Toothpaste Guide

What is toothpaste?  Basically fluoride and an abrasive bound by thickeners and flavors Abrasives:  Polishes teeth, removes light surface stains and dislodges food. Fluoride: Makes enamel more resistant to acids produced by bacteria living on your teeth and gums.  Reduces decay.

Whitening Toothpaste

In order to whiten teeth, you need an ingredient in the peroxide family and you have to isolate teeth from saliva so the whitening agent doesn’t wash away.  Whitening toothpastes do none of the above.  They have no peroxide and instead have more abrasives in the toothpaste.  This abrasive will remove light surface stains (i.e. light coffee and tea stains.)  Whitening toothpaste will do nothing to brighten the teeth.

Be careful using if: You have sensitive teeth as the abrasiveness may cause teeth to be more temperature sensitive.

Sensitive Toothpaste

Sensitive toothpaste works by blocking the dentinal tubules (tiny pores) in the teeth.  This blocking does not allow the nerve in the tooth to receive the sensation.  This toothpaste works well for those with mild cold sensitivity.  You have to use a full tube of the toothpaste to determine if this will work for you. 

Be careful using if: You’re on a toothpaste budget.  Sensitive toothpaste is a bit more expensive.  But other than that anyone can use it.

Baby Toothpaste

AKA training toothpaste, it has the look and feel of real toothpaste, but without the fluoride.  This type of toothpaste is ok to swallow.  Sometimes swallowing a lot fluoride toothpaste can cause a belly ache or change the appearance of developing teeth.

Be careful using if:  Your kid is getting a lot of cavities.  Then they need the fluoride to prevent decay.  Switch to fluoridated toothpaste and monitor closely during brushing and use a small smear of toothpaste.

Kid Toothpaste

Aside from the Spiderman and Barbie packaging and perhaps the sparkle blue color, there really is no difference between that and regular ol’ toothpaste. 

Be careful using if:  Your kiddo won’t spit it out.  Swallowing a little toothpaste is fine, but if he is swallowing a bunch of tooth paste every time he brushes switch to baby toothpaste. Or put a smaller amount on his brush.

Prescription Toothpaste

Do you get cavities every time you come to the dentist?  Do you have a dry mouth?  Do you have a lot of crowns and fillings?  Then ask your dentist to prescribe you higher fluoridated toothpaste.   You are more at risk for decay than most and need the protection fluoride can give you.

Be careful using if:  You have a kid accessible toothpaste drawer.  The higher fluoride concentration if swallowed could cause a bellyache or possibly change a child’s developing permanent teeth

What type of toothpaste does Dr. Scott recommend?

For most all you need to do is look for something with fluoride in it.  “AIM” recently was studied as the most effective toothpaste because it had the right amount of fluoride in it, at the cheapest price.