Back at the end of October, I shared on my Instagram that I would love to start reviewing eco-alternative products, to provide my open and honest user experiences for you. Parla toothpaste tablets were the most popular on the end of October poll, so here is my review after using the product for one month.
What is it?
Parla Toothpaste comes in the form of solid tablets – all you have to do is chew them for 5 seconds and then brush as normal. There are a few similar products on the market, but what drew me towards trying Parla, was that it is developed by dentists and DOES include fluoride. So although it’s not as environmentally friendly as some alternatives, it’s still going to do a good job of protecting your teeth.
The tub costs £6.95 for one month’s supply (62 tablets), and costs £2.95 for delivery if you order direct – or £2.75 on the Wearth London online store, who also offer a carbon neutral delivery. You also get the option of purchasing a 4-month supply (248 tablets) for £20.
What was good about the product?
Parla toothpaste tablets boast a huge range of environmental benefits on their website – I’ve listed a few below. However, aside from listing environmental buzzwords, the experience with the product was very positive.
- Zero Waste
- Plastic free
- Animal cruelty free
- Vegan
- Palm oil free
- SLS free
- Made in the UK
Albeit the tablets took a little bit of getting used to, but my teeth always felt clean, and kept a silky smooth finish throughout the day. My biggest anticipation going into this was that my teeth wouldn’t feel clean – and I’m glad to say I was proven wrong.
I also found that because I was chewing on the tablet, it taught me how to brush my teeth better. Early in the month, I ended up brushing my teeth twice because I walked away with a sugary taste stuck in my molars, realising that I hadn’t brushed these areas properly!
Another (kind of gross) benefit to this product, is that it doesn’t leave the sticky, gel-like rogue toothpaste marks on the side of your sink. Anything that is easier to clean gets a tick in my eyes!
What was bad about the product?
The main thing that stands out for me is the cost of this product. The standard cost in our household for two adults is £2 for 2 months of clean teeth. Looking at this in comparison, the single tub of 62 tablets between two adults will last a little over 2 weeks – for nearly £10 once delivery is included! Even looking at the “better value” bundle of 248 tablets, this would last 2 months for a 2 person household for £20 – that is 10x the cost.
I also didn’t feel like I was receiving the same fresh breath feeling that I received from traditional toothpaste. It was noticeable after brushing, but some mornings I found myself wondering if I had remembered to brush my teeth earlier that day.
To add to this, Parla do not currently offer any other dental hygiene products. Although it strengthens the business mission, it means that it is difficult to use their website as a one stop shop. You may be better shopping on a shop with wider variety such as Wearth London – and then only pay for shipping once!
Lastly, it feels pedantic to complain – but the tub didn’t appear as full as the marketing photos. I obviously received the correct number of tablets, but it’s a bit of a McDonalds cheeseburger expectations vs. reality situation!
Will I use the product again?
I really loved this product. The user experience has obviously been defined to the smallest detail, so it has resulted in a great product with fantastic branding & product packaging to match. Unfortunately however, unless there are some advancements on the price of the product, I don’t think it will be making a regular appearance in our daily routines.
Are there any alternatives?
Georganics – an alternative if you want to be fluoride free
Georganics are a huge brand in the “green” sector, but I’ve never tried their dental hygiene products because they are fully natural and do not contain fluoride.
There is however, a lot more variety with the products from Georganics – in terms of flavours or form (paste or tablets). There are also plenty of other dental hygiene alternatives in their range; including mouthwash, dental floss & toothbrushes.
The products also come with a lighter price tag. For example, you can get a 2 month supply for £8.90, or a 1-year supply for £22.90 (excluding delivery).
Photo from @georganics on Instagram.
Truthbrush Truthtabs – an alternative if you’re mindful of money
For those with a budget, you can get your hands on a 1 month supply of Truthtabs for only £4.50 – and the best part is, they still contain fluoride! Or, for even better value you can get a 3 month supply for £10 (excluding delivery).
The difference with this product is that you won’t receive the glass jar, and instead you’ll receive a biodegradable pillow pack of tablets.
Truthbrush also supply “award winning” toothbrushes, which you can check out here.
Photo from @the_truthbrush on Instagram
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