How to Choose Toothpaste

Choosing a toothpaste can be as easy as picking the one on sale for the lowest cost, or maybe you are the type that goes for the latest and newest item. In which case, you probably wouldn't be reading this article. However, there are many people who are interested in details such as ingredients, results, cost per ounce and flavor. It depends on whether you need a whitener, a formula for sensitive teeth or maybe a fun flavor to entice a child to keep brushing. It is a subject we seem to think about for a few seconds in the morning and evening and then forget about for the rest of the day.

Instructions

1. 

   So what can you expect to find in a tube of toothpaste? Generally, there is an abrasive of some sort. Hydrated silica is the common choice, which, when dried, is the same substance called desiccant found in little packets to keep things dry. It is a clear gel commonly used in gel pastes as well as the white pastes. There are some thickeners to keep it on your brush, some detergents to break down the greasy film left from foods, some flavorings to mask the taste of the old bits of food, some water softeners to help the detergent work better, and some sweeteners to make it palatable on the tongue.

2. 

   Sodium fluoride is a white crystal that is used to keep the dental enamel hard. It reduces the ability of bacteria to produce acids and remineralizes the tooth surface already attacked by acid. It is a controversial inorganic substance that is also used in insecticides and wood preservatives and is actually not used in most countries. Understanding a little more about this additive might make you reconsider whether you want to put it in your mouth.

3. 

   Consideration is the use of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant or foaming action. It works very well in causing a foaming action, but it is a skin irritant and might cause mouth sores and can upset your stomach if ingested. But if you are a generally healthy adult, toothpaste foam should be tolerated just fine. However, if you are looking for a product without this ingredient--maybe your children suck on their toothbrushes or you have a sore mouth--check the Resources section below for toothpastes without it.

4. 

   Maybe you are looking for a paste that will help combat tooth sensitivity. There are two major ingredients used today. One is strontium chloride, which, after a period of time, actually plugs the holes in the tooth dentin that allow cold air or acids to penetrate in to the nerves, or potassium nitrate, which helps to calm the nerves. There are many brands advertised as being good for sensitive teeth.

5. 

   Flavor is a big issue for a lot of people. Crest, for example, has the strongest mint flavor in the "extreme herbal mint" preparations. There are lots of smaller, lesser-known products which might rival Crest in its mintiness.