At Kurin we believe that nature has all the powerful ingredients you need for a healthy personal care routine morning and night without the use of harmful chemicals. Our formulas and products use natural ingredients like Xylitol extract from birch to protect against cavities in our toothpastes and bamboo to create a light, comfortable grip on our toothbrushes.
Perhaps one of the biggest arguments when it comes to dental care is whether fluoride is necessary. At Kurin we think not. Although there are thousands of studies backing fluoride toothpastes to promote dental heath, there is growing evidence of the harmful effects continual use of fluoride may have on your health. Why does it matter? You don’t swallow toothpaste anyway… Our mouths are one of the most absorbent parts of the body and 2 minutes twice a day is more than long enough to absorb some of that harmful fluoride.
Xylitol is a natural sweetener usually extracted from birch trees and corn. The human body even produces it’s own supply of xylitol during metabolism of carbohydrates. Xylitol has a growing presence in sugar free confectionary, as well as gum, mints and dental care products. Orally, xylitol has been found to prevent the acid-production of bacteria and block bacterial polysaccharide production. It also raises the pH level of the mouth, creating a bacterially unfriendly environment: this results in fewer cavities. Xylitol also forms complexes with salival calcium, maintaining natural remineralization of tooth enamel. A 3-year-long Hungarian study including 700 participants found xylitol-only sweets sucked several times a day reduced the incidence of cavities more effectively than brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a surfactant commonly used in soaps and toothpastes to make them nice and foamy. The problem with SLS is that it is a sulphate compound, and these tend to be drying and can cause skin irritation – that doesn’t sound like something you’d want in your mouth. Kurin toothpaste formulas use Lauryl Glucoside which is made from coconut extracts and we think works just as well as SLS without any of the undesirable effects. Give it a try for yourself.
Like most responsible brands out there these days we need to do out part to protect the planet for future generations to come. That’s why wherever possible we are developing sustainable products and packaging. Our toothpaste tubes for example are made from HDPE plastic which is the same material as milk bottles and is 100% recyclable with your curb side collection. Our tubes also use 27% less plastic material than most conventional plastic toothpaste tubes use.
Bamboo is one of the most sustainable resources on the planet and it’s use as a material for fabrics, paper and utensils is rapidly growing in popularity. This fast-growing grass does not require much space, water or nurturing to grow and as the roots are left in the ground when it is harvested it grows straight back again with minimal ground disturbance. Our bamboo toothbrushes have been shaped to give a light comfortable grip and they have been heat treated to ensure they do not splinter in your mouth. We haven’t quite figured out how to make the bristles plastic free yet, but for now, they are BPA free nylon and can be removed before composting your handle.