How to Choose the Right Toothpaste
Like any other domestic product, there are literally hundreds of toothpaste brands on the market; fruity tasting, stain removing and whitening products fill the supermarket shelves, which can make for a difficult time. With that in mind, here are some important things to bear in mind when buying toothpaste.
- The Importance of Fluoride – Fluoride is known to prevent tooth decay, so you should be using a toothpaste that contains fluoride, indeed, so should your whole family, especially the kids. Most brands of toothpaste contain fluoride, and it will be written somewhere on the packaging, so do check before adding to your shopping cart.
- Avoid Abrasive Powders – If, for example, you are a smoker, you might think that hard brushing with a strong abrasive powder will remove tobacco stains, and while it may do just that, this type of toothpaste will erode your tooth enamel, especially if you brush aggressively. If you use an abrasive toothpaste powder over a long period of time, this could lead to a visit to a Sydney CBD emergency dentist to treat acute teeth sensitivity.
- FDA Approved – It should be second nature that you look for the FDA approval symbol when on the lookout for a new brand of toothpaste, which is really a government seal of approval that the product is safe.
- Sensitive Teeth – If you suffer from over-sensitive teeth and wince when drinking something hot or cold, then you should use a toothpaste that is designed for people with sensitive teeth. You won’t notice any difference for a while, but do persevere and in a few weeks, you should notice the sensitivity is reduced, and by using such a product, the problem will gradually diminish. There is an informative article on choosing the right toothbrush, which is a recommended read for all.
- Whitening Toothpastes – You need to be careful, as almost all brands will claim to leave you with a brilliant white smile (all part of the advertising), but some do remove stains. It is not a good idea to continuously use a tooth whitening brand of toothpaste, and you can ask your dentist how long he or she would recommend usage of such a product.
- Choice of Toothbrush – It isn’t only the toothpaste that you must consider, as the brush you use also has an impact on oral health and hygiene. Resist the temptation to buy a hard toothbrush, as this will likely lead to sensitivity issues, due to the excessive erosion. Our teeth are strong, but the enamel can quickly erode if it is exposed to prolonged heavy pressure that is the result of aggressive brushing with a hard-bristle toothbrush.
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By taking all of the above into account, your choice of toothpaste should be correct, and if you are in any doubt, simply ask your dentist. It is vital that you adopt best practices with oral hygiene, which means brushing and flossing after every meal and before and after bed, as this will greatly reduce the risk of dental issues.
