How To Choose Toothpaste

Toothpaste is the cornerstone of your oral hygiene routine. Brushing thoroughly with the right toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush is necessary for your overall health and wellbeing, so choosing the right toothpaste is vital. 

There is a plethora of toothpaste today, from whitening formulas to baking soda-based pastes and pastes with activated charcoal as a key ingredient. This article will give an overview of the most common toothpaste ingredients, ingredients to avoid, and active ingredients in toothpaste that help with whitening to make choosing the right toothpaste easier than ever before.

While most toothpaste looks the same - a white or blue paste packaged in a convenient squeeze tube - they are not all created equal. The distinguishing factor among toothpaste varieties is the key active ingredient that cleanses teeth and optimizes oral health. Therefore, it’s crucial to select a toothpaste that is ADA certified and one that is hermetically sealed for sanitation and manufactured and sold by reputable brands for your safety and health.

It’s essential to consider the ingredients in your toothpaste, as they will play a key role in cleaning the mouth, preventing tartar growth, and preserving gum health. 

Ingredients that clean the mouth:

• -Fluoride
• -Hydrogen Peroxide
• -Baking Soda

Ingredients that prevent tartar overgrowth:

• -Pyrophosphates
• -Zinc citrate

Preserve and enhance the health of the gums:

• -Fluoride
• -Hydrogen Peroxide

In addition to looking for good ingredients in toothpaste, it’s imperative to steer clear of ingredients that contribute to sensitivity, are not effective, or are not considered safe.

Ingredients that contribute to tooth sensitivity 

-High levels of abrasives, like high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or baking soda

Ingredients that have not been proven to be safe

• New ingredients, such as carbamide peroxide, boasted of whitening but have not been tested enough to be proven safe. 

Ingredients that do not have scientific consensus establishing effectiveness

• Activated charcoal, botanical ingredients, or essential oils. While these ingredients are not necessarily ‘bad’ or unsafe, they should not be sought out as a solution to your oral health woes. 

Now that we’ve established which ingredients to look for and which to avoid in toothpaste, we will explore the best toothpaste for specific conditions and goals.

If you have sensitive teeth, you should consider selecting a formula that is created especially for sensitive enamel. Look for keywords like ‘sensitivity-free,’ ‘sensitive formula,’ and ‘gentle’ on the packaging. Many of these options will contain less or no abrasives and use lower concentrations of whitening agents.

There are several options for whitening. Baking soda has long been boasted as a gentle whitening agent. While other whitening agents may be popular, dental professionals consider hydrogen peroxide the superior whitening agent found in toothpaste. Looking for ‘whitening’ ‘white’ and ‘brilliant’ on packaging when searching for a whitening formula. 

You should seek toothpaste that cleans effectively and thoroughly for braces and orthodontic devices. Sodium lauryl sulfate is a detergent ingredient that foams to penetrate hard-to-reach spaces for a deep clean. It is also advisable to steer clear of aggressive whitening formulas. You would not want to whiten the exposed part of teeth more than the concealed surfaces, which may leave you with an uneven enamel color once the braces or orthodontics are removed. 

If you suffer from bad breath or simply want to stay super fresh, consider toothpaste with a powerful cleaning ingredient that will help to kill bacteria. Bacteria is often the culprit behind bad breath, so eliminating bad-breath-causing bacteria will alleviate this issue. Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent cleaning agent that kills bacteria.

Fluoride is also helpful in preventing bad breath. This ingredient remineralizes enamel, making it resistant to bacteria growth and decay.

Gum health is vital for your overall oral health. Strong, healthy gums anchor teeth in place and prevent bacterial growth in the mouth. To choose a good toothpaste for gums, look for labels mentioning ‘gingivitis care,’ ‘gum health,’ and ‘gum detox.’ These formulas contain fluoride, which effectively cleans and fights plaque buildup. 

Your toothpaste is a staple in your daily routine, an essential that you reach for twice daily to brighten your smile and care for your teeth. As such, it’s necessary to look for good ingredients, avoid complex formulas, and search for your specific concern. If you’re looking to try something new, we recommend Twice Toothpaste, a vitamin-infused professional-grade toothpaste that deeply cleans, prevents plaque build-up, and gently whitens teeth.