The toothpaste you use impacts your oral hygiene. Some toothpastes can save you from potential cavities and give you a whiter and brighter smile. While other toothpastes can add to your cavities and not meet your needs. Checking the ingredients, knowing your needs, and looking for the ADA approval stamp will help you choose the best possible toothpaste option for you.
1. What is the fluoride content?
Fluoride is an important component of any toothpaste as it protects tooth enamel and helps to prevent cavities. There are numerous studies that confirm the benefits of fluoride. It is a safe and effective treatment. A toothpaste with fluoride will greatly benefit your dental health. Fluoride is also available in drinking water in many areas. Because of the great health benefits, the American Dental Association considers fluoride as an essential ingredient for toothpaste.
2. Is it ADA approved?
Is your toothpaste ADA approved? For a toothpaste to be approved by the American Dental Association it must contain fluoride, contain active ingredients to improve oral hygiene, be free of flavoring agents that increase tooth decay (such as sugar), and be proven to be safe and effective.
3. What are your specific dental needs?
Your toothpaste may need to be impacted by your own personal needs. You may be more sensitive to specific ingredients or need strength in a certain area. For example, if you have very sensitive teeth, to the point where brushing is uncomfortable, you may need to get prescribed toothpaste. Desensitizing toothpaste may also be an option as it contains compounds that block pain signals.
4. To whiten or not to whiten?
Most of us want a whiter smile, and often times toothpaste can help you to achieve that goal. Many kinds of toothpaste provide a safe and effective teeth whitening option. Whitening toothpaste contains abrasive ingredients to polish teeth and removes stains. Some people may have the pain of sensitive teeth when using whitening toothpaste. If you have sensitive teeth, a dentist can provide other whitening options.
5. What is the RDA level?
Toothpastes with an RDA level under 250 are safe and effective. All toothpastes contain abrasive agents to effectively clean and sometimes whiten teeth. The level of the abrasive ingredients is rated as it relative dentin abrasively or RDA.
6. Consider the tartar control.
Plaque forms on your teeth regularly. When it hardens, it turns into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove and contributes to gum disease. Brushing regularly with an effective toothpaste can help you to avoid the problem of tartar. If it is a particular problem for you, you may consider using tartar-control toothpaste.
7. Avoid the sugary stuff.
Though toothpaste with sugar in them may taste better, they will not benefit your teeth. Sugar contributes to tooth decay, which means cavity. Many children’s toothpaste products contain high levels of sugar. But brushing your teeth with sugar is a recipe for disaster and in the end, defeats the purpose of brushing. If you’re looking for the ADA seal of approval, the product will not contain sugar.
