Does It Matter Which Toothpaste You Use?

With supermarket and chemist shelves stacked with countless toothpaste types and brands, finding the right one can prove difficult. Whilst there are differences between how different toothpastes clean your teeth, these can be subtle.

Are some toothpastes better than others?

For the majority of people, the type of toothpaste they choose won’t make a huge difference to the protection it offers. If you don’t have severe dental issues (or a history of them), what’s more important is that:

• You’re consistently brushing twice a day and adopting good technique.

• Your toothpaste contains the correct amount of fluoride (for adults this is at least 1450 parts per million).

People with severe tooth sensitivity or tooth wear may benefit from choosing a specialised toothpaste for these conditions. However, the benefits are likely to be minimal (there’s no overwhelming clinical evidence that toothpaste for sensitivity or wear relief can make a significant difference).

If you’re suffering from tooth wear or chronic tooth sensitivity, the best thing to do is to see a dentist to address the underlying cause. If clinically suitable, they can provide you with a high-fluoride prescription toothpaste of up to 5000ppm.

What to consider when buying toothpaste

Teeth whitening

Many kinds of toothpaste claim to whiten teeth but in reality, there isn’t a single toothpaste that can change the shade of your teeth, nor can whitening toothpaste get rid of tartar - calcified plaque that only a hygienist can remove.

What whitening toothpaste can do is remove surface stains from your teeth, such as those sustained when consuming colour-rich food and drink. Without twice-daily brushing, stains caused by food and drinks like chocolate, turmeric, red wine and coffee will make your teeth appear darker on the surface.

Fluoride content

This is the most important consideration when purchasing toothpaste. Fluoride is essential for:

• Remineralising your tooth enamel.

• Protecting your teeth against cavities.

• Reducing bacteria in your mouth.

• Fluoride levels in toothpaste will make a difference in how effectively it protects your teeth.

Put simply, whichever toothpaste you choose, make sure it contains fluoride.

Flavour

This may be stating the obvious, but if you find the taste of your toothpaste unpleasant, it’s unlikely that you will brush for the correct length of time.

If you really dislike the minty taste of the vast majority of toothpaste out there, flavourless toothpaste is just as effective as flavoured toothpaste at protecting your teeth (again though, make sure it contains fluoride).

Hydroxyapatite levels

Hydroxyapatite is a fairly new kid on the block, found in a limited number of toothpastes.

However, clinical studies have so far been promising, with hydroxyapatite-based toothpaste demonstrating the ability to repair enamel and reduce sensitivity.

What’s equally encouraging is that hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral found in our tooth enamel and bone, playing a vital fortifying and protective role.

Environmental impact

If you’re looking to banish plastic from your bathroom (well done if so), there are toothpaste brands that have made it possible to do so. Pärla toothpaste is a plastic-free toothpaste that comes in a refillable jar (62 pack refill pouches are available to purchase).

It’s also possible to purchase British-developed and made toothpaste (Zing toothpaste falls under this category) if you’re carbon footprint-conscious (again, kudos to you if so).

The important points

• Fluoride content is important for everyone (regardless of their oral and dental health status). It’s clinically proven to prevent cavities and remineralise tooth enamel.

• Toothpaste claiming to whiten teeth only removes surface stains and doesn’t change the shade of your teeth. If you want to alter your tooth shade, the only (safe) way to achieve this by opting for professional teeth whitening treatment. This is the only method that breaks down the stained molecules compromising your enamel.

• If you have severe tooth wear or sensitivity, you may benefit from an anti-sensitivity or tooth wear toothpaste (you may need to do a bit of trial and error to identify which brand is most effective).

• Choose a toothpaste you can tolerate the taste of/a flavourless toothpaste.

Need help choosing the right toothpaste? Take a look at our dentist-recommended toothpastes, along with our pick of water flossers, brushes and more.