Toothpaste comes in such a wide variety of options it can be really intimidating to pick one out.

While they all say they fight cavities, some claim a variety of other benefits. We’ve seen toothpaste specially formulated for tartar, gingivitis, enamel health, tooth repair, sensitivity, whitening and fresh breath. Some come with extra ingredients like baking soda and peroxide, while others are fluoride and gluten free.

With so many options, it’s hard to know which of these features actually work and which ones are just gimmicks.

We went to the professionals to get their opinions.

The type of toothpaste is the least important item to concentrate on. Flossing is most important. Everyone should floss. Brushing is the second most important. What type of toothpaste you put on the toothbrush is not important. It is the act of brushing for 2 min. that is the most valuable. So concentrate on flossing and brushing for 2 min each time you brush.

Robert A. Morabito, DDS – Falls Church, VA

Fundamentally, barring a few basic elements, choosing a toothpaste is a bit like choosing shampoo. In my opinion, every toothpaste should have some sort of fluoride in it, as the benefits of it are well documented and clear-cut. I also think an anti-calculus (“tartar control”) formula is very beneficial, as it is also very useful to clean partial dentures and occlusal splints with. For the individual with sensitive teeth, sensitivity formulas using potassium nitrate have been quite effective in reducing tooth sensitivity.

Any toothpaste purporting to be capable of “enamel or tooth repair,” is completely lying. Enamel has the distinction of being the ONLY tissue in the entire human body that is INCAPABLE of healing or repair. When that tooth forms when you are a child, all the enamel it’s ever going to have is present when the tooth erupts; it will NEVER repair, grow, regenerate etc. The day some company can show S.E.M. micrographs of “new” enamel formed as a consequence of brushing it onto the tooth with a paste, they will have completely rewritten the fundamental concept of bio-physiology that is responsible for the formation of the tooth in the first place. Every toothpaste is designed to promote enamel health, or else it wouldn’t be a toothpaste!

Richard E. Nichols, DDS – Littleton, CO

While it is true there are many different toothpastes on the market today, what we like to recommend to our patients include the following: Fluoride toothpaste which is important for enamel health. Tartar control toothpaste has been shown to reduce tartar build-up. Sensitivity toothpaste is recommended for patients with sensitivity from root exposure/dentin exposure. When considering toothpaste for whitening, there are those that remove stains and lighten teeth but can also make teeth sensitive. If sensitivity is an issue the patient needs to not use as often or stop completely.

Timothy P. Sulken, DDS – Fostoria, OH

Whitening is a gimmick, it is abrasive so that it scratches any stain off; it does not whiten/bleach, it does thin the enamel. Colgate tartar control works pretty well at either reducing tartar or making it easier to get off. I think Pronamel is a good nonabrasive toothpaste that may do what it says. All sensitive toothpastes work for non-serious sensitivity. Toothpastes for bleeding gums may work in some people. All they did was change the type of Fluoride to Stannous which we have used for years; it may stain some peoples teeth but it can be cleaned off.

Cynthia M. Sachs, DDS – Rockford, IL

The dentists we asked painted a pretty clear picture for us. To summarize their results:

• Toothpastes with a tartar control formula work, especially for those with partial dentures and occlusal splints.
• For those with sensitive teeth, a sensitivity toothpaste containing potassium nitrate can provide some relief.
• Stannous fluoride (as opposed to the sodium fluoride found in most toothpastes) can help those with bleeding gums/gum disease.
• Abrasive whitening toothpaste should be avoided, as they thin tooth enamel, and lost enamel can’t be restored.
• Above all else, what’s most important is that you DO brush with fluoride toothpaste (2 minutes each day) AND floss.

We’d like to thank these dentists for clearing this up for us, and, if you live nearby one of them and are looking for a new dentist, we invite you to click on their name to read some of their patient reviews. For everyone else looking for a new dentist, click the “Find a Dentist Near Me” button to find a dentist near you!