There are a lot of toothpastes that boast that they are “Dentist Recommended” and a lot of people ask me which I recommend so I thought I would put in my two cents on the issue. To put it bluntly, it doesn’t really matter that much. There is no secret toothpaste among the dozens at the grocery store that is the best. That being said. there are a couple of things to keep in mind when buying toothpaste.
The number one thing to look for when buying toothpaste is fluoride. You want a toothpaste with a good amount of fluoride and if you stick to the main brands this shouldn’t be much of a problem. I will probably post another blog soon just about fluoride to clear up some of the confusion and misconceptions currently surrounding it, but it is key if you want to prevent cavities. If you absolutely don’t want to use fluoride the best alternative is probably Tom’s of Maine. Just know that you will have more cavities.
You also want to try to find a toothpaste that isn’t too harsh. Whitening toothpastes tend to be pretty harsh on your teeth and can cause some sensitivity. I also haven’t really seen a lot of evidence that they help all that much. Toothpastes with peroxide or baking soda can also be quite harsh especially to your gums. That being said, if you want to use a whitening toothpaste you can. Just be careful and stop if you get any sensitivity. If you do have tooth sensitivity for whatever reason look for a sensitive toothpaste. I like Sensodyne, but any will work.
And that’s about it: buy toothpaste with fluoride and avoid anything too harsh. Just stick to the name-brand toothpastes and you will be alright. Aside from that just buy whichever flavor or marketing you like best!
Dr. Chad L. Wagstaff DDS
