It doesn’t seem that long ago when choosing a toothpaste was hardly a decision at all. You simply walked into a shop, picked up a tube from a fairly small selection and thought no more about it. These days, standing in front of the dental care aisle can feel overwhelming. There are toothpastes for whitening, sensitive teeth, gum care, enamel protection, fresh breath, tartar control and various combinations of all of those. Some promise dramatic results within days, while others appear to have invented entirely new dental problems that only their product can solve.
It is perhaps no surprise then that some of our Catford patients occasionally ask us which toothpaste they should be using.
Quite often, the best toothpaste to use is simply the one that encourages you to brush properly, twice a day, every day.
People sometimes spend a great deal of time comparing brands and their associated problem solving, while paying much less attention to their basic brushing habits. In reality, brushing technique and consistency usually have a greater influence on oral health than whether one particular tube claims to be slightly more advanced than another.
Some toothpastes, though, genuinely do have benefits for certain situations.
One of the first things we tend to look for in any type of toothpaste is fluoride. It is not the most glamorous ingredient and it rarely features as the headline attraction on the packaging, but it remains one of the most important components in modern toothpaste.
Most patients have heard of fluoride, though not everyone is entirely sure what it does. Put simply, it helps strengthen tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to the acids that contribute to decay. For many people, that protective effect is far more valuable than any cosmetic claim printed on the side of the box.
The likelihood is that your current toothpaste does contain fluoride, but it is worth checking. If it doesn’t, you should change to one that does in order to avoid more treatments for tooth decay and other damage.
Most of us probably know somebody who winces when they drink cold water or bite into ice cream. Sometimes the discomfort is brief. Sometimes it is enough to make people avoid certain foods altogether.
Toothpastes designed for sensitivity can help reduce these symptoms, although they often require a little patience. People sometimes have a tendency to use them for a few days, notice no difference and assume they do not work. More often, the improvement develops gradually over a number of weeks.
Even so, sensitivity that appears suddenly or becomes worse should not simply be masked with toothpaste. It could be caused by significant dental problems so please arrange an appointment at the Smile Dental Practice to have your teeth checked if you have sensitive teeth.
Whitening toothpastes are another area where expectations and reality often don't meet. The word ‘whitening’ tends to create images of dramatic smile makeovers. The truth is usually much more modest, and sometimes the change is barely noticeable at all.
Occasionally, whitening toothpastes might be effective, to some degree, at removing surface staining. If you are a tea drinker, coffee drinker or occasional red wine enthusiast, they may help your teeth look a little brighter perhaps. What they generally can’t do though is alter the natural colour of the teeth to anywhere near the same degree as a professional whitening treatment.
A gum care toothpaste can be helpful in supporting healthier gums, but it cannot compensate for plaque that is being left behind every day because certain areas are being missed during brushing. We occasionally see patients who have spent quite a lot of money trying different products when small adjustments to their brushing technique, and the addition of flossing, would almost certainly have produced a greater improvement.
Charcoal toothpastes, natural toothpastes and various alternative formulations have become increasingly popular over recent years. Some people like them because they prefer more natural ingredients. Others are attracted by environmental considerations or simply fancy trying something different.
There is nothing wrong with that. The only advice we would generally offer is not to assume that newer automatically means better. Advertising has always been very good at creating excitement around dental products. Dentistry itself tends to be a little less dramatic!
What matters most is whether the product helps maintain healthy teeth and gums over the long term.
A three-year-old does not need the same toothpaste as an adult, which is why age-specific products exist. Parents are often surprised by how much guidance there is around children's toothpaste, but getting those early habits right can make a real difference later on.
If your child doesn’t like the flavour of a toothpaste, the chances are they will be less enthusiastic about brushing. This can have long term implications for their oral health.
If you are ever unsure about the best toothpaste for your own personal situation, do discuss this with us during your appointment. We spend our working lives looking at teeth and have years of experience which should prove helpful. For more information on this subject or any oral health issue, or to book yourself an appointment with us at our Catford clinic, please call the Smile Dental Practice on 020 8314 5066.
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