Choosing the Best Toothpaste for You

Early in the last century, choosing a toothpaste was pretty simple. Due to economics and a limited selection of alternatives, most people simply used a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda. Even with the bitter flavor and rough texture at least it left a feeling of cleaner teeth and fresher breath.

Today’s tooth paste selection options present a whole new level of complexity to choosing the right toothpaste for you. This article will hopefully help you better understand those options.

Here are some primary variability’s

  • Abrasive agents
  • plaque control
  • caring for sensitive teeth
  • gum care
  • whitening agents

Toothpaste can come in a number of different forms from powders to gels. However most have some similar ingredients because of the common purpose they have for cleaning your teeth, controlling plaque build up, whitening your teeth and helping to freshen your breath.

Abrasive Agents

In varying degrees most toothpaste contains some sort of abrasive agent. This is the working function of the toothpaste which helps remove stains, eliminate plaque build up, and dislodge food particles in the gaps and tight spaces between your teeth. Check the ingredients on the side of the box to compare the amount of silicates and calcium carbonates included. The higher the level the more abrasive power the toothpaste has. If you have sensitive gums or teeth, you will want a lower level.

Fluoride

Also check the ingredients for the level of fluorides in the toothpaste. Fluoride ingredients included in toothpaste has done more to reduce tooth decay than any other single factor in the past century. Fluoride kills bacteria that build up due to the sugars and starches which are in most American diets. Fluoride strengthens the enamel of your teeth which helps keep them stronger and helps avoid tooth decay.

Tartar Control

Tartar control toothpastes normally contain fluoride. Tartar is a hardened substance on the teeth which is caused when layers of bacteria have built up over time. In other words Tartar is hardened plaque and is very difficult to fully remove without professional cleaning. Tartar buildup can lead to gum disease. Look on the box of your toothpaste to see which agents are used for tarter control. Look for the active ingredient sodium pyrophosphate to see how much tartar control the toothpaste has. Just be aware that toothpaste with high tartar control can lead to sensitive teeth over time and a small percentage of users have encountered increased levels of canker sores.

Sensitive Teeth

People with sensitive teeth experience substantial pain when eating or drinking anything that is very hot or cold. Sensitive teeth toothpaste generally includes an element of potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate may help relieve sensitive teeth pain by blocking pathways in the teeth that attach to nerves.

Whitening Agents

In recent years whitening toothpaste has become very popular. Most tooth whiteners use one of two chemical agents: carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. When used in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with the active whitening ingredient being hydrogen peroxide. In other words this process is literally bleaching your teeth. To date there has been very little negative side affect to using toothpaste with whitening agents.

Of course when selecting a toothpaste always look for the ADA seal of approval. The seal gives you the assurance that the toothpaste has met strict requirements for dental safety and effectiveness.

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