Now Solutions Xyliwhite Refreshmint Toothpaste Gel
At a glance
Summary
Now Solutions Xyliwhite Refreshmint scores 9/100. Marketed as a clean fluoride-free, SLS-free natural alternative — and the formula has genuine positives (25% xylitol, baking soda, papain, essential oils, no fluoride, no SLS, no titanium dioxide, no synthetic dyes). But Lead Safe Mama (Feb 2025) detected 421 ppb lead, 9 ppb mercury, and 12 ppb arsenic — more lead than Crest Regular. Suspected source: hydrated silica feedstock. Owned by NOW Health Group, Inc.
Contaminants 4
Source: Lead Safe Mama 2025
Lead 421 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 linked to lowered IQ, neurodevelopmental harm, and cardiovascular and kidney effects. Suspected source: hydrated silica abrasive feedstock.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (Feb 2025) detected 421 ppb lead — the second-highest lead reading among major brands lab-tested in the 2025 toothpaste survey, higher than Crest Regular (399 ppb).
Mercury 9 ppb Low
A low level of mercury — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (Feb 2025) detected 9 ppb mercury.
Arsenic 12 ppb Low
A low level of arsenic — present but modest; a sourcing-quality note rather than a safety concern at typical intake.
Lead Safe Mama 3rd-party lab testing (Feb 2025) detected 12 ppb arsenic — above the 10 ppb threshold used for cosmetics.
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 14
CarrageenanBad
Seaweed-derived thickener. Documented gut inflammation and IBD trigger (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 →Potassium SorbateBad
Synthetic preservative — flagged in daily-use products.
See more about Potassium Sorbate →WaterNeutral
Solvent base.
See more about Water →Hydrated SilicaNeutral
Standard mild toothpaste abrasive — safe at typical use.
See more about Hydrated Silica →SorbitolNeutral
Sugar alcohol humectant; non-cariogenic.
See more about Sorbitol →Sodium BicarbonateNeutral
Leavening and pH agent — benign.
See more about Sodium Bicarbonate →Sodium CarbonateNeutral
Mild alkaline pH adjuster. Safe at typical concentrations.
See more about Sodium Carbonate →GlycerinGood
Humectant that draws moisture to the skin — a beneficial base ingredient.
See more about Glycerin →Sodium Coco-SulfateGood
Coconut-derived surfactant used as a gentler alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Wider spectrum of fatty acids and significantly lower irritation profile than SLS.
See more about Sodium Coco-Sulfate →Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Leaf OilGood
Natural antimicrobial essential oil; helps reduce harmful oral bacteria.
See more about Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) Leaf Oil →Peppermint (Mentha piperita) OilGood
Antimicrobial flavoring with menthol; freshens breath and provides mild analgesic action without synthetic flavor compounds.
See more about Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Oil →Spearmint (Mentha viridis) OilGood
Complementary mint essential oil with antimicrobial action; rounds out the mint flavor profile.
See more about Spearmint (Mentha viridis) Oil →PapainGood
Plant-derived enzyme (from papaya) used as a gentle whitening agent. Breaks down protein-based stains on enamel without harsh peroxides.
See more about Papain →Xylitol (25%)Very Good
Natural sweetener at one of the highest concentrations in the toothpaste category (25%). Inhibits cavity-causing Streptococcus mutans growth and reduces plaque adhesion; clinically associated with reduced cavity rates, especially in children.
See more about Xylitol (25%) →Get the full breakdown in the Scout appTake Scout shopping
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