Does It Matter What Toothpaste You Use?

Toothpastes come in all forms and types, so which one should you use? The Blue Sky Dental Team Advises.

The use of toothpaste is an important part of having healthy teeth. Many of us probably still use the same toothpaste that we got used to as children. Advertising though, will certainly have had an impact on our choice as may other factors. Given the wide range of toothpastes on sale in chemists, health shops and supermarkets, the choice can be bewildering and, without a little care, we could be convinced to buy a toothpaste that is not really suitable for our purpose.

In today’s Blue Sky Dental blog, we are going to take a look at some of the various types of toothpaste currently available. While we will not discuss individual brands, we have sorted this by the actual types available which we hope will put you on the right track to finding a toothpaste that will keep your teeth in good health.

Fluoride toothpastes

If you go to a supermarket and look at the various well known brands that are available, you will find that they virtually all have one thing in common, and that is that they contain fluoride. This is important as fluoride plays an important role in keeping our tooth enamel strong and healthy and more resistant to damage and harm from bacteria and acids. It has proven to be effective in reducing the risk of cavities and other problems over the years and is well established as an important ingredient in any toothpaste.

High fluoride toothpastes

These are generally available only on prescription in the UK. This is because although fluoride is important for strong tooth enamel, there is an increased risk of toxicity caused by swallowing the toothpaste, although this is very rare. While they do offer benefits for some patients to help them preserve remaining teeth, this has to be balanced against the risk factor, and especially for younger children who may be tempted to eat the toothpaste or to swallow after brushing.

Fluoride free toothpaste

One of the most common places to find toothpastes that don’t contain fluoride is in health food shops. This is due to the belief by some that having fluoride means that the toothpaste is not made of ‘natural’ ingredients and is therefore unhealthy. While everyone has the right to choose the toothpaste of their choice, our Chelmsford dental clinic firmly believes that choosing this option will increase your chances of cavities forming in the future and we do not recommend it.

Teeth whitening toothpaste

Outside of the ‘regular’ toothpastes, perhaps the most popular one to buy is the teeth whitening toothpaste. This is understandable as who doesn’t want to have a whiter smile than they currently have? Unfortunately, most people who buy these are likely to end up disappointed. While they do contain the active ingredient that dentists use to whiten teeth, it is in a much smaller quantity than dentists use during a teeth whitening procedure. Whitening toothpastes contain just 0.1% of the active ingredient where dentists are allowed to use much higher quantities. There is also the possibility that some of these toothpastes will also contain abrasive materials to help remove surface staining. Unfortunately, this is likely to cause enamel erosion and, if you want to have whiter teeth, we recommend that you speak to us first.

Sensitive toothpastes and gum health toothpastes

We have put these two together as both contain ingredients that are designed to help their specific target market. Both of these can be very useful and as long as the toothpaste contains fluoride, we are happy to recommend them to relevant patients. We do recommend though that if you are having problems with sensitive teeth or have gum problems, that you also see your dentist or hygienist so that any other applicable treatment can be provided too. We may, in some circumstances, recommend a specific toothpaste to suit your individual situation.

Charcoal toothpastes

These became popular for a while but seem less so now. Their main claim is that they whiten teeth. As this might appeal to people who like ‘natural’ products, we thought it was still worth including. Some of these might still include fluoride but even if they do, the abrasive nature of the charcoal ingredients means that they may well damage your teeth if used in excess. We would recommend that you avoid this product as it is not the most user-friendly.

For the vast majority of our Chelmsford patients, any of the standard toothpastes that contain fluoride will work just fine and your choice is probably largely down to taste. If you have specific issues such as sensitivity, the appropriate targeted toothpaste may offer some benefits but we suggest you discuss this with your dentist first.

For any general dental advice or to book an appointment at Blue Sky Dental, please give us a call on 01245 211070.