Exceed Tooth Polish vs. Colgate Total, Tom's of Maine, Boka and RiseWell

Melaleuca's Exceed Hydroxyapatite Tooth Polish is fluoride-free and uses hydroxyapatite. Exceed Total Care Sensitive Tooth Polish contains fluoride. Across all six toothpastes, prices per ounce run from $1.17 for Colgate Total to $3.53 for RiseWell. The six differ in cavity-fighting ingredient, tube size, price and where to buy them.

Prices change, so check each maker's site for current pricing.

How the six toothpastes compare

Melaleuca sells its products through its online store, where members pay less than the regular price. Boka and RiseWell also sell direct and have optional subscriptions. Colgate and Tom's of Maine each sell these tubes on their own sites.

What the makers say about fluoride-free toothpaste

Three of the six toothpastes skip fluoride and use hydroxyapatite, a mineral found in tooth enamel. Each maker describes its formula in its own way.

Melaleuca's Exceed Hydroxyapatite Tooth Polish is a fluoride-free sweet mint paste. Melaleuca calls hydroxyapatite "the same natural mineral that makes up 97% of tooth enamel." It also says the "fluoride-free formula fills tiny surface pores and is clinically proven to help soothe sensitive teeth." The tube lists strengthened enamel, tartar control, naturally whitening teeth and plant-based cleansers. A 3.8 oz tube costs $8.00 regular or $5.19 for members, making it the least expensive of the three fluoride-free picks.

RiseWell Mineral Toothpaste, Wild Mint, is fluoride-free as well. RiseWell says its hydroxyapatite "cleans, whitens and supports enamel, naturally." RiseWell calls the formula "100% Safe to Swallow" and says it was dentist developed. A 3.4 oz tube costs $12.00 as a one-time purchase or $10.20 on subscription, the highest price per ounce in this comparison.

Boka's Ela Mint uses nano-hydroxyapatite, which Boka says "mimics tooth enamel." Boka adds xylitol and green tea extract to a light, low-foaming base. Boka lists the paste as SLS-free and paraben-free. A 4 oz tube costs $11.62, and Boka also offers a subscription.

By the ounce, Exceed Hydroxyapatite works out to about $1.37 for members, against $2.91 for Boka and $3.53 for RiseWell.

What the makers say about fluoride toothpaste

The other three toothpastes contain fluoride.

Exceed Total Care Sensitive Tooth Polish combines fluoride with a focus on sensitive teeth. Melaleuca says it helps "fight tartar and plaque," "whiten teeth without damaging tooth enamel" and soothe sensitivity. At member pricing, a 3.8 oz tube costs $4.59, the lowest tube price here.

Colgate Total Active Prevention is sold as an anticavity toothpaste. Colgate says it "fights bacteria, the root cause of many oral health issues such as gingivitis, plaque, tartar, sensitivity, weak enamel, stains, bad breath, and cavities." A 5.1 oz tube costs $5.99 and is the largest in this group.

Tom's of Maine Whole Care Peppermint contains fluoride, and Tom's of Maine lists it as natural, anticavity and vegan. A 4 oz tube costs $7.99.

What each ounce costs

Divide the price by the number of ounces to compare the cost of these six tubes:

• Exceed Hydroxyapatite: $8.00 ÷ 3.8 oz = $2.11 per ounce regular; $5.19 ÷ 3.8 = $1.37 for members
• Exceed Total Care Sensitive: $7.00 ÷ 3.8 = $1.84 regular; $4.59 ÷ 3.8 = $1.21 for members
• Colgate Total: $5.99 ÷ 5.1 = $1.17
• Tom's of Maine: $7.99 ÷ 4 = $2.00
• Boka Ela Mint: $11.62 ÷ 4 = $2.91
• RiseWell: $12.00 ÷ 3.4 = $3.53; $10.20 ÷ 3.4 = $3.00 on subscription

The Exceed polishes cost less per ounce than Boka and RiseWell, especially for members.

Which toothpaste fits your household?

For a fluoride-free paste with hydroxyapatite, Melaleuca's Exceed Hydroxyapatite Tooth Polish costs the least per ounce of the three, especially at the member price of $1.37. Boka Ela Mint falls in the middle and includes xylitol and green tea extract in a low-foaming paste. RiseWell costs the most per ounce, though a subscription brings its price to $10.20.

If you want fluoride, Exceed Total Care Sensitive costs the least at member pricing and is made for sensitive teeth. Tom's of Maine Whole Care is fluoride toothpaste that Tom's of Maine lists as natural and vegan. Colgate Total comes in the largest tube, and Colgate describes it as fighting the bacteria behind many oral health issues.

Tube sizes range from 3.4 oz for RiseWell to 5.1 oz for Colgate Total. A larger tube may mean fewer reorders. Melaleuca, Boka and RiseWell sell through their own sites, and Colgate and Tom's of Maine list these tubes on theirs.

Ask your dentist about fluoride and hydroxyapatite to decide which fits your family.

Questions about buying and ingredients

How do you buy Melaleuca's Exceed tooth polishes? Buy them through Melaleuca's online store. The listed price is the regular one, and members pay less. Exceed Hydroxyapatite costs $5.19 for members instead of $8.00. Exceed Total Care Sensitive costs $4.59 instead of $7.00, according to Melaleuca's product pages.

What's actually in each tube? The three fluoride-free toothpastes name hydroxyapatite as their core ingredient. Their formulas also include mint oils, xylitol and cleansers. Melaleuca says Exceed Hydroxyapatite adds plant-based cleansers. The three fluoride toothpastes list fluoride, and Colgate names stannous fluoride as its form.

For more on Melaleuca's other personal care products, see the guide to Melaleuca's personal care and skin care products.

Sources

• Exceed Hydroxyapatite Tooth Polish
• Exceed Total Care Sensitive Tooth Polish
• Colgate Total Active Prevention Whitening Toothpaste
• Tom's of Maine Whole Care Peppermint Natural Toothpaste with Fluoride
• Boka Ela Mint Nano-Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste
• RiseWell Mineral Toothpaste