How can I choose the best toothpaste?

Good oral hygiene is essential for healthy teeth and gums that will last you for a lifetime.

Brushing your teeth regularly, at least twice a day, is a key element of oral hygiene. But choosing the right toothpaste includes considering a lot of components specifically designed to protect and improve your teeth. 

The common ingredients of a toothpastes include:

–       saccharin, a sweetener

–       calcium carbonate and silicates, which are abrasive materials

–       glycerol, to give the toothpaste a gel-like consistency

–       sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), a detergent that causes toothpaste to foam, which has been reported to cause canker sores or mouth ulcers

Being aware of the ingredients allows people to avoid specific chemicals if they are sensitive to them.

What are good ingredients for my oral health?

Fluoride is the one must-have element in a toothpaste to prevent cavities.

Fluoride works by strengthening your tooth enamel, which is the outside layer of your tooth, so it is resistant to oral bacteria.

It also remineralizes your tooth enamel, which is the main reason tooth decay and cavities have reduced dramatically over the past 50 years. Most dentists consider fluoride to be an essential ingredient in toothpaste.

Calcium Sodium-phosphosilicate is a synthetic mineral composed of calcium, sodium, phosphorous and silica. This element helps reduce tooth sensitivity, supports remineralization of acid erosion and abrasion and reduces the likelihood of dental caries and gingivitis.

Casein phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) is a milk protein peptide that is bound to amorphous calcium phosphate. It remineralizes acid erosion and promotes fluoride uptake in dental plaque.

Arginine bicarbonate and calcium carbonate is an amino acid complex found in saliva that is bound to calcium carbonate. It reduces tooth sensitivity and dental caries. It makes tooth surfaces smooth and glossy, remineralizes acid erosion and abrasion and removes extrinsic tooth stain.

Which toothpaste ingredients should I be mindful of?

Manufacturers should mention any flavourings and sweeteners on the toothpaste label. Look out for the following, depending on what you want your toothpaste to do for you:

·       In some cases, desensitizing toothpastes contain specific compounds, such as potassium nitrate. This element will improve your tooth sensitivity and reduce pain or discomfort when brushing teeth.

·       Some other people want a whiter smile and whitening toothpastes can help. They normally contain abrasive ingredients such as peroxide or citroxain that polish the teeth or remove stains from the tooth surface.

·       Some toothpastes with extra compounds such as zinc citrate and triclosan can prevent tartar build-up. Tartar is formed if you don’t remove the plaque with a good brushing and flossing.

·       Flavoured toothpastes are the most frequently used for children to encourage them to brush regularly.

Always check the ingredients first before choosing your toothpaste. If you have allergies or sensitivities towards certain ingredients, you should ask your dentist for toothpaste recommendations. Your dentist is familiar with your specific dental needs and may encourage you to use a specific type of toothpaste.