Let’s face it, the oral care industry is one of the biggest markets in personal care products. Toothpaste, mouthwash, and toothbrushes, etc, are essential items and part of our daily routines. How did you choose the brand you use? Was it dentist-recommended, do you have a preferred flavour, texture or ingredients, or do you just grab a tube of Colgate because you have seen it on TV adverts and trust the recommendation?
I have fallen into a bit of a rut of buying what is on offer at the supermarket for ease and thought it was time to refocus and improve our family’s oral hygiene (along with encouraging proper brushing techniques). We were sent some products from Waken, a London-based start-up (2019), that offers effective and sustainable toothpaste, mouthwash & eco-friendly floss.
INTRODUCING WAKEN MOUTHCARE.
Waken works with dental experts to deliver caring and gentle products that are made with real, fresh mint and are free-from added colours, alcohol and artificial dyes. Ask yourself does your toothpaste burn, are you happy with your mouthwash being blue? Can you recycle your plastic floss box?
Thoughtfully packaged using FSC certified card, promoting responsible forest management Waken prioritise more environmentally friendly practices and materials. Their toothpaste tubes are made from recycled and endlessly recyclable aluminium, aiming to prevent conventional plastic tube waste from ending up in landfills. Additionally, their mouthwash bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, repurposing materials that would otherwise contribute to plastic pollution. Their expanding dental floss is made from recycled water bottles while the FSC-certified carboard packaging is also the product dispenser. It is easy to swap our everyday essentials for these eco-friendly alternatives! Waken’s products are kind to animals too, being approved Vegan friendly by the Vegetarian Society.
The range is stocked across most major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Boots, Amazon, Asda, Waitrose, Lookfantastic.com, Ocado and Superdrug. It has become the first brand to be endorsed with Portman Dental, the UK’s leading private dental group.
WHY CHOOSE WAKEN?
Waken brings a fresh approach to oral care, focusing on products that do more than just clean teeth, they promote overall mouth health effectively and offer transparency of their ingredients and materials without compromise. The brand is the brainchild of Simon Duffy MBE (founder of the famous Bulldog skincare company) and Rhodri Ferrier MBE and promises gentle and effective everyday products that also tread lightly on our planet.
I have listed their products below and like that the range is extensive but not overwhelming in terms of choice. Prices are competitive and branding is well-considered in muted tones of white, blue and green with a simple but premium look. Some have described Waken as a celeb-favoured brand, others ‘luxury’. Whilst the quality is in no doubt I love Waken for their accessibility, and I can comfortably foresee these continuing to have a place in my bathroom.
THE WAKEN MOUTHCARE RANGE.
- Waken Daily Care Peppermint Mouthwash RRP £5 per 500ml bottle
- Waken Daily Care Spearmint Mouthwash RRP £5 per 500ml bottle
- Waken Daily Care Strawberry & Mint Mouthwash RRP £5 per 500ml bottle
- Waken Daily Care Whitening Peppermint Mouthwash RRP £6 per 500ml bottle
- Waken Peppermint Toothpaste RRP £4.50 per 75ml tube
- Waken Spearmint Toothpaste RRP £4.50 per 75ml tube
- Waken Strawberry & Mint Toothpaste RRP £4.50 per 75ml tube
- Waken Whitening Toothpastes Toothpaste RRP £8.00 per 75ml tube
- Waken Dental Floss RRP £3.50 per 25m
WHAT DID WE THINK?
The brand holds up to its reputation for innovative, eco-conscious design and superior cleaning from its work with dentists and formulation products. Please note the list below is not exhaustive, there are so many other products like lip balms and new products in development like toothpaste tabs as well as the family-friendly items we were sent.
Waken’s Mouthwash Range.
Waken’s recently launched Daily Care Mouthwashes provide clinically proven 12-hour protection for your enamel, teeth and gums, containing fluoride at the recommended level (at 250 ppm F). Waken’s mouthwashes are clear liquids that contain no added colours or dyes. They are available in Peppermint, Spearmint and Strawberry & Mint that is refreshing and last. I like that they are in generous 500ml bottles, and don’t have an uncomfortable burn. My son has ASD and was not overpowered by the flavours. As with the whole range, the mouthwashes are dentist-approved, vegan-friendly and alcohol-free. Waken’s mouthwashes were originally packaged in aluminium bottles before the brand decided to make the switch to Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic. What I like about the plastic bottle option is the lower price point, the long cap is ideal for swilling, and they are fully recyclable. The switch to these new plastic, BPA-free bottles has helped to certify the brand as Carbon Neutral to less demand for external packaging.
Waken’s ground-breaking and recently launched Whitening Peppermint Mouthwash helps prevent enamel staining and is clinically proven to whiten your smile by up to 5 shades. It contains real peppermint, as well as fluoride. With many dentists highlighting the dangers of too much hydrogen peroxide, which can cause enamel damage, tooth sensitivity, gum irritation, and uneven whitening, Waken’s Whitening Mouthwash is instead powered by a unique combination of natural enzymes from papaya and pineapple, and pyrophosphates. The mouthwashes are not recommended for children under 6. They do the job well and you only need 10-20ml per use.
Waken’s Toothpaste Range.
Waken’s attractive toothpaste range looks great on your bathroom shelf whilst providing an effective clean through lightly foaming. Again, available in Peppermint, Spearmint and Strawberry & Mint, the clinically proven and unique formulas designed in the UK will offer 12-hour protection for teeth and gums and will help to reduce plaque, protect against cavities and strengthen enamel. The toothpastes contain 1450 ppm of Sodium Floride are all vegan-friendly, SLS-free, and titanium dioxide-free. Waken toothpaste tubes are made from recycled aluminum.
Waken Peppermint Whitening Toothpaste.
Waken’s game-changing Peppermint Whitening Toothpaste is clinically proven to whiten your smile by up to 8 shades and can help to remove and prevent enamel stains from tea, coffee, and red wine. Waken’s Whitening toothpaste is free from harsh abrasives and hydrogen peroxide. Instead, it is powered by a unique combination of natural enzymes from papaya and pineapple, zinc salts, and pyrophosphates. The formula also contains real mint extract, as well as fluoride.
This toothpaste isn’t made of 100% natural ingredients, but I consider there to be no nasties. Waken clearly lists what it is made from on its site and packaging. They are not for use by children under 7 years old. As of yet, there are no fluoride-free options. The tube is a little smaller than a standard tube of toothpaste at 75ml, making it handier to put in your travel wash bag but you do get a little less. I used the same pea-sized amount I use with any other toothpaste. The flat cap works well so you can stand the tube upright on the sink. The toothpaste is clear and left my teeth feeling clean.
Toothpaste Squeezer key.
You might have noticed the metal toothpaste Squeezer Key in the photos (£3)– this is so useful for making sure you get every last drop out of the tube before you throw it away reducing waste and meaning your toothpastes last longer. The material means it is robust and not likely to break when the kids use it (also useful in the kitchen for tomato puree shhh).
Waken Dental Floss.
Clinically tested to reduce interdental plaque by 70% I love that the Waken dental floss is packaged in cardboard from FSC sources, so it can be put in your recycling bin. Made in Milan from 100% recycled materials (milk bottles) the floss is coated with vegetable wax and xylitol. When used, it gently expands to fill the spaces between the teeth and is flavoured with natural peppermint extract.
If you’re after a purely natural and fluoride-free option, Waken may not be for you but if you want to take a step towards more sustainable dental products we would recommend the products. They will be launching a Republic Europe crowdfunding campaign in Autumn 2024, raising a significant sum for growth, giving the brand capital to tell its story and enable further growth.
Have you tried anything from Waken?
Don’t just clean. Care.
#AD We were kindly gifted the products.