Posted by:
Kerry Strachan
Is toothpaste on your shopping list this week?
Have you looked at the selection on the supermarket shelves lately? I typed ‘toothpaste’ into a well-known supermarket online shop and no less than 118 options were available….. 118!!
Toothpastes all have a common aim – to clean teeth. By cleaning teeth you remove food debris and any plaque which is forming. Plaque needs to be removed to decrease the risk of decay and gum disease. Companies spend huge amounts of money for scientists and dental experts to formulate the toothpastes we have available today.
So, where do you even start to decide which one to use? Maybe one you’ve used for 20 years, or whichever one’s on offer at half price, or the one that promises you’ll have a Hollywood smile in a week?
Sometimes it’s easy just to stick with what we know but it’s time to think of your dental needs – a little change could be just the thing your teeth and gums need.
It’s clear there’s a variety out there. Some are for general maintenance and care while others are designed with a specific purpose to fulfil.
* We have toothpaste for children. Usually it contains less fluoride and is less abrasive than others so is gentler on younger teeth. Often it has a favourable taste to encourage children to use it and we mustn’t forget that not only is the toothpaste used important but the technique of brushing, but that’s a whole story for another day.
* Whitening toothpaste contains agents to remove stains, leaving the teeth looking whiter. They are often abrasive in order to do their job and so aren’t recommended for children, those with sensitive teeth or for continued long term use.
* Desensitising toothpaste is designed to ease the discomfort of sensitivity. Some people occasionally experience sharp shooting pain or twinges when eating/drinking hot and cold foods. It may be that there is an underlying problem causing this but the potassium nitrate used in these toothpastes can help control this until you have your dentist investigate it further.
* Toothpastes for gum disease are loaded with anti-bacterial ingredients with a job to do. You might brush your teeth multiple times a day but if you have gum disease and are not using toothpaste designed to tackle this, then you are going to struggle to beat the problem.
With toothpastes to help bad breath, ones with all-natural ingredients to help the environment, ones for smokers, others designed to help with acid wear and the list goes on… there’s a toothpaste out there to suit you.
Still unsure?
Ask your dentist for their advice as to which toothpaste is going to benefit YOU and YOUR teeth and gums. Here at Your Perfect Smile Dental Clinic we know your mouth and we read the science behind the brands. We can point you in the right direction and even give you some samples so you can see the difference using the right toothpaste can make.
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