Bite, chew, brush

The tablets claim to help regenerate aching tooth necks and even to stop dental calculus

That there are no limitations to the sustainable swaps you can make on your home shelves is something we realised on coming across Denttabs. Founded in Berlin, the bite-sized tablets arrived in India only recently and are being hailed as a vegan, cruelty-free and eco-friendly replacement to the good ol' toothpaste tube. Using it is fairly simple: bite, chew into a paste and brush.

The tablets claim to prevent decay and revitalise aching tooth necks. Our pack arrived with a reusable jar meant to lock out any moisture, along with a cutesy bamboo toothbrush. The tablets were packaged in fully compostable bags which can be disposed of with organic waste. The bags are made using cornstarch coated paper and carry the official compost certification.

What we like is that they are easy to stash anywhere given their size, and can be handy when travelling. But, they take time getting used to. They need to be chewed and not swallowed before they turn into a brushable paste. The foam is much less compared to the regular toothpaste.

"In India, approximately 950 million plastic tubes of toothpaste are going into waste every year." Conventional toothpaste consists of approximately 50 per cent water. In order to bind and preserve this water, preservatives, PEG and bodying agents are needed. These tablets, do not need such aids. They polish the teeth naturally, using microcrystalline cellulose. "While being safe for the enamel, they remove plaque and tartar and clean the teeth to prevent dental issues," says producer Pragya Kapoor, who has been roped in as the brand ambassador. That said, the tablets are expensive but the environment is more precious than a few extra pennies.

What: Toothpaste tablets
Where: denttabs.in
Price: Rs 345 for 31 pieces