Everything You Wanted to Know About Toothpaste

How to Chose a Toothpaste

In general, any toothpaste will work well for you if it contains fluoride. Fluoride actually strengthens teeth and prevents cavities. It is perhaps the most important ingredient in toothpaste.

In addition to finding a toothpaste with fluoride, we strongly suggest that you search for a toothpaste that is minimally abrasive. Toothpaste contains abrasives which help clean teeth. Unfortunately, these abrasives can sometimes strip away tooth enamel, making teeth sensitive to heat, cold, and sweets.

Many people ask whether they should use toothpaste containing baking soda or peroxide. Most dentists agree that baking soda and peroxide do very little to clean teeth. They do give the sensation of a cleaner mouth, and if this sensation makes a person more inclined to brush, then these toothpastes may be worth the investment.

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Special Cases: While most people can use any toothpaste that contains fluoride and is minimally abrasive, there are certain situations in which it may be advisable to use a specific type of toothpaste.

Mouth Sore (Canker Sore) Toothpastes: As previously mentioned, nearly twenty percent of the population suffers from small oral ulcers called canker sores. SLS, a detergent in toothpaste, is a major promoter of canker sores. Nearly 4 out of 5 sufferers experience relief from canker sores when they switch to toothpaste without SLS, such as Enamel Saver Toothpaste.

Whitening Toothpastes: Contrary to what many people think, whitening toothpastes do not increase the whiteness of the underlying tooth. What they do is remove stains so that the underlying whiteness of the tooth becomes more apparent.

Think of these toothpastes as "carwashes" for your teeth. In the same way that a good car washing removes the dirt and grime on your car making it sparkle, whitening toothpastes remove stains and plaque from your teeth, making your smile shine.

It is important to note that while effective in removing stains, some brands of whitening toothpastes can destroy tooth enamel in the process. Due to their harsh abrasives, these toothpastes, over time, may strip tooth enamel, making teeth appear yellow and causing teeth to become sensitive to cold or hot foods and liquids, sweets, baking soda, and highly salted foods.

We suggest using one of the newer brands of whitening toothpastes which do not contain harsh abrasives but instead use more gentle methods for removing stains from teeth. SuperSmile toothpaste, in particular, is one of the best whitening toothpastes we have come across.

Instead of utilizing harsh abrasives, SuperSmile toothpaste uses the patented ingredient Calprox^® (calcium peroxide). Calprox^® non-abrasively dissolves the clear, sticky protein film on teeth to which coffee, tea, tobacco, wine and other stains adhere. The result: teeth that appear whiter, feel smoother, and remain cleaner.

Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste: Tooth sensitivity (dentin hypersensitivity) occurs as temporary tooth discomfort or pain after eating hot or cold foods and liquids, sweets, or using baking soda.

Most commonly, the problem begins when the gums recede or when tooth enamel is stripped away. Like protective blankets, the gums and enamel cover the dentin layer of teeth. This dentin layer contains small pores that lead directly to the tooth nerve As gums recede or tooth enamel is stripped, the underlying dentin and its open pores are exposed. Pressure, hot stimuli, and cold stimuli, etc. can then travel down the tubules and trigger the tooth nerve, causing pain and discomfort.

If changing to a less abrasive toothpaste doesn't reduce sensitivity, you can try a "sensitivity" toothpaste, such as Sensodyne (and a host of others) which use potassium nitrate to desensitize the tooth nerve, so that it's not so easily stimulated.

If this doesn't work, or you want a permanent solution, your dentist can prescribe an ultra high fluoride toothpaste, which usually solves your tooth sensitivity problems by helping to plug open dentinal tubules.

To prevent occurrence or recurrence of tooth sensitivity, try Enamel Saver Toothpaste. It has one of the lowest abrasivities, whitens gently, and effectively removes plaque and stains. Some people who use Enamel Saver exclusively have found that their tooth sensitivity has disappeared.

Toothpaste for Gum Disease: There are several products on the market that have been shown to significantly improve the condition of those who suffer from bleeding gums due to gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.

One such toothpaste is Crest Gum Care. Another gum disease toothpaste is Colgate Total. Unfortunately, Crest Gum Care contains irritating sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), pyrophosphates, and tin salts while Colgate Total contains irritating sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

Ongoing clinical studies (double blind, American Dental Association protocol) clearly show that Mouth Friendly^® Enamel Saver^® toothpaste prevents and ameliorates gum disease without artificial ingredients such as tin salts, triclosan, and SLS. The secret of Enamel Saver is that it contains a healthy dose of natural Xylitol -- 36% by weight -- to profoundly reduce plaque, the number one enemy of gum disease sufferers. No other toothpaste has anywhere near this amount.

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