More people are taking a closer look at the ingredients in the products they use every day — and toothpaste is no exception.

While conventional toothpastes can contain long ingredient lists, natural-style toothpastes often take a simpler approach, using familiar mineral and plant-derived ingredients to clean and freshen the mouth.

At Aussie Tallow, we created our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste – Peppermint Fresh with a carefully selected combination of Australian yellow clay, activated charcoal, calcium carbonate, xylitol and peppermint essential oil.

But what do these ingredients actually do?

What Is Natural Toothpaste?

There isn't one universal definition of “natural toothpaste”. Formulations can vary enormously from one brand to another, which is why reading the ingredient list is far more useful than simply looking for the word natural on the packaging.

Our approach at Aussie Tallow was to create a simple everyday toothpaste without unnecessary complexity.

Our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste contains: Glycerin, Aqua (Water), Calcium Carbonate, Kaolin (Australian Yellow Clay), Xylitol, Activated Charcoal, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol and Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil. 

Each ingredient has a purpose within the formulation.

Why Use Australian Yellow Clay in Toothpaste?

Kaolin clay is a naturally occurring mineral clay.

Our toothpaste contains Australian yellow clay, giving the formula part of its characteristic natural appearance and texture.

Clay works particularly well alongside mineral ingredients such as calcium carbonate, creating a toothpaste that feels very different from the brightly coloured gels and heavily flavoured conventional toothpastes many of us grew up using.

For us, using Australian clay also fits naturally with Aussie Tallow's philosophy of creating simple products here in Western Australia.

What Does Activated Charcoal Do in Toothpaste?

Activated charcoal is an extremely fine black powder that has become a popular ingredient in natural oral-care products.

One of the reasons charcoal toothpaste has attracted so much attention is its association with removing surface staining from teeth.

However, it is important to distinguish between helping clean or polish away some external surface stains and actually bleaching the natural colour of a tooth.

We prefer not to make exaggerated whitening promises about charcoal. Instead, we include activated charcoal as part of the overall cleaning formulation of our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste.

That's also why the other ingredients in a charcoal toothpaste matter — charcoal isn't the entire toothpaste.

Calcium Carbonate — A Traditional Toothpaste Ingredient

Calcium carbonate is a mineral commonly used in toothpaste as a mild abrasive.

Its role is fairly straightforward: it helps the physical cleaning action of brushing to remove debris and surface deposits from the teeth.

Combined with Australian yellow clay and activated charcoal, it forms an important part of the cleaning base of our toothpaste.

Why Is Xylitol Used in Toothpaste?

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol commonly used as a sugar alternative in oral-care products.

Unlike ordinary sugar, xylitol isn't used by oral bacteria in the same way as sucrose.

There has been considerable research into xylitol and dental health. However, we think it's important not to overstate the science. A major Cochrane review found some evidence of benefit from fluoride toothpaste containing xylitol in children but described the evidence as low quality and found insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about most other xylitol products. We include xylitol as part of our toothpaste formulation rather than making claims that it can prevent or treat dental disease.

Peppermint Oil for a Naturally Fresh Finish

Of course, toothpaste also needs to leave your mouth feeling fresh.

We use Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil to give our toothpaste its clean peppermint flavour and fresh finish.

There's no need for an overpowering artificial-tasting flavour — just a refreshing peppermint taste that makes the toothpaste pleasant to use as part of your everyday brushing routine.

Why We Created Our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste

Aussie Tallow began with a simple philosophy: create the kinds of products we genuinely want to use ourselves and make them with carefully selected ingredients.

That philosophy started with our farm-made tallow skincare and soaps and has gradually expanded into other everyday essentials.

Our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste – Peppermint Fresh follows that same approach.

It combines Australian yellow clay, activated charcoal, calcium carbonate, xylitol and peppermint oil in a convenient 100ml squeeze tube.

It's another simple everyday product that sits naturally alongside the skincare, soaps, deodorant and other essentials we make and sell from our farm in Mount Barker, Western Australia.

Shop Aussie Tallow Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste – Peppermint Fresh Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste – Peppermint Fresh | 100ml - Aussie T...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is clay toothpaste?

Clay toothpaste is a toothpaste containing a mineral clay such as kaolin. Our toothpaste contains Australian yellow kaolin clay alongside calcium carbonate and activated charcoal as part of its cleaning formulation.

Does charcoal toothpaste whiten teeth?

Activated charcoal is commonly associated with removing surface staining, but this shouldn't be confused with chemically bleaching or changing the natural colour of teeth. We don't claim that our toothpaste will bleach teeth white.

Why is your toothpaste black?

The dark colour comes from the activated charcoal in the formula. The colour is completely normal for a charcoal toothpaste.

What is xylitol?

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol commonly used as a sweetener in oral-care products. Unlike ordinary sugar, oral bacteria don't metabolise xylitol in the same way as sucrose. Research into its dental benefits exists, although the strength of evidence varies depending on the product and formulation.

Does Aussie Tallow toothpaste contain fluoride?

No. Our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste is a fluoride-free formulation.

People have different preferences when choosing toothpaste. Australian dental guidance generally recommends fluoride toothpaste for preventing tooth decay, so anyone with particular dental needs or concerns should discuss their toothpaste choice with their dentist.

Where is Aussie Tallow based?

Aussie Tallow is a genuine Australian family farm business based in Mount Barker, Western Australia.

Our products are created from our farm, where we also raise our Jersey cows and make our farm-made tallow skincare and soaps.

Is Aussie Tallow a real Australian business?

Yes. Aussie Tallow is based on our working farm in Mount Barker, Western Australia — we're not simply an online brand using farm imagery.

You can find Aussie Tallow on Google Maps and read the hundreds of 5-star reviews customers have left about our products and service.

Find Aussie Tallow on Google Maps & Read Our Reviews https://maps.app.goo.gl/Str3R3MKZiHRiu1X9

A Simple Approach to Everyday Oral Care

Choosing a toothpaste ultimately comes down to understanding what's in the tube and finding something that suits you.

Our Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste combines Australian yellow clay, activated charcoal, calcium carbonate, xylitol and peppermint oil in a simple peppermint-fresh formulation.It's made for people looking for a different approach to conventional toothpaste — from a genuine Australian farm business you can actually find on the map.

Shop Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste – Peppermint Fresh Clay & Charcoal Toothpaste – Peppermint Fresh | 100ml - Aussie T...