exposure limits. Regular exposure at this level is a genuine health concern. Mercury is a potent developmental neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure for daily oral use. Suspected source: the calcium carbonate (limestone) abrasive feedstock.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (Feb 2025) detected 202 ppb mercury — the HIGHEST mercury reading among all major brands tested in the 2025 toothpaste survey, more than 30× higher than Crest Regular's 6 ppb.
Arsenic <10 ppb Not detected
Not detected — below the laboratory's detection limit. This is the strictest possible result: no measurable amount was found.
Lead Safe Mama 2025 lab testing reported arsenic below the 10 ppb low threshold of detection — no arsenic measurable in this product.
Cadmium <5 ppb Not detected
Not detected — below the laboratory's detection limit. This is the strictest possible result: no measurable amount was found.
Lead Safe Mama 2025 lab testing reported cadmium below the 5 ppb low threshold of detection — no cadmium measurable in this product.
Key ingredients 13
Calcium Carbonate (limestone abrasive)Bad
Mined limestone used as the primary mild abrasive that polishes enamel and lifts surface stains. Inert at the molecular level, but Lead Safe Mama 2025 testing strongly implicates the limestone feedstock as the likely route of the 457 ppb lead and 202 ppb mercury contamination — limestone is a natural mineral that varies dramatically in trace-metal content depending on the deposit it is mined from.
See more about Calcium Carbonate (limestone abrasive) →Purified WaterNeutral
Solvent base.
See more about Purified Water →Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)Very Good
Baking soda. Gently abrasive and acid-neutralizing, helping maintain a healthier oral pH that disfavors cavity-causing bacteria; lifts surface stains.
See more about Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) →Vegetable GlycerinNeutral
Plant-derived (non-GMO, food-grade) humectant; safe.
See more about Vegetable Glycerin →Hydrated SilicaNeutral
Mild abrasive used for additional polishing. Brand specifies premium USA-sourced ultra-fine particles intended to clean without scratching enamel.
See more about Hydrated Silica →Xylitol (birch-derived)Very Good
Natural birch-derived sugar alcohol. Inhibits cavity-causing Streptococcus mutans growth, reduces plaque adhesion, and supports a balanced mouth pH; clinically associated with reduced cavity rates.
See more about Xylitol (birch-derived) →Sodium Cocoyl GlutamateGood
Coconut-derived foaming surfactant used as a gentle SLS-free alternative. Significantly lower irritation profile than sodium lauryl sulfate.
See more about Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate →Carrageenan (seaweed-derived)Bad
Seaweed-derived thickener. Documented gut inflammation and IBD trigger in animal and cell-culture studies (Tobacman 2001, Borthakur et al. 2007). Concentration is low (<1%) but ingestion through daily toothpaste use is non-trivial over time.
See more about Carrageenan (seaweed-derived) →Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) OilGood
Natural peppermint essential oil. Provides flavor, freshens breath, and offers mild antimicrobial action.
See more about Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil →Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf OilGood
Complementary mint essential oil with antimicrobial action; rounds out the mint flavor profile.
See more about Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil →Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) Seed ExtractNeutral
Natural flavor complement; mildly antimicrobial.
See more about Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) Seed Extract →Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf OilNeutral
Natural flavor complement. Contains methyl salicylate — generally safe at toothpaste concentrations but warrants the 'keep away from young children' labeling on adult formulas.
See more about Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Oil →Stevia (Leaf Extract)Good
Plant-derived natural sweetener that enhances flavor without sugar or synthetic sweeteners like saccharin or sucralose.
See more about Stevia (Leaf Extract) →Get the full breakdown in the Scout app
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