Shopping for toothpaste should be a simple task, but it isn’t. The minute you walk down the aisle in the store to purchase a tube of toothpaste you are hit with hundreds of different toothpastes available for sale. With so many options available to you, it can be overwhelming.

Take some time to read our comprehensive toothpaste guide before you just reach and grab the first toothpaste tube you see. Our comprehensive guide will help make it easier to not only pick out a toothpaste, but pick one that is right for you.

Why are There So Many Toothpastes Available?

In an effort to capitalize on people’s desire to improve their oral health, manufacturers create hundreds of different types of toothpastes. Each toothpaste promises to clean your teeth, but they often use different ingredients to clean your teeth or have additional ingredients that enhances the toothpaste and helps it do something else such as whitening teeth or detoxifying the gums.

Tips for Picking Out the Right Type of Toothpaste

The toothpaste you choose to use is a personal choice. What some people like to use, others won’t. If you are looking to switch to a new brand of toothpaste or just want to make sure you are using the right one, the following tips will help you.

Does Your Toothpaste Need Fluoride?

The biggest decision you will have to make about your toothpaste is whether or not to choose a brand that adds additional fluoride. Fluoride is a natural ingredient that is believed to help strengthen the teeth, prevent tooth decay, and even reverse early signs of cavities. The need for additional fluoride is a ‘hot button’ topic in the dental industry and one that not everyone agrees on.

Some individuals believe that by using toothpaste with additional fluoride, you could be exposing yourself to too much fluoride. Some studies believe that consuming too much fluoride could lead to a number of health problems ranging from cancer to heart attacks and bone loss.

If you are concerned about consuming too much fluoride, it is best that you look for natural toothpaste that does not contain additional fluoride. Most natural toothpastes do not add fluoride to their toothpastes.

Skip the Tooth Whitening Toothpaste

Toothpastes that promise to lift stains and whiten the teeth are extremely popular, but they may be doing more harm than good. Whitening toothpastes have powerful and harsh ingredients that can actually damage your teeth. These ingredients can do everything from scratch the surface of your teeth and weaken the enamel to irritating your gums or causing pain.

It is best that you skip the tooth whitening toothpaste. If you want to whiten your teeth, your dentist has a number of safe in-office options that will help you brighten your smile without causing damage or having you experience any pain.

The Fewer the Ingredients the Better

Sometimes fewer is better when it comes to the ingredients in your toothpaste. Carefully read the labels of any toothpaste you wish to use. If it has a long list of ingredients you may want to avoid it. Remember, the more ingredients in the toothpaste the higher your risk is of experiencing an adverse reaction from using it.

Look for the ADA Seal of Approval

If you want to make sure your toothpaste will really do what it claims to do, look for the ADA Seal of Approval. This seal of approval is only put on products that the American Dental Association has been able to meet very strict requirements that determine the quality of the product.

It is important to remember that not all dental products are required to take part in the ADA Seal of Approval program. That means some products may be great for you, but don’t have a seal of approval.

Need help finding a toothpaste that is right for you? Call Smiles by Shields to schedule an appointment with our holistic dentist. Our dentist will gladly be able to provide you with recommendations for safe, effective toothpastes that will keep your teeth and gums healthy.