Wellness Spotlight: Toothpaste

Wellness Spotlight: Toothpaste

By Cailin, RDH

It is no secret that there are a dizzying array of toothpaste options available, but which is best for you? That depends on your goals. Our hygienists are happy to provide personalized recommendations at your wellness visits, but here’s a guide to help:

Toothpaste for Sensitivity

My recommendation for sensitive teeth is Sensodyne. Think of your tooth like a microscopic english muffin; all your nerve endings lie in those little nooks and crannies. When they are exposed to sweet or cold things, you may experience hypersensitivity. Sensodyne contains a special ingredient called stannous fluoride that helps seal off these dental tubules, protecting the exposed nerve endings and reducing sensitivity. It usually takes about two weeks of use to feel some sensitivity relief, and the reduced sensitivity is temporary, only lasting as long as you’re using the toothpaste. Because Sensodyne contains fluoride, it also helps prevent cavities!

Toothpaste for Thin Enamel

Your teeth have three layers: enamel, dentin and cementum. Enamel is the outermost covering. It’s the strongest part of your tooth structure, so we want to keep it healthy and protective. Sometimes, enamel can become thin. An acidic diet, dry mouth, genes, and stomach issues like acid reflux can cause thinning enamel. To minimize additional thinning, you can use a non-abrasive toothpaste like Pronamel. It’s pH neutral and one of the least abrasive toothpaste available, so it’s gentle on your enamel. If you’re looking for a toothpaste that’s great at stain removal and whitening, this is not the toothpaste for you!

Prescription Toothpaste

Sometimes with even the best brushing and flossing techniques, your teeth still need a little extra TLC to protect against cavities. Our doctors and hygienists typically recommend a prescription toothpaste like ClinPro if you’re prone to cavities. This toothpaste has up to twice the amount of fluoride found in over-the-counter toothpaste. You use it at night (with your regular toothpaste in the morning), and you can spit out any extra after brushing, but don’t rinse it away. We want all that extra fluoride to have time to penetrate your teeth and help remineralize any weaker areas we’re watching for cavities! Our goal is not to drill your teeth if we don’t have to. Sometimes people ask if it’s different from in-office fluoride treatments and can they skip one or the other. Because we prescribe this toothpaste when people are extra cavity-prone, it’s meant to be used in addition to a regular in-office fluoride treatment – not in replacement of one.

Whitening Toothpaste

Most of our hygienists recommend Crest 3D white if you’re looking for whitening toothpaste. It is abrasive, so it’s great at removing surface stains caused by coffee, tea, and red wine. If you have sensitive teeth or thin enamel, this toothpaste is not for you! It may cause additional sensitivity. If your chief concern is yellow teeth, you can start with a whitening toothpaste and ask us about stronger options if you don’t see an improvement.


*The information contained in this post should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately licensed health care provider. The information provided here is for informational purposes only. Although we attempt to provide accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee is made to that effect. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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