Whether you’re in charge of your own dental care, or if you frequently visit our Provo dentists – you’ll undoubtedly want to better understand just how much of an impact particular toothpastes can make on your teeth and gums. With so many different types of toothpaste to choose from, half the battle relates to picking the right one for your teeth. We’ve made it easy by breaking down the unique types of toothpaste; here’s a look at what they do and how they work.
Branded Toothpastes
One of the most important things to consider is that even similarly named toothpastes may differ slightly as far as ingredients go; especially when provided by different brands. When choosing a toothpaste, you’ll want to make sure that your chosen brand contains fluoride as standard (although less so in a child’s toothpaste as it can be dangerous to consume in large quantities). Fluoride helps to keep teeth clean and fresh, whilst fighting plaque – so don’t go without it.
Whitening Toothpastes
Most people will want whiter teeth, and as affordable as it can be to have your teeth professionally whitened by our dentists in Provo, you may want to give whitening toothpaste a shot to see if it can help. Most of these types of toothpaste will contain some type of whitening ingredient – and it’s a good idea to avoid those that use bleach or ammonia (even in the smallest amounts). Bleach may help to whiten your teeth, but it will also strip away tooth enamel which can leave your teeth and gums exposed to harmful toxins and bacteria.
Flavored Toothpastes
Although the most common type of toothpaste comes in a fresh minty flavor, it’s not difficult to find other alternatives such as spearmint, peppermint, strawberry (for children) and even herbal flavors. The key similarity between these alternative toothpastes is that they may feature less of one particular ingredient, or more of another. In any event – check the ingredients on the back of the pack. As long as your toothpaste contains fluoride and is suitable for daily use, then there’s no harm in mixing your flavors up a bit. You may even find that certain types (like herbal) offer their own benefits to your teeth, too.
Denture Toothpaste
If you wear dentures, then any of the above types of toothpaste may not be suitable for looking after your false teeth. Fortunately, specific denture toothpaste is readily available, and it’s suitable for brushing your gums, your natural teeth, your tongue and of course your dentures themselves. Just be sure to add water, and you can always add a drop or two of the toothpaste to a glass to allow your dentures to sit overnight, or when not in use.
