If you are a foodie like me and love snacks but are also allergic to nuts, you will look at the ingredient list to ensure that there are no potential allergens. You may also look for calories if you are on a diet.
We all take much care before buying any food item or skincare product because we all know that if we are not careful enough, we may end up at the hospital.
The same goes the case with oral care products. Most people carefully go through the product ingredients list because they want their products to be healthy.
Now you may question the criteria for an oral care product to be considered healthy. Oral care brands must fulfill some basic requirements: vegan, toxin-free, and cruelty-free products.
You can easily tell by looking at the ingredient list if the product is vegan or toxin-free, but it’s hard for a newbie to tell whether the product is cruelty-free or not.
For this purpose, here we will look in-depth at what cruelty-free means and if one of the most popular brands, oral-b, fulfills this requirement? Yes, you are thinking, right? Are we going to discuss whether it is oral b cruelty-free?
Is oral b cruelty-free?
What do cruelty-free means?
Most people are confused about cruelty-free and vegan-friendly products and think it is the same. Some people also confuse organic and cruelty-free products and consider them the same, but there is a big difference between them. If a product is cruelty-free, it doesn’t mean that it is vegan, organic, or toxin-free. It just means that this product or its ingredients in any way directly or Indirectly are not tested on animals. A product is cruelty-free when it fulfills the following requirements.
- Its ingredients are not tested on animals.
- They didn’t hire any third party for animal testing
- The company does not rely on the results of other companies who make the product through animal testing
- An animal was harmed or killed in the process of making a product even if there was no animal testing
- The company products receive a cruelty-free certification from a leading association like the leaping bunny association
Some countries set animal testing as a requirement for launching the product in their country, such as China. In such cases, some brands launch animal-tested products in China and cruelty-free in other countries.
Is oral-b cruelty-free
The short answer to this question is no. Oral b is a brand owned by Procter and gamble and started in 1950 by Dr. Robert W. Hutson, a periodontist. This brand sells manual and electric toothbrush brushes, toothpaste, flosses, and other oral care products. Oral b doesn’t claim to be cruelty-free, and its products are tested on animals.
They sponsor third parties for this purpose and allow their suppliers to do it on their behalf. Also, oral-b products are sold in China, where animal testing is necessary, so it also shows that this company is not cruelty-free
Does any cruelty-free association approve oral b
Organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or Leaping Bunny do not approve oral-b. If a brand receives these companies’ certification, it fulfills the standard to be cruelty-free. Unfortunately, until now, oral b is not approved by any of these organizations.
Is oral-b sustainable or ethical?
Oral-b is considered a sustainable and ethical brand and continuously works to improve its sustainability. Also, it is inventing new ways to recycle its products and create environmentally friendly products.
Ingredients used in various oral b products
The main Ingredient used by oral b with their benefits is listed here. These all ingredients are mentioned on their official website as well.
- Sodium Saccharin: it helps to improve the taste of products
- Carrageenan: it provides consistency to the product
- Sodium Gluconate: it is a stabilizing agent
- Limonene, Aroma, CI 74160: these are used for adding different flavors
- Water: a solvent for all ingredients
- Propylene Glycol: make the paste viscous
- Calcium carbonate: This product is a cleaning agent and cleans the teeth. It also helps to remove stains from teeth.
- Sodium hexametaphosphate: also a cleaning agent that acts on stains more specifically
- Hydrated Silica: a slight abrasive ingredient that helps in removing stains
- Glycerin: It is a humectant and helps people with xerostomia. Glycerin can be derived from plants and animals as well. It is not mentioned what is the source here.
- Zinc: Anti tartar and anti halitosis agent
- Stannous Chloride: It is an anti-sensitivity agent which also helps to maintain gum health
- Fluoride: It restores the enamel on teeth
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: creates foam
- Sodium Gluconate: stabilizing agent for stannous fluoride
- Xanthan Gum: A thickening and binding ingredient
- Mica and Speckles: Coloring agent
- Baking Soda or Sodium Bicarbonate: Whitening agent
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine: Creates foam
- Titanium Dioxide: Impart white color to toothpaste
Among these ingredients, titanium oxide and SLS are the ingredients that are considered unsafe for the oral cavity. Still, the oral b claims that the ingredients are used by modifying them so they can’t harm the oral cavity.
My opinion
If someone asks me whether I prefer a cruelty-free product or not, then I will answer that I prefer cruelty-free products. I am a pet owner and an animal lover as well.
It is cruel to test products on animals that may harm or kill them. It is just like slaughtering animals. Also, many products that are not animal tested are considered safe and good on the market. If we talk without considering the factor that oral b is not animal friendly, then I will surely recommend it.
I am also using an oral b electric toothbrush for a long time, and it performs well. Also, its other products like its toothpaste and flosses are good. These brand products are worth buying if you don’t care about animal testing.
Final words
In this article, I answer a question about whether oral b cruelty-free. Vegetarians or animal lovers mostly ask this question. Oral b is not cruelty-free, but its products are safe for the oral cavity and perform—the duty of cleaning the cavity very well. If you care about animal rights, you may think twice before buying any of its products.