I use an even simpler and more reliable system to avoid running out of toothpaste: brushing with plain water. Evidence suggests that brushing with toothpaste (called "dentifrice" in scientific papers) does not remove any more plaque than brushing without it. Here's a systematic review from 2016:
>Does dentifrice use help to remove plaque? A systematic review
"The cumulative evidence for this systematic review demonstrates that there is moderate certainty that toothbrushing with a dentifrice does not provide an added effect for the mechanical removal of dental plaque."
However, plaque removal is not the only purported function of toothpaste. It can also serve as a fluoride delivery system, and fluoride has strong evidence for strengthening teeth. I personally drink a lot of tea, which is a fluoride hyper-accumulator, so I'm more concerned with avoiding fluoride, but if you don't drink tea this might influence your decision to use toothpaste.
There are also some toothpastes with antimicrobial ingredients. Those also have strong evidence for actually doing something, although I'm personally skeptical that messing with your mouth's microbiome like that is a good idea.
Additionally, I believe that toothbrush wear is an underestimated factor in cleaning efficacy. Toothbrush bristles are manufactured with microscopic texturing that helps remove plaque. I can feel the difference when changing from a worn to a new toothbrush. Ben Krasnow of Applied Science has a video on Youtube with electron micrographs showing the difference:
More precisely, there's nothing in that review that even speculates that drinking tea might be an adequate substitute for using a fluoride toothpaste, let alone demonstrates it.
I don't mean to imply it is, I'm simply explaining the reasoning behind my own decision. Fluoride might influence your choice even if you do drink tea.
The idea that a "minty fresh" mouth (or the idea that "mint" implies "fresh" at all) was the product of an ad campaign in the 1930s. It's not some sort of human universal.
But the association could just as well be to cinnamon, or spearmint, or blueberry. US toothpaste aisles have little variation, especially when compared to other countries without the mint obsession.
Then again the flavor choices in US potato chips is extremely constrained too. Never seen the notorious "hedgehog flavoured" in the US!
Practically any other flavor could be used, but mint in general - and peppermint in particular - "drowns out" other scents. So if your breath is just not-so-fresh, rather than downright vile, it's a better choice.
If you have to work around noxious smells, a bottle of peppermint oil gently daubed onto a bandanna or mask helps a lot.
> I use an even simpler and more reliable system to avoid running out of toothpaste: brushing with plain water
Breath though. Wouldn't fly with my wife. I not only brush with toothpaste, I then use some Hexetidine. And then I take a little Fisherman's Friend or something similar.
I like the feeling of freshness. I don't care much about the actual effect: I just care about feeling fresh.
If you have proper dental hygiene there should be no smell from your mouth besides after spicy foods/ onions/ garlic etc. until you brush of the plaque. Or if you are sick (that goes mostly from the bacterial disbalance, the stomach etc.)
Of course, the minty freshness is nice to have but that is just a bonus. Most people rely on this to cover up bad hygiene but a proper dental hygienist will of course see the problems either way.
If you search my comments, I have written about dental hygiene at length. Source: my fiance is a DH, see neighbouring threads.
I use an electric toothbrush, and it leaves no sign of plaque (highly recommended over non-electric ones, by the way). When I start feeling plaque over my teeth, I know it's time to change the brush, that happens maybe every three months.
That assumes you use a suitable electric toothbrush and technique. If you search my comments I have written about dental hygiene before at length.
I use Philips Sonicare, heard good things about Oral-B iO from a dental hygienist who has patients using both.
Of course, flossing using a super floss (OralB makes those) and interdental brushes by Curaprox/ TP of correct sizes is important to also clean the space between your teeth and significantly lower the likelihood of gingivitis and almost eliminates the progression to periodontitis.
And the interdental brushes hopefully more often. Or, of course, you floss in that case you have a harder and more time consuming way of staying on top dental hygiene.
(Source: My fiance is a dental hygienist in Prague, Czechia specializing in periodontology and treatment of advanced periodontitis.)
>Does dentifrice use help to remove plaque? A systematic review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27513809/
"The cumulative evidence for this systematic review demonstrates that there is moderate certainty that toothbrushing with a dentifrice does not provide an added effect for the mechanical removal of dental plaque."
However, plaque removal is not the only purported function of toothpaste. It can also serve as a fluoride delivery system, and fluoride has strong evidence for strengthening teeth. I personally drink a lot of tea, which is a fluoride hyper-accumulator, so I'm more concerned with avoiding fluoride, but if you don't drink tea this might influence your decision to use toothpaste.
There are also some toothpastes with antimicrobial ingredients. Those also have strong evidence for actually doing something, although I'm personally skeptical that messing with your mouth's microbiome like that is a good idea.
Additionally, I believe that toothbrush wear is an underestimated factor in cleaning efficacy. Toothbrush bristles are manufactured with microscopic texturing that helps remove plaque. I can feel the difference when changing from a worn to a new toothbrush. Ben Krasnow of Applied Science has a video on Youtube with electron micrographs showing the difference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwN983PnJoA