How to Choose the Right Toothpaste for Your Oral Health
Does shopping for toothpaste ever feel overwhelming? Do you still purchase the same brand you used as a kid? There are so many products on store shelves, from everyday toothpastes in all different flavors to specialty options like whitening, sensitive, fluoride-free, and natural. How do you go about choosing the right toothpaste for your oral health?
The good news is that with a little forethought and some guidance from your friends at Sunrise Dental, choosing the right toothpaste may not be as difficult as you think!
How Do I Choose the Right Toothpaste?
The type of toothpaste you buy first depends on what you need it to do. Every person’s oral health needs are different, and not every toothpaste on the market has exactly what you need.
When shopping for a toothpaste, first ask yourself a few questions:
- Are my teeth and/or gums sensitive?
- Do I want to whiten my teeth?
- Did my dentist tell me I have gum disease?
- Do my teeth need tartar protection?
- Do I have any dry mouth symptoms?
- Is toothpaste with natural ingredients important to me?
Deciding what you require in a toothpaste will help narrow down the selection, making the decision a bit easier. And if you’re unsure about your answers to the questions above, ask us for a recommendation at your next cleaning.
What to Look for in a Toothpaste
There are several other key things to look for when choosing the right toothpaste, from fluoride content to abrasiveness to flavor. Here are a few more factors to consider:
#1: ADA Seal of Acceptance
The American Dental Association (ADA) regulates dental products like toothpaste through its Seal of Acceptance. A product with ADA’s seal means it meets their specific standards. For example, toothpaste with an ADA Seal of Acceptance:
- Must contain fluoride
- Cannot contain a flavor ingredient that causes tooth decay, such as sugar
- Has to include an abrasive agent strong enough to effectively remove stains and plaque build-up from teeth
#2: Fluoride
We highly recommend choosing a toothpaste with fluoride in it. Not only is fluoride a natural cavity stopper, it also strengthens your tooth enamel, helping to keep tooth decay away. If you suffer from gum disease, or need to rebuild your enamel, we can prescribe a professional-grade fluoride toothpaste for you.
#3: Mild Abrasiveness
Although the ADA Seal of Acceptance guarantees that toothpaste will have an abrasive agent, there are different levels of abrasiveness to watch out for. For example, whitening toothpaste will be more abrasive than sensitive toothpaste. Using toothpaste that is too abrasive (like charcoal toothpaste) can damage tooth enamel. In general, look for a toothpaste with 70 to 150 Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA).
#4: Flavoring
While mint still reigns supreme when it comes to toothpaste, nowadays there are a lot more flavors to choose from. Toothpaste flavors range from fruits like strawberry and watermelon to more fanciful options like chocolate, cinnamon, bubblegum, and coffee. Selecting a toothpaste flavor comes down to personal preference. However, remember to look for toothpaste that does not have sugar as an ingredient.
Choosing the Right Toothpaste in Peoria, Arizona
Do you need advice on how to choose the right toothpaste? Our friendly dentists would be happy to help! Make an appointment for a cleaning and exam at Sunrise Dental, and we’ll recommend the best toothpaste option for maintaining your oral health. Give us a call today at 623-487-4870, and start smiling brighter.
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