Choosing a toothpaste

A few decades ago, the only kind of choice you could expect to have while selecting a toothpaste was choosing between a large or small size tube. Those days are long gone, and today the number of choices you have is overwhelming. You can choose between fluoride and tartar control, gel-based or cream-based formulations, mouth wash containing tooth pastes, and whitening tooth pastes that promise to bring the sparkle back to your pearly whites. Among these, you can further choose various flavors of toothpastes, gels or tooth powders.

All toothpastes, no matter what they promise contain a few similar ingredients.  For instance, a toothpaste will include some kind of abrasive agents like silicates and calcium carbonates. These agents are responsible for the actual scrubbing of food debris, and bacteria from your mouth. Your toothpaste also needs thickening agents that give it its appealing texture. These agents can include seaweed based ingredients and gums. Most over the counter toothpastes will include detergents that produce the lather generated by brushing. Sodium lauryl sulfate is commonly added as a detergent. Additionally, your tooth paste or gel will also contain glycerol or other substances that help the toothpaste to retain moisture. Finally, saccharine or other artificial sweeteners are added to give the toothpaste its pleasant taste. These are only added to enhance the taste, and have no bearing on the toothpaste's effectiveness in cleaning your teeth.

Choosing a Toothpaste
Fluoride, without doubt is the most important ingredient to look for in a toothpaste. This mineral reduces the risk of tooth decay by strengthening your tooth enamel and reversing the damage caused by bacterial acids. Using a fluoridated toothpaste is an easy way to provide your teeth the benefits of fluoride. A fluoride-containing toothpaste is necessary even if you have sufficient fluoride quantities in your drinking water supplies. A fluoride toothpaste can provide your teeth with an increased concentration of fluoride, even better than water can.

Tartar control toothpastes can help remove tartar which is nothing but hardened plaque. If tartar is left ignored, it can accumulate on the teeth and under the gums, causing gum disease. These toothpastes may contain zinc citrate and pyrophosphate to prevent tartar buildup. Some tooth pastes may contain triclosan, an antibiotic that eliminates some oral bacteria.

People who have sensitive teeth can use special formulations that contain strontium chloride and potassium nitrate. These chemicals block the pathways that lead to the nerve, thus helping reduce sensitivity.

Whitening toothpastes can be used to lighten the color of your teeth. These may not offer dramatic results, but may be effective in making teeth stains a little less noticeable. These toothpastes contain abrasive chemicals that scrub the teeth, and pull off stains from the tooth.

Whatever kind of toothpaste you choose, make sure it has been approved by the American Dental Association [ADA].  You can be sure that such pastes contain fluoride, and have been review by experts.