Two Rules for Choosing the Right Toothpaste
Picking toothpaste should not be a difficult task. However, a lot of our patients come to us, overwhelmed by the number of options in the toothpaste aisle. We don’t blame you if this seemingly simple job turns into a headache. In fact, we’ve dedicated this entire blog post to helping you find the right toothpaste for your oral needs! Here are 2 important rules to choosing toothpaste.
Rule #1: ADA Seal of Acceptance
If you remember only one thing from this blog post, remember this:
Choose toothpaste that has the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
What is this seal? The ADA seal is a sign that shows the ADA (American Dental Association) considers the product to be safe and effective. Since the American Dental Association tests products heavily and is the cornerstone of the dental industry this seal is legitimate.
Plus, there are over 300 oral care products that sport this seal so we don’t imagine you will have trouble finding toothpaste with it.
Rule #2: Get to Know Your Teeth
Knowing your teeth means knowing your oral hygiene strengths and weaknesses. For example, you may have sparkling white teeth but suffer from frequent cavities. Knowing your oral health weaknesses means that you are halfway there to choosing the right toothpaste. To make this easier for you, we’ve identified several common dental flaws and paired them with the ingredients to look for in your paste!
Sensitive teeth: Sensitivity to hot or cold can be painful. Some patients of ours even experience sensitivity to brushing. To combat this problem, look for a paste that has desensitizing ingredients like strontium chloride or potassium nitrate. If your teeth are sensitive during brushing, you may be brushing too hard. Switch to a toothbrush with softer bristles or try holding your toothbrush with just your index finger and thumb when brushing.
Teeth prone to cavities: Cavities are no joke. Each one means another dentist appointment and another filling. If you can’t get away from these monsters, switch to a paste with fluoride. Fluoride can decreas the number of cavities you develop. It works by preventing bad bacteria from sticking to your teeth. While you’re out, grab a mouth rinse with fluoride and switch to drinking fluoridated tap water instead of bottled water.
Tartar build-up: If you consistently notice thick, white material that won’t come off during brushing, this is tartar. Once tartar develops on your teeth no amount of brushing will remove it. It takes the power of a dentist to scrape it off. Prevent tartar with pastes that have tartar-fighting ingredients such as pyrophosphates or zinc citrate.
Yellowing teeth: It’s only a matter of time until you see some yellow action on your teeth. It’s natural and can be increased by any number of factors including age, genetics, diet, poor oral hygiene, etc. To restore your pearly whites, try switching to a paste with whitening agents. We recommend looking for pastes that have modified silicone abrasives. These abrasives are safe for your enamel and polish away stains for a brighter smile.
Natural products: If you like to be able to pronounce the ingredients you put in your mouth, try natural toothpaste. These pastes are just as effective. Just make sure it has the ADA Seal of Acceptance. If you do not find any natural toothpastes at your regular stops, try a store that specializes in natural products.
We hope these 2 rules help you the next time you need to restock on toothpaste. For more information on choosing the right toothpaste for you, visit us at Southwest Family Dentistry or call us at (386) 752-1220.
Photo Credit: Identity Station
