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01952 460119Park Street, Shifnal, Shropshire, Near Telford, TF11 9BG

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The Ultimate Toothpaste Guide

With dozens of variants and brands, choosing the right toothpaste has never been harder. This blog post aims to give you a clearer understanding of which toothpaste is right for you so you don’t just pick up the first one you see or the one that’s on offer.

What Are the Types Of Toothpaste And Which Should I Choose?

One of the Main types of toothpaste is Teeth Whitening Toothpaste. The name sounds fairly self-explanatory. Toothpaste that whitens your teeth, but how does it work? Teeth Whitening Toothpaste contains more course abrasive ingredients, such as silica which scrub the surface of the teeth. Some brands of whitening toothpaste can also sacrifice general tooth well-being for the whitening effect.

Currently, the long term effects of this toothpaste are unknown as no long term studies have been carried out. From what we know currently there are no side effects of this toothpaste, however, professional teeth whitening from a cosmetic dentist may be a better option. See our teeth whitening page for details.

Another main type of toothpaste is Desensitizing Toothpaste. This name is also fairly self-explanatory. Toothpaste that lowers your teeth sensitivity. The toothpaste interrupts the neurone response to pain receptors (the transmission of pain) and they obstruct the tiny tubes in the dentine. It also contains ingredients such as Potassium Nitrate or Arginine etc. As a dentist we recommend that you come in for a check-up and consult us about your tooth sensitivity before you use desensitizing toothpaste as it may not be right for you.

A not so common type of toothpaste is Anti-Decay Toothpaste which is effective at preventing tooth decay. Most of them contain Fluoride Compounds such as Sodium Fluoride or Monofluorophosphate. If the fluoride content is 1000 ppm (parts per million) or above, then they are effective in preventing tooth decay in adults or if it is a child toothpaste and it contains 500ppm or more then that is effective for children and is often flavoured to be more appealing.

Anti-Plaque Toothpaste is one of the standard types of toothpaste that may be overlooked. This is a common mistake as Anti Plaque toothpaste can be very useful in certain situations. This toothpaste inhibits the build-up of plaque and reduces the effect of bacterial toxins on the tissue surrounding the tooth which may reduce your chance of getting gum disease in the future. Some brands of toothpaste contain different active ingredients. For example, one brand contains Triclosan, one contains Zinc and one contains Citrate etc.

The last commonly available type of toothpaste is Tartar Control Toothpaste. Tartar (or calculus) occurs when plaque is not removed by thorough brushing; it builds up along the teeth line and irritates the gums. Usually this toothpaste contains pyrophosphate or Zinc Citrate. It is important to note these toothpastes do not remove tartar below the gum line, only above.

What Brand Should I Choose?

Your teeth health decisions can affect the wellbeing of your teeth for the rest of your life so at Shifnal Dental Care we suggest choosing a well-established and reputable brand for your toothpaste. Try not to be dragged in by deals such as ‘Buy One Get One Free’ and instead choose the right toothpaste for you.
Now I know that, which should I choose?
There is one easy answer to this: pick fluoride toothpaste, in small amounts fluoride prevents tooth decay and is beneficial for most people. Aside from that the specific type of toothpaste is up to you. Everyone’s teeth are different and what you need may be different to someone else in your family. Therefore we recommend you ask us at your next scheduled appointment.

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