The toothpaste aisle is a decision maker’s nightmare. Crest. Colgate. Sensodyne. Optic white. Total active prevention. Gum care. Sensitive pro-relief. 3D White. MaxFresh. Scope. This is the place where analysis paralysis grows like a weed.
The options are endless and, to most, the medical advice unclear. That’s why the Star asked experts to explain what toothpaste you should buy, how to read the ingredients’ list and what you risk if you get it wrong.
What should I look for in a toothpaste?
The most important thing, according to Michael Glogauer, dentist-in-chief at University Health Network, is to find a toothpaste with fluoride in it. That’s because fluoridated toothpaste helps reverse the destructive effects of bacteria, which left untouched will dissolve the enamel and invade the tooth structure.
“No matter what your age is, the evidence is pretty clear and solid that you should be using a fluoridated toothpaste,” said Glogauer, also a professor at the University of Toronto.
You can find out whether the toothpaste contains fluoride by reading the ingredients’ list. It likely will.
“You’d have to work really hard to find a toothpaste on the shelf that doesn’t have fluoride,” Glogauer said.
Does the kind of fluoride matter?
One of the most common types of fluoride in dental care is sodium fluoride. It’s widely used in toothpastes and mouthwashes, according to Aviv Ouanounou, a dentistry professor and director of the University of Toronto’s undergraduate preventative program.
But another type of fluoride, stannous fluoride, has recently emerged as an attractive alternative, Ouanounou said in an email. Unlike sodium fluoride, which mostly just protects the teeth, research shows stannous fluoride also has antimicrobial properties, Glogauer said.
“Not all fluorides are equal,” Glogauer said, “and there are some suggestions that stannous fluoride may be better than sodium fluoride in some aspects.”
Does toothpaste branding matter?
For the most part, differences in branding between toothpastes — one labelled as cavity protecting, for example, versus one touting total protection — are small, according to Glogauer. Toothpastes for something like sensitive teeth have “slightly different formulations” that will make a difference.
“You’d be hard pressed to show that one would be significantly better than another,” he said. He consults for some toothpaste companies and admits they “might not be so happy to hear me say that.”
Does whitening toothpaste have health benefits or drawbacks?
Whitening toothpaste is purely cosmetic, with no dental health benefits.
There are some drawbacks, though. Whitening can lead to sensitive teeth, something that will usually fade with time, Glogauer said. And aggressive use of hydrogen peroxide as a whitener can weaken the tooth, according to Ouanounou.
“These products should be used with caution and are not recommended for children under the age of 12,” Ouanounou said.
Are charcoal-based toothpastes safe?
In an email to the Star, the Canadian Dental Association cautioned against using charcoal-based toothpastes. They can interfere with fluoride’s effectiveness, the association said, and can be overly abrasive, leading to enamel wear.
The association also cautioned against oil pulling, the practice of swishing oil around your mouth for up to 20 minutes. It doesn’t clean the bacteria out of your mouth, Ouanounou said.
“If you insist on making oil pulling part of your oral hygiene routine, make sure you continue to brush and floss regularly,” he said.
