
The Truth about Sorbitol
Sorbitol
We take the feedback of our customers and stockists very seriously. For a while now we’ve been looking into how to keep your Truthpaste fresher for longer, without compromising on that ‘dentist fresh’ feel that we get so many lovely reviews about.
We don’t have such a thing as a secret ingredient at Truthpaste. Honesty has always been our policy. And in line with that very policy, we can share that our research and trials have lead us to add sorbitol to our ingredients list.
What is Sorbitol?
Sorbitol is a form of carbohydrate - often referred to as a ‘sugar alcohol’ or ‘polyol’. Discovered in 1872 in the fresh juice of mountain ash berries by French chemist Joseph Boussingault, it is naturally occurring in fruits, vegetables and berries. It’s versatility has made it a popular ingredient in a multitude of products that we use today from cough mixture to chewing gum and skincare products for it’s thickening, moistening and sweetening properties. It’s often used as a sugar substitute for diabetics.
What is Sorbitol made from?
Whilst sorbitol is naturally occurring in fruit and vegetables such as plums, apples and pears, it is also commercially produced using either potatoes or corn. When processed it appears as a fine white powder. Our sorbitol comes from French corn and wheat starches and is certified non-GMO.
What is sorbitol used for?
Sorbitol is found in a great many oral care products, such as mouthwashes, gels and toothpaste. You will often find it used alongside xylitol. Both have been proven to benefit the teeth and gums in similar ways.
Sorbitol is what is classed as a humectant. It is used in cosmetics to help retain moisture and stop products from drying out, as well as improving texture and feel.
Is Sorbitol good for teeth?
A common misconception with sorbitol, and to an extent xylitol, is the idea that, as a sugar substitute, it must be bad for your oral health by its very nature. However, studies show that both xylitol and sorbitol can reduce the risk of caries (decay) by raising the pH of saliva, reduce the bacteria associated with forming plaque, and aid in remineralisation.
Sorbitol and Oral Microbiota
A 2018 study showed that sorbitol can increase the abundance of the good bacteria known as S. cristatus, that work to fight various bacteria that can cause cavities and caries.
In particular, the S. cristatus were found to have a profound effect in fighting and treating chronic Periodontitis, a form of gum disease.
Sources:
Rafeek, R. et al (2018) Xylitol and sorbitol effects on the microbiome of saliva and plaque. Journal of Oral Microbiology
Teo, G. et al, AM (2006). Silencing leaf sorbitol synthesis alters long-distance partitioning and apple fruit quality. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Commission of the European Communities (1985) Reports of the Scientific Committee for Food concerning sweeteners. Sixteenth Series. Report EUR 10210 EN. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg.
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.(1982) Toxicological evaluation of certain food additives: sorbitol. Twenty-sixth report. WHO Technical Report Series 683, pp. 218-228. Geneva.
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from 629 reviewsI just love the taste and clean teeth

I ordered a spatula as we've always used a wooden one & wanted something more hygenic & ended up with 3 because I hadn't noticed I'd clicked on toothpaste complete with a spatula so each pot I received came with their own so we now have plenty of easy to clean spatulas!

Happy to buy these after my dentist gave me the plastic version which I don't want to use then these popped up on Truthpaste.

Love it, leaves my teeth/mouth feeling clean and fresh, though I have previously used the wintergreen flavoured toothpaste and I do prefer the flavour of that one. Both gave the same cleaning and whitening experience though I prefer the blast of fresh wintergreen flavour :)
Any chance of a charcoal based toothpaste with the wintergreen ingredients?!?! :)
Overall love your toothpastes, brand, everything! Great price, quality and beliefs

Makes cleaning my teeth something I look forward to. A pleasant experience without the normal foaming quality and with the thought that you have put something much more wholesome in your mouth. Teeth feel clean and the taste is much more subtle than ordinary pastes.

I have been using this toothpaste for over a year now. It leaves a lovely fresh taste and I like to use plastic free products.

This amazing mouth wash works really well and tastes delicious 😋

Very handy for getting that toothpaste powder from the jar

I really like this one. It has got rid of my bad breath, and my teeth feel really clean after using it. It is definitely one of my favourites, along with the wintergreen. And best of all, its fluoride free.

they sent it i got it and its ok no bad stuff like SLS, Fluoride, Carregeenan etc...

Better than any of the competition. So easy to use and reach those little corners. Love the long handle. Last so much longer as well. A joy to use!!

This is my second order from truthpaste. This is a great bundle to add to my collection as it has the mouthwash cup and I needed more toothpaste, mouthwash and floss and I now have a spare spatula for my travel bag. Ordered the fennel toothpaste this time having tried all the flavours - this one is my favourite. Great products.

I have tried all the truthpaste flavours and the charcoal Peppermint & Spearmint is my favourite! I keep coming back to Truthpaste every time. My dentist has even commented that my brushing has improved.. of course it has! I'm no longer using harsh chemicals! Thank you truthpaste for providing us with excellent products!

My children love this toothpaste and use it without any issues.

Comments
Rachel Hayward-Price
Thanks for the very informative article about the different artificial sweeteners.
February 06, 2022
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