Which toothpaste should I use?

Which toothpaste should I use?

There are a variety of toothpastes on the market promising many things. From sensitive toothpastes and whitening toothpastes to ones that offer long term protection to the gums and fresh breath all day long. The main thing is that you have a toothpaste that contains fluoride. This is the active ingredient that helps to strengthen and protect teeth from decay and neutralise acid attacks on teeth. If a toothpaste does not have this then you leave your teeth open to possible decay and problems.

If you suffer with sensitive teeth then using a specialist sensitive toothpaste is obviously a good idea as these have an additional ingredient that really does help general sensitivity in teeth.

For children, make sure you use a children’s toothpaste that has a reduced level of fluoride, sufficient to keep their teeth healthy without overdoing the fluoride content.

Other ingredients, such as antibacterials (eg tricolsan), can be of some benefit but far and away the main thing you are looking for is fluoride.

David Hurst BDS (Lon). Dentist.