This is a question I am asked frequently and the answer to the question depends entirely on your dental needs. There are so many toothpastes on the market, it’s no surprise that there is some confusion when putting one into your shopping basket. Toothpastes do multiple things and I am going to discuss each one below:
Fluoride is the most important ingredient in toothpaste. It is safe and helps protect your teeth from becoming decayed and needing fillings. It does this by mixing in with your saliva and offering protection even after tooth brushing. The toothpaste brand is irrelevant i.e. a toothpaste that costs 50p can be equally as effective as one that costs £10 as long as it has 1400ppm fluoride in it. Please check the ingredients list for this information.
If you suffer from sensitivity, it is important that you use a toothpaste which is targeted for this dental issue. There are many different brands that offer a sensitivity range and there isn’t one that is better than the other. It can take some trial and error to find the brand and type of toothpaste that is right for you. Please ensure that it contains 1400ppm fluoride (see the ingredients panel). A prescription only toothpaste (2800ppm fluoride) is highly effective at dealing with sensitivity.
No toothpaste will cure your gum disease. The only gum disease ‘cure’ is manual removal of the bacterial plaque using your toothbrush and cleaning in-between your teeth. The type of toothpaste will not impact your gum disease.
After brushing we now recommend that you do not rinse with water or mouthwash. That’s right! This is because rinsing will wash off the fluoride that you have just placed on your teeth. Rinsing after brushing is like washing your face after you have already moisturised. So, skip that step and let your toothpaste do what it is supposed to do!
You may be surprised to learn that the vast majority of them do not work. The scientific evidence is very clear that the toothpastes sold in the UK and the EU cannot whiten your teeth because they are banned from having enough of the active ingredient. It is really important that you do not use a whitening toothpaste that will damage your enamel because it is too abrasive
The team here at London Dental Specialists will be very happy to talk to you if you would like more information. Please complete the form below.