There are dozens of brands to choose from and a ton of money spent on
advertising to convince you one is better than another so how is a
person supposed to make an informed decision?
Dr. Stephen J. Pyle, Weston's first dentist, suggests that the short answer to the question is:
- Stay
away from any toothpaste that is made in China. The FDA discovered that
some toothpastes made in China included the toxic substance toxic
substance diethylene glycol and recommends that you not purchase any
paste from that country.
- Use a paste you like. Different people
use different toothpastes for different reasons but the ultimate goal is
to make brushing your teeth an everyday routine. Using a paste that you
enjoy reinforces that habit.
- Only use toothpaste that is ADA
approved. If the product has the ADA seal it has been evaluated for
effectiveness and safety by a board of dental experts.
But what about the "specialty" toothpastes? How do they work and are they effective.
Tartar Control Toothpastes
Tartar
is the hard deposit that builds up on teeth when natural occurring
plaque is not removed by effective brushing. Plaque is unattractive but
more importantly, it can cause gum disease. Toothpaste that targets
tartar will have one or more ingredients such as pyrophosphates and zinc
citrate or even the antibiotic triclosan, which kill the germs that
create the plaque. Generally speaking, the more anti-plaque agents a
paste has the more effective the paste.
Whitening Toothpastes
Everybody
wants white teeth so these pastes are easy to sell. None of the
whitening pastes include bleach and the real difference between
whitening and regular paste is the amount of abrasives included.
Whitening pastes rely on polishing the teeth and scraping off stains.
While some people are concerned about damage to enamel by the abrasive
agents, studies show there is little risk.
Sensitive Teeth Toothpastes
For
people who have teeth that are sensitive to cold or hot liquids,
toothpaste that includes potassium nitrate or strontium chloride can
block the path that leads to nerve endings located in the teeth. These
"sensitive teeth" pastes can offer relief but typically require up to
four weeks of use before offering full benefit.
Flavored Toothpaste
Almost
all toothpastes have added artificial flavoring to cover up the actual
taste of the ingredients while giving the user a sense of "minty clean"
or fresh mouth. The additives are purely cosmetic and their principal
benefit is to make brushing enjoyable.