Which toothpaste is best?

I get asked this all the time, so I thought I'd address this in my blog today. The bottom line is that toothpaste provides some benefits, such as fluoride to strengthen the surfaces of your teeth and help prevent decay, but it is the physical removal of the plaque with your toothbrush and floss that really cleans your teeth...not the toothpaste. I think that the general public sees toothpaste in much the same way they do soap....that is, they believe it is necessary to clean their teeth. The reality of it is that no toothpaste is needed at all to get your teeth clean. Toothpaste provides flavoring and foams up (making people think it's cleaning like soap), and it usually has added ingredients that offer "some" benefits such as fluoride, limited whitening abilities, and tartar control....but that's about it. Any brand toothpaste that contains fluoride and the ADA Seal of Approval, to attest that there is evidence of its safety, reliability and effectiveness through clinical trials, is acceptable. It makes no difference if the toothpaste is a gel, paste or powder or which flavoring agent is used.

If you have sensitive teeth, you should avoid whitening toothpastes because they will worsen the sensitivity. In addition, some patients will report inflamed gums that literally peel after using tartar control toothpastes. If you notice peeling gums with any toothpaste discontinue it's use at once and switch to a milder toothpaste with just fluoride in it. Remember...it's mostly just providing flavoring after all....you don't need it to get your teeth clean.