How Do You Choose The Best Toothpaste For Your Needs?

Helping our patients make an informed choice when shopping.

We are sometimes asked, by our Burton and Ashby patients, which toothpaste they should buy. The choice of toothpastes is now much wider than at probably any other time in the past. TV adverts regularly make claims for toothpastes aimed at a number of dental problems and choosing the right one can sometimes prove to be a headache!

Although Alexandra Dental Care don’t wish to recommend one particular brand over another, our general guide to toothpastes below, might be useful to patients unsure of which toothpaste to buy.

‘Quality’ toothpaste

Brushing your teeth is very important, and you should always make sure that you change your toothbrush, or brush head, every three months in order that it remains effective. If you continue to use a worn toothbrush, it probably won’t matter greatly which toothpaste you use, as the soft and damaged bristles will not clean your teeth efficiently. Prices of toothpastes can vary widely, and it is very difficult to ascertain whether a newer, cheaper brand is as efficient as a well known brand. Whilst everyone will have their own favourites, there are a few things to keep an eye open for when looking for a good quality toothpaste.

Fluoride – A good toothpaste must include fluoride. This helps to strengthen the enamel on your teeth, helping to protect your teeth from decay. Whilst most toothpastes will contain this, you should especially check ‘natural’ toothpastes as these may not always do so.

Small print – If you are attracted to a particular toothpaste because of  a TV advert, try to make sure to read the small print at the bottom of the screen. This often contains a legal requirement about the claims, and is likely to give a truer picture of the results that you might expect.

‘Targeted’ toothpastes

Increasingly, toothpastes are marketed to target a specific problem. Two of the most common are those aimed at whitening teeth and preventing gum disease. It is worth looking at the claims of these toothpastes.

Teeth whitening – There are two ways in which teeth can be whitened using a toothpaste. Firstly, added abrasives can be used to remove surface staining. In fact, nearly all toothpastes already include an abrasive element, and care should be taken not to wear down the surface enamel of your teeth through excessive brushing. Secondly, a whitening agent is sometimes included in the toothpaste which is aimed at lightening the inner part of the tooth. Whilst these both sound like good ideas, the fact is that neither method comes anywhere near close to the teeth whitening effect from a professional cosmetic whitening treatment. Patients hoping to see significant results from a whitening toothpaste are likely to be disappointed, although small improvements may be made.

Toothpastes aimed at gum disease may be more useful, and some contain sodium bicarbonate which helps to break down layers of bacteria which build up on your teeth if not removed. These are useful toothpastes, but you should always remember to also floss your teeth and see a dental hygienist regularly.

We hope that this quick guide proves useful for our Burton and Ashby patients and we are always happy to discuss any dental matters with you during your appointment at Alexandra Dental Care. To arrange your appointment, please call us on 01283 216347.

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