Ads for different types and brands of toothpaste are as prevalent as those that present other commodities. It seems as though everywhere you turn, new toothpaste is presented that extolls a seemingly unique set of properties and promises you strong and healthy teeth for that mega wattage smile everyone would like to have.
The options are certainly not lacking; however, they do present a new dilemma: with everything presented in front of you, how do you go about selecting the right toothpaste for your teeth?
The first point to consider once the question arises is, does it contain the right ingredients? Many kinds of toothpaste are presented with a list of ingredients, and all meant to convince you that a specific one is the right one, simply because it contains a particular element that the competition does not.
There is some good news, though. When it comes to what is contained in your toothpaste, all you need to look for is fluoride. If the label indicates that it contains at least 1,000 parts per million of fluoride, then it will certainly do.
Fluoride is the workhorse of toothpaste formulation. Once you have found a brand or type that contains the correct amount, then everything else becomes a matter of preference. A bonus feature will be a stamp showing that a reputable national dental association has approved your selection.
A common question that comes up from time to time is whether there are any benefits to using whitening toothpaste. Are they as effective as advertised? The long and short of this is those whitening kinds of toothpaste are capable of what the companies say.
They do not seem so as the ingredients used in the product to achieve this goal are not added in large enough amounts to have a noticeable effect in the short term. The only caveat and cautionary advise is that long-term use of whitening kinds of toothpaste may cause your teeth to become more sensitive.
Speaking of sensitivity, what kinds of toothpaste are meant to help with this issue?
Toothpaste for sensitive teeth can be obtained through a prescription from your doctor or over the counter. Each type is effective and recommended for use. You are advised to start with the more affordable over the counter option and then only seeking a prescription brand if the former type is not as effective as it once was.
Finally, beware of fads. The most common fads in toothpaste today are those that crow about containing charcoal and aloe vera. Charcoal toothpaste can cause more harm than good as they are abrasive and wear away the outer enamel over time, making the teeth more sensitive. On the other hand, Aloe Vera has not presented any notable properties that improve the health of the teeth.
The type of toothpaste you select for your daily use requires no more than fluoride to be rendered good toothpaste. If your favourite brand contains the recommended amounts of fluoride, you do not have to make any changes.
