My Oral Care Journey: 7 Months with Davids

If you've read my post, It Started With Period Products, you already know that a lot of what I know about personal hygiene came from teaching myself.

I started doing some surface-level research into oral care around the time I was going into university. Nothing too crazy at first. The basics, really. Flossing, using a water flosser, and learning how to take better care of my teeth. I thought I was doing pretty well. I was learning, building better habits, and making an effort to look after myself.

But I was still struggling with bad breath.

And it wasn't as though I wasn't going to the dentist, either. I'd had professional cleanings while I was using other toothpastes, and the problem was still there. I was trying to do the things I was supposed to do, but I couldn't seem to get the results I wanted. It was frustrating because, honestly, what else was I supposed to be doing?

You can brush your teeth, floss, use a water flosser, and go to your dental cleanings, only to still feel like something isn't right. I didn't really know where to go from there, so I kept doing what I tend to do when I have a question I can't answer: I started researching.

Around the middle of 2025, I began looking more seriously into what might help with my bad breath. I also started paying closer attention to the brands I was buying. I wanted to understand the ingredients in my toothpaste and find products I felt more comfortable using, particularly when I came across discussions about health concerns and lawsuits involving certain brands or ingredients.

I'm not a lawyer or a dentist, and I don't want to make claims about a company based on something I saw in passing online. A lawsuit doesn't automatically mean a product has been proven harmful, but those discussions did make me want to look more closely at what I was buying instead of automatically reaching for the same products I'd always known.

My toothpaste journey went from Colgate to Hello, and eventually to Davids.

I've been using Davids Hydroxi™ Whitening + Enamel Health Nano Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste in Peppermint for about seven months, and this is where I finally started noticing a difference in my bad breath.

That doesn't mean I can say for certain that one ingredient was responsible, or that the same toothpaste will work for everyone. I can only speak to my own experience. But after trying different products, keeping up with dental cleanings, and still dealing with the same problem, noticing an improvement after switching to Davids was significant for me.

And it made me want to look more closely at what I was using, what was in it, and why it might be different from the products I'd tried before.

Because apparently, even toothpaste can become a research project.

From Colgate to Hello to Davids

Colgate was one of those brands I was familiar with. It was what I knew, and I hadn't spent much time questioning my toothpaste before I started learning more about personal care.

Then I switched to Hello toothpaste as I began looking for alternatives that better aligned with what I was learning about ingredients.

Eventually, I came across Davids Hydroxi™ and its use of nano hydroxyapatite.

I'd been reading more about enamel health and the ingredients used in different toothpaste formulas, and this one caught my attention. Hydroxyapatite is a mineral that makes up most of our tooth enamel, and nano hydroxyapatite is used in some toothpastes to help support enamel remineralization and reduce sensitivity.

I liked the idea of exploring a formula designed around enamel health, rather than thinking about toothpaste only in terms of fresh breath and whitening.

So I gave it a try.

Seven months later, I'm still using it. And I've added a few other Davids products to my routine along the way.

Before I get into those, though, I want to talk about what I've learned about the ingredients, because that's a big part of why I started looking for alternatives in the first place.

A Little About Nano Hydroxyapatite

Before researching toothpaste, I honestly wasn't paying much attention to what was in the tube. I knew toothpaste was supposed to clean your teeth, help prevent cavities, and leave your mouth feeling fresh. Beyond that? I hadn't given it much thought.

Nano hydroxyapatite was one of the ingredients that made me curious about Davids.

Hydroxyapatite is a mineral that makes up a large part of our tooth enamel. Nano hydroxyapatite refers to very small particles of this mineral, which are used in some oral-care products with the goal of supporting remineralization and helping with tooth sensitivity.

In simpler terms, the idea is to support the mineral structure of your teeth rather than just scrub away surface stains or make your breath smell minty.

Of course, learning about an ingredient and knowing exactly how a product will work for you are two different things. I wouldn't say that nano hydroxyapatite is a guaranteed fix for bad breath, because bad breath can have different causes. For me, the reason this toothpaste stands out is that I noticed an improvement in my own experience after making the switch.

I also think it's important to remember that fluoride has a well-established role in preventing tooth decay. Choosing a fluoride-free toothpaste is a personal decision, and it doesn't automatically make a product better or worse for everyone. What matters is understanding your options and making a decision that works for your needs, ideally with guidance from your dentist.

I'm still learning, and I'm not trying to turn myself into a dental expert overnight. I just want to understand the things I use every day a little better.

What's Actually in Davids Hydroxi?

One thing I've learned through this whole process is that looking at a product's front label only tells you so much. The marketing might tell you what a product is designed to do, but the ingredient list gives you a better idea of what's actually inside.

Davids Hydroxi Peppermint toothpaste includes ingredients such as:

• Nano hydroxyapatite: Used to support enamel remineralization.

• Xylitol: A sweetener commonly used in oral-care products.

• Calcium carbonate and hydrated silica: Cleaning and polishing ingredients that help remove surface buildup and stains.

• Sodium bicarbonate: Baking soda, which can help with cleaning and neutralizing acids.

• Sodium cocoyl glutamate: A cleansing ingredient.

• Peppermint and spearmint oils: Contribute to the toothpaste's mint flavor.

• Vegetable glycerin and water: Help form the toothpaste's consistency.

• Stevia leaf extract: Used as a sweetener.

  
  

The formula also includes ingredients such as coconut oil, carrageenan, potassium chloride, and anise seed extract.

I won't pretend I immediately knew what every single ingredient did. I definitely didn't. But reading the list gave me a starting point for looking things up and learning why they were included.

It's also worth remembering that an ingredient list doesn't tell the entire story. The concentration of an ingredient, the overall formulation, and how a product is used all matter. An ingredient sounding natural doesn't automatically make it harmless, just as an unfamiliar chemical name doesn't automatically make something dangerous.

That's something I'm trying to keep in mind as I continue exploring a more considered approach to personal care. I don't want to buy something simply because the packaging says it's clean, natural, or non-toxic. I want to understand what those words mean and whether the claims have anything behind them.

What About the Certifications?

Certifications have become another thing I pay attention to when researching products. They're not all the same, though, and I think it's important to understand what a certification actually covers instead of treating it like a gold star for everything about a product.

Davids identifies its Hydroxi toothpaste as EWG VERIFIED®. The Environmental Working Group's verification program evaluates products against its standards for ingredient transparency and certain health-related criteria. It's useful information for someone like me who wants to look more closely at product ingredients, but it isn't a guarantee that a product will work for everyone or that it can never cause a reaction.

Davids also identifies itself as Leaping Bunny certified. Leaping Bunny is a cruelty-free program focused on animal testing. That's a separate issue from ingredient safety, effectiveness, or environmental impact.

And then there is packaging. Davids uses a metal toothpaste tube and promotes recyclable packaging. Packaging claims can depend on the material, local recycling facilities, and how the packaging is processed, so it's worth checking the instructions rather than assuming every component can go straight into any recycling bin.

These distinctions matter to me because I don't want to confuse one kind of certification with another. Cruelty-free doesn't automatically mean environmentally friendly. Recyclable packaging doesn't tell you whether the formula is right for your mouth. And ingredient verification isn't the same thing as proof that a product will solve a particular problem.

I'm glad these standards exist, but I'm also learning to read beyond the little logos on the box.

The Rest of My Davids Routine

The toothpaste isn't the only Davids product I've added to my routine.

I also use a Davids bamboo-handle toothbrush with bristles made from castor-oil-derived material, and I've recently added Davids mouthwash that contains nano hydroxyapatite.

I like being able to look at my oral-care routine as a whole rather than treating toothpaste as the only thing that matters. At the same time, I'm trying not to buy every product a brand offers just because I've had a good experience with one of them. My bathroom doesn't need to become a Davids showroom.

The toothbrush appealed to me because of its bamboo handle and the brand's approach to materials. The bristles are worth mentioning separately, though, because a toothbrush described as having a bamboo handle isn't necessarily made entirely from bamboo. Different parts can use different materials, and the bristles still need to be considered when you're figuring out how to dispose of the brush.

As for the mouthwash, I was curious to try another product featuring nano hydroxyapatite. I've only recently added it, so I don't have the same seven-month history with it that I have with the toothpaste. I'll need more time to decide what I think.

For now, I'm happy with the routine I'm building. I'm trying to make changes thoughtfully rather than replacing everything at once and hoping for the best.

The Difference I've Noticed

This is the part I wanted to get to, because it's the reason I kept using the toothpaste.

I noticed an improvement in my bad breath after switching to Davids.

I'd had dental cleanings while using other toothpastes, and I was already making an effort with brushing, flossing, and using a water flosser. The problem hadn't disappeared just because I was doing those things. After switching to Davids, I finally began noticing a difference.

That doesn't mean I know exactly why. I can't separate the effect of one ingredient from the rest of the formula, and I can't rule out other changes in my routine. I also wouldn't want anyone reading this to assume that buying the same toothpaste will automatically resolve their own bad breath.

But I can say that the improvement was noticeable enough for me to keep using it.

My dentist's feedback was encouraging, too. At a later appointment, my dentist told me my oral health was “miles better than last time.”

That was genuinely nice to hear. When you're trying to build better habits and figure out what works, it's reassuring to get positive feedback from a professional who can actually assess your teeth and gums.

I'm not going to claim that Davids alone deserves all the credit. My oral-care habits, consistency, professional cleanings, and the other changes I've made are part of the picture, too. Still, the timing of the improvement is part of my experience, and it would feel dishonest to leave it out.

For me, this wasn't about finding a magical toothpaste. It was about trying something different after feeling like I was doing the right things without getting the results I wanted.

And finally noticing a change felt like a win.

The Toothpaste I Still Want to Try

Even though I'm happy with Davids right now, there is another toothpaste I've been curious about: Dente91 SHE Toothpaste, from India.

I came across it while looking into oral-care products, and its formula caught my attention. It's marketed toward women and includes ingredients such as nano hydroxyapatite, lactoferrin, folic acid, and vitamins B6, D3, and E.

The idea was interesting enough to make me want to try it, especially because I've been learning more about how oral care can intersect with the rest of our health. Hormonal changes can affect the gums and oral environment, although that doesn't mean every woman has a completely different mouth chemistry from every man. Saliva, hydration, diet, medication, and other factors can play a role, too.

I'm interested in products that take these considerations seriously, but I also want to be careful not to assume that adding vitamins or other ingredients automatically makes a toothpaste more effective. The ingredients, their amounts, and the evidence supporting their use all matter.

The practical issue was shipping. Ordering it from India meant additional shipping costs and a wait that didn't make much sense for me at the time. I decided not to spend the extra money just to satisfy my curiosity.

For now, I'm happy with my Davids bundle. I'd still like to try Dente91 SHE eventually, though, so perhaps it will make its way into a future update.

I'm trying to get better at remembering that I don't have to try every interesting product the moment I discover it. Sometimes researching something, saving it for later, and sticking with what is working for you is the more sensible option.

Who has unlimited money to test every product they find online? Not me.

What I'm Learning Along the Way

If there's one thing this whole process has taught me, it's that taking care of yourself can involve a surprising amount of learning.

I started with the basics of oral care. I learned about flossing and water flossers, kept up with dental cleanings, and tried different toothpastes. When I continued struggling with bad breath, I started looking more closely at what I was using and what other options were available.

That research led me down a rabbit hole of ingredients, certifications, marketing claims, and questions I hadn't thought to ask before.

I'm still not an expert. I'm just someone who wants to make more informed decisions about the products I use every day. I want to know what a brand means when it says something is clean or non-toxic. I want to understand what certifications actually verify. And I want to be able to talk about what has worked for me without pretending my experience is universal.

I'm also learning that there's a balance to strike. It's easy to go from not questioning anything to questioning absolutely everything. I don't want to live in fear of every ingredient, but I don't want to switch off my brain just because a product is familiar or popular, either.

For me, a more considered life means asking questions, doing the research I reasonably can, and making changes one at a time when they make sense for my budget and my needs.

And sometimes, it means finding a toothpaste that seems to work better for you and being happy with that for a while.

Where I'm at Now

After about seven months with Davids Hydroxi Peppermint toothpaste, I'm still using it. I've added the bamboo-handle toothbrush and mouthwash to my routine, and I've noticed an improvement in my bad breath that I hadn't experienced with my previous toothpastes.

My dentist's feedback that my oral health was “miles better than last time” was another encouraging sign that the effort I've been putting into my routine is making a difference.

I'll keep using Davids for now, and if anything changes, I'll share an update here on my blog. I'd also still love to try Dente91 SHE someday, so maybe that'll be something I can share my experience with in the future.

For now, I'm happy with where my oral-care journey has taken me. I'm glad I kept looking for answers instead of assuming I just had to live with the problem, and I'm glad I've started paying more attention to the little everyday decisions that make up how I care for myself.

One toothpaste at a time, apparently.

This post shares my personal experience and research, not professional dental advice. Product formulas and certification details can change, so check the manufacturer's current information if you're considering a product yourself.