Your mouth contains somewhere in the region of 700 different bacterial species. The overwhelming majority of them are either neutral or actively beneficial - they outcompete pathogenic bacteria, maintain a healthy pH, support the mucosa, and play a role in digestion that we’re only beginning to understand.
The goal of oral hygiene is not to eliminate this ecosystem. It’s to keep it in balance. That distinction matters when you look at what some conventional toothpaste and mouthwash ingredients actually do.
What ‘oral microbiome disruption’ actually means
Dysbiosis - the technical term for microbial imbalance - occurs when the relative balance of bacterial species in the oral environment shifts away from the stable, diverse community associated with good health. This can be caused by illness, medication, diet, and yes, by the products used to clean the mouth.
When dysbiosis occurs in the oral cavity, it’s associated with increased risk of cavities, gum disease, persistent bad breath, and more recently, with systemic conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This is not fringe science - the oral-systemic connection is now a mainstream research area.
Ingredients worth looking at closely
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is the primary foaming agent in most conventional toothpastes. It’s a surfactant - its job is to create lather and help distribute the toothpaste over tooth surfaces. It doesn’t have antimicrobial properties per se, but it disrupts the oral mucosa. By affecting the integrity of the mucosal lining, it changes the microenvironment in which oral bacteria operate, which can shift microbiome balance over time. Published studies also link SLS use to increased frequency of aphthous ulcers in susceptible individuals. An SLS-free toothpaste is a straightforward alternative.
Alcohol in mouthwash (ethanol)
This one has the clearest mechanism. Ethanol is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial: it kills bacteria indiscriminately and dries out the oral mucosa. Daily use has been shown to significantly reduce oral microbiome diversity, with recovery taking days after each use. The net effect of daily alcohol-based mouthwash use is a chronically less diverse oral microbiome - which, given what we know about the importance of diversity, is not a desirable outcome. An alcohol-free mouthwash with targeted active ingredients (CPC, xylitol) achieves effective antimicrobial action without this collateral disruption.
Synthetic antimicrobials: triclosan
Triclosan, once common in toothpastes marketed for gum disease protection, has been largely phased out of consumer products in the EU and US following regulatory scrutiny over its broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects and potential links to antimicrobial resistance. If you have an older product with triclosan on the label, it’s worth replacing. Most mainstream toothpastes no longer contain it, but it’s worth checking.
A note on fluoride
Fluoride is effective against Streptococcus mutans - the primary cavity-causing bacterium - and has decades of clinical evidence behind it. Some research has begun to examine its effects on the broader oral microbiome at concentrations used in toothpaste. This is an active research area and the evidence is not yet settled. We’re not suggesting fluoride is harmful to the oral microbiome - we’re noting that the question is being asked, and that it’s a legitimate reason some people are exploring hydroxyapatite-based alternatives.
What microbiome-supportive oral care looks like
The goal is selective - targeting pathogenic bacteria while supporting the conditions in which a diverse, healthy microbiome can thrive. In practice:
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SLS-free toothpaste: reduces mucosal disruption
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Xylitol: selectively inhibits S. mutans without broad antimicrobial effects
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Hydroxyapatite: supports enamel remineralisation without broad biocidal action
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Alcohol-free mouthwash with CPC: targeted antibacterial, preserves microbiome diversity
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No synthetic antimicrobials beyond what’s clinically indicated
The shift in thinking is from ‘how do we kill the most bacteria’ to ‘how do we support the right balance.’ It’s the same paradigm shift that happened in gut health ten years ago, and it’s well overdue in oral care.
→ Laro’s toothpaste and mouthwash are formulated with the oral microbiome in mind: SLS-free, alcohol-free, with xylitol and hydroxyapatite. Explore the range.