Toothpaste can come in either gel or paste form and is a critical component for keeping teeth clean. There are many different brands of toothpaste available on the market today, but most of them share similar core ingredients. The active ingredients of toothpaste fight cavities and reduce the risk of gum diseases. The inactive ingredients account for the taste and texture of the paste. They do not perform an active role in protecting teeth against cavities, but they do help distinguish one type of toothpaste from the other.
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You can choose your toothpaste based on your specific dental needs. Anti-decay toothpastes contain fluoride compounds, including stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, and monofluorophosphate, that can help arrest tooth decay. Toothpaste with 1,000-ppm fluoride content is effective in preventing tooth decay. Children’s toothpaste has a higher fluoride content – 5,000-ppm. It comes in special kid-friendly flavors.
You can also opt for anti-calculus toothpaste, which is designed to slow down the calcification of dental plaque. It has zinc citrate or pyrophosphate as an active ingredient and reduces the formation of calculus.
Anti-plaque toothpaste is specially formulated to minimize the accumulation of plaque and reduce the impact of bacterial toxins in the tissues that surround the teeth. This type of toothpaste is particularly potent in reducing the chances of developing gum disease.
If you have hypersensitive teeth, a desensitizing toothpaste may be right for you. This type of toothpaste interrupts the neuron response to the stimuli of pain and obstructs the dentinal tubules of the dentine. Talk to your dentist to choose the brand that is best suited to your needs.
If your teeth are stained or yellowing, you can brush with a whitening toothpaste. Whiteners contain coarse abrasives that remove the stains on the surface of the teeth. The long-term effect of abrasives on tooth enamel has not yet been established. Ask your doctor for advice before using the whitening toothpaste long term.
If you walk down the dental care aisle at your local supermarket, you may become overwhelmed by the number of toothpaste choices. Perhaps you’ve used the same toothpaste for years, but it may not be the best one for you. Talk to your dentist to find out which of the many toothpaste iterations is right for your dental needs.