When it comes to cleaning teeth, the most conventional and accessible way is the same brush and toothpaste method. It is good to know that the large market of kinds of toothpaste makes decisions on “Which toothpaste is the best?” difficult. Therefore, we are pleased to discuss certain characteristics of good toothpaste. You can make up your mind easily if you know what you are using and which features you should look for in your toothpaste.
Toothpaste with fluoride
You may not believe that fluoride in toothpaste has decreased tooth decay levels over the years. When we want to prevent cavities and decay in our teeth, we think of brushing as the first thing to do. The reality is “Which toothpaste can protect our teeth from tooth decay?” The answer is using fluoridated toothpaste.
The amount of fluoride in toothpaste should be from 1000 ppm to 15000 ppm. For children under 3 years of age, this level of fluoride should be no more than 1000 ppm. Parents can use low-fluoride toothpastes to protect their children from risks of dental fluorosis.
Gel or toothpaste
Another way that people use to keep their oral health in case of high dental caries is gels. We can use both gels and toothpastes to remove plaque on our teeth. Plaque removal is an important benefit of these oral hygiene products. Generally, the ingredients in both types of oral care products are the same. The difference between gel and toothpaste is in the thickening materials, which is found in higher amounts in gels.
Toothpaste use for children
We already mentioned that the low-fluoride toothpastes should be recommended for kids. The reason can be teeth problems like dental fluorosis. Children can easily be at risk of higher intakes of fluoride due to swallowing the toothpaste during brushing. Children should use a small amount of toothpaste (pea-sized amount) in each tooth brushing habit. Since children tend to brush longer than adults, suitable toothpaste tubes and gentle brushes can prevent dental problems in kids.
Another important tip on choosing the right toothpaste for children is the approved seal of acceptance by the American Dental Association (ADA). These organizations and similar health monitoring agencies in other countries are really important in our decisions on the approved and accepted kinds of toothpaste.
Whitening teeth with toothpastes
Toothpastes that have stain-removing features as their advertising claim use either chemical or abrasive materials to prove their claim. In their ingredients, these teeth-whitener products commonly contain papain, carbamide peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide. The toothpastes that have them in the ingredients are great teeth whitening toothpaste.
However, due to abrasive materials, people should be careful about the overusing of whitening products or the way they use their oral hygiene tools. Be gentle while brushing and avoid putting force on your teeth. Enamel over time becomes weak and strong abrasive toothpastes together with hard brushing can damage tooth enamel.
Baking soda toothpaste
Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate has been used as a teeth cleaning agent. The benefits of toothpastes containing baking soda compound include:
- Tartar removal ability
- Stain control on teeth
- Removing plaque
- Reduce the risks of gingivitis
Toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Teeth sensitivity causes you to feel pain especially when your teeth have contact with cold and hot drinks/foods. Therefore, you need a solution to reduce the sensitivity in your teeth. Fluoride varnish is a great option and choosing the right toothpaste can help you relieve sensitivity. Desensitizing agents like potassium nitrate and sodium citrate are common ingredients in toothpastes to reduce teeth sensitivity. The mechanism is nerve reduction in teeth so that teeth sensitivity can tolerate heat and cold.
