Don’t Let Toothpaste Shopping Confuse You

Toothpaste is an essential part of your dental care tool kit that you need in order to take care of your teeth in between visits to the dentist. But with so many toothpaste varieties on the market today, there is a wide selection to choose from, which makes it challenging to know which one is the right one for you. That’s why it’s critical to understand the basics of shopping for toothpaste. Here is a quick guide to get you started.

There are different factors and ingredients that impact the makeup of your toothpaste, including flavors, thickeners, abrasive agents and detergents, and each have different functions. For instance, silicate and calcium carbonate are abrasive agents that help to remove bacteria and food from your teeth. Detergents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, are useful for creating suds. However, fluoride is one of the most important ingredients in a toothpaste. That’s because fluoride serves as a protectant against the acid that is released from the bacteria that feeds on the starches and sugar leftover from the food you eat. That means it’s useful for keeping cavities at bay and halting tooth decay in its tracks.

One important aspect to know about buying toothpaste is that not every toothpaste is created equally. That’s because different toothpastes cater to different people and their conditions. Thus, it’s critical to choose a toothpaste that is designed to help with the dental issue you may have. For example, if you have sensitive gums or teeth, then it’s important to look for toothpaste that have ingredients that cater to this condition. It’s also equally important to avoid ingredients or toothpaste that may irritate sensitive teeth, such as whitening toothpastes.

Knowing how to choose the toothpaste that is right for you requires having a plan in place. Here are a few tips you can put into action to help you make the right choices before buying a toothpaste:

• Carefully read the label. Make sure you read the ingredients on the label of your toothpaste to know exactly what it contains. You can easily identify ingredients that are helpful for your dental condition compared to ingredients that may make your dental issues worse.
• Look for the ADA Seal of Approval. When your toothpaste carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance, that means it’s been approved by the American Dental Association or ADA. These toothpaste have been reviewed by the ADA and all of these approved toothpastes have to contain fluoride. The ADA approval is based on a number of objectives that products must meet. The products also have to show efficacy and safety based on scientific evidence. The ADA also does not approve toothpaste with flavoring agents that contribute to tooth decay so you know you are getting a toothpaste that has been thoroughly reviewed. The ADA offers a list of recommended toothpaste brands that carry the seal, which is a good place to start your toothpaste shopping journey.

• Leverage the help of your dentist. Your dentist can help point you in the right direction by helping you choose the best toothpaste that can help your specific dental health issues. Your dentist can also provide helpful advice to the types of toothpaste you should avoid based on your dental care needs. If you don’t have one, you can find a dentist who takes your insurance or one who takes discount dental plans, such as DentalSave, so you can save on dental care expenses.

 

Shopping for toothpaste doesn’t need to be confusing. By knowing toothpaste buying basics, you’ll be on your way to choosing a toothpaste that works for your teeth best so you can achieve your dental care goals.