Choosing the Right Toothpaste Made Easy with Expert Advice
Selecting toothpaste can be confusing due to the multitude of options. Experts suggest prioritizing fluoride content and caution against certain products like whitening and charcoal toothpastes.
The toothpaste aisle is often a decision maker's nightmare. With brands like Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne, and more, the options can feel overwhelming. To help clarify the confusion, The Star consulted experts on selecting the right toothpaste, understanding ingredients, and the potential consequences of poor choices.
According to Michael Glogauer, dentist-in-chief at the University Health Network, the most crucial factor is to choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. This ingredient plays a vital role in countering the damaging effects of bacteria, which can erode enamel and compromise the tooth structure.
"No matter what your age is, the evidence is pretty clear and solid that you should be using a fluoridated toothpaste," said Glogauer, who is also a professor at the University of Toronto.
To check for fluoride, simply read the ingredients list — it's quite common.
"You'd have to work really hard to find a toothpaste on the shelf that doesn't have fluoride," he added.
When it comes to the type of fluoride used, Aviv Ouanounou, a dentistry professor at the University of Toronto, noted that sodium fluoride is a prevalent choice. However, stannous fluoride is also gaining popularity due to its antimicrobial properties.
"Not all fluorides are equal," stated Glogauer, highlighting that stannous fluoride could offer benefits over sodium fluoride in certain scenarios.
Branding differences, such as a toothpaste labeled for cavity protection versus one marketed for total protection, typically reflect minor variations in formulation.
"You'd be hard pressed to show that one would be significantly better than another," Glogauer commented.
Whitening toothpaste offers no actual dental health benefits and can potentially cause sensitivity. Using hydrogen peroxide aggressively as a whitener may weaken teeth.
Furthermore, the Canadian Dental Association advised against charcoal-based toothpastes, which may disrupt fluoride effectiveness and could be too abrasive.
Additionally, oil pulling is discouraged due to its ineffectiveness in removing oral bacteria, yet if one persists, regular brushing and flossing should continue.
