Flossing and brushing teeth are two essential habits we must do daily as a good oral health practice. While brushing teeth without toothpaste is fine, brushing teeth with toothpaste is better. Toothpaste has substances that will give additional benefits to brushing teeth regularly. One of the most important ingredients is fluoride. Most toothpaste we find on the market contains fluoride. Dental experts agree that fluoride includes minerals that are good for dental health.
Choosing which toothpaste is best for us can be tricky. It can easily confuse us since there are many toothpaste brands and types to choose from. Most people might select the one with the brands they are familiar with. Brushing our teeth is something we do daily, and it is necessary to know what toothpaste best suits you.
TABLE OF CONTENT
What qualities should a good toothpaste have?
What is the most effective toothpaste?
Should you always use the same toothpaste?
What qualities should a good toothpaste have?
Using good toothpaste for brushing teeth can add extra protection to your teeth. There are plenty of choices on the market with different formulas and ingredients. To give an idea of what qualities in a toothpaste you should choose, we have a checklist to guide you:
- Approved by CDA (Canadian Dental Association)
The CDA does comprehensive testing to ensure the toothpaste meets the standards and verifies the claims. The CDA seal ensures that the toothpaste meets the safety and effectiveness criteria.
- Flouride
The CDA supports the appropriate use of fluoride in toothpaste and mouth rinse products. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps to protect the tooth enamel from growing bacteria that causes tooth decay.
- Enamel protection and tartar control
Besides fluoride, there are ingredients in toothpaste that help to protect tooth enamel from plaque and tartar buildup. Some antibacterial agents, such as triclosan, zinc citrate, and pyrophosphates, are suitable for fighting harmful bacteria from growing.
- Safe ingredients
The CDA must have approved toothpaste with safe ingredients. Remember to check the CDA approval of the toothpaste before you purchase it.
- Abrasiveness
There are scratchy substances in toothpaste, commonly called abrasive agents. These abrasive agents are being used to help remove food particle residuals and stains in the tooth enamel. However, a certain level of abrasiveness can be too much and cause tooth enamel erosion. Toothpaste with an acceptable level of Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) must not exceed 250. Pay attention to the abrasiveness range of your toothpaste.
- Pleasant taste
Most toothpaste has artificial flavours to give a pleasant taste. Some toothpaste brands have nice flavours like mint and artificial sweeteners to provide you with a good experience when using their toothpaste. A toothpaste with a pleasant taste will encourage you to brush your teeth regularly.
What is the most effective toothpaste?
You should consider using specifically formulated toothpaste if you have specific dental needs or conditions. Various types of toothpaste contain agents more focused on one dental health need than another.
These particular kinds of toothpaste may fit better as the most effective toothpaste for your specific dental conditions:
- Teeth whitening
Many people need teeth whitening toothpaste for their discoloured teeth caused by smoking, drinking or eating certain foods. Whitening toothpaste works as stain removal by lessening the staining effect on the tooth enamel. Ingredients such as peroxide and condensed phosphates are abrasive scratchy materials. These abrasive agents slowly reduce the stains in the tooth enamel. That’s why you can see the result after prolonged use.
- Sensitive teeth
Although most toothpaste is designed to be sensitive-teeth friendly, whitening toothpaste might irritate tooth sensitivity. Thus, whitening toothpaste might be too abrasive and not suitable for people with sensitive teeth. On the other hand, toothpaste for sensitive teeth usually contains potassium nitrate or strontium chloride.
- Braces
If you experience sensitivity when wearing braces, a toothpaste for sensitive teeth might be a good fit. A suitable toothpaste could make your braces-wearing experience a more comfortable one.
- Bad breath.
There is a type of toothpaste specially formulated to reduce bad breath. The buildup of bacteria and oral diseases commonly cause bad breath. This toothpaste usually contains more antibacterial agents to help fight harmful bacteria. But in the long run, you can only solve the bad breath problem by treating the oral disease causing it.
- Anti-cavity.
Most toothpaste brands already contain fluoride, which helps to strengthen enamel and fight tooth decay. Ingredients such as calcium and phosphate combined with fluoride help create a powerful defence system for your teeth to prevent cavities.
Should you always use the same toothpaste?
Changing your toothpaste is unnecessary if you don’t have any concerns with the toothpaste you are currently using. Unless you use whitening toothpaste, prolonged use of this can damage your teeth.
One common reason to switch your toothpaste is if you use a medicated toothpaste for medical or dental treatment. Your dentist might have detected dental issues and recommend you to use a different toothpaste. Catching and treating problems early with the right toothpaste can improve oral hygiene.
Conclusion
On top of flossing and brushing your teeth to maintain oral health and cleanliness, it is vital to have a professional cleaning every six months from a dentist.
At Dental Eastman, our dentists are always happy to offer toothpaste recommendations or demonstrate how to use floss. We also encourage you to have a dental consultation to understand what type of toothpaste is best for you.