toothpaste
Why use toothpaste?
Whoa. There are so many types.
Can I just use whatever is on sale?
How do I know if there’s fluoride in the toothpaste?
What about those triple-action advanced repair detoxifying toothpastes? Surely it can’t be all marketing…
What if I don’t want fluoride?
Why use toothpaste?
Fair question. The main point of brushing your teeth is to remove the bacterial buildup (aka plaque) that lead to tooth decay and gum disease. The physical contact of the bristles should be enough to do this. But toothpastes can give some additional benefits, so they are highly recommended.
Fluoride.
This is the biggest reason to use toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens the outer enamel layer of your tooth so it doesn’t lose as much calcium or soften as much when you eat or drink. This makes your teeth less susceptible to decay.
Fresh breath.
Because you’re worth it. Though sure, it isn’t absolutely essential if you’re just on Zoom all day.
Reduce sensitivity.
If you have generalised sensitivity to cold foods and drinks, using a sensitive toothpaste can help.
But make sure you see a dentist to confirm there’s no decay or other problem that might be causing it.
You might think that I should talk about whitening here. But (spoiler alert) toothpastes are not great at whitening, so I’ll deal with that topic separately. I shall name that page “whitening”.
Whoa. There are so many types.
Yeah, I hear ya. I ran a 90 minute tutorial on toothpastes to some dental students recently. But don’t panic, I’ll give you the short version.
Standard fluoride
This is the vast majority of toothpastes on the shelf. In Australia, Oral B and Colgate are the most common brands, and all their toothpastes have fluoride.
If you think life is too short to be pondering toothpastes, just get the Colgate or Oral B tube with the least exciting packaging on it and you’ll be right. I’m not sponsored by anybody, I’m just telling it like it is.
High fluoride
Some people benefit from an extra fluoride boost because they are at higher risk of decay. Chat with your dentist to see if that’s you.
In Australia, the high fluoride toothpaste is called Colgate Neutrafluor 5000 Plus and you have to ask the pharmacist for it - ie it’s not on the shelf.
It’s more expensive, but it has nearly 5x more fluoride than standard.
Sensitive
This is one of those rare areas of marketing where they are actually telling some semblance of truth.
Oral B, Colgate and the newer Sensodyne sensitive toothpastes all have special particles in them that protect the sensitive part of the tooth, often at the gumline.
IMPORTANT: If your tooth is sensitive because it has a decayed hole in it, you have to go get that poor tooth filled before it gets worse.
Whitening
Don’t let this be the deciding factor in your toothpaste.
Most brands justify this label because they have more abrasive particles in it that scrub away some surface stains, but that means you can risk damaging the tooth and gums over time.
Other brands include a “professional” peroxide but in such a low dose that it’s safe and fairly ineffectual.
Children’s
Children’s toothpaste have a lower dose of fluoride and usually milder mint flavour.
Follow the age guide on the packaging.
By the time they have adult teeth (6 or 7) they should be able to use adult toothpaste. Kids’ toothpaste for 6+ have the full dose of fluoride, but may be less minty. Most importantly, they contain more fun because the cartoon characters say so.
Hypo-allergenic
If you are one of the unlucky people with allergies to artificial colours, flavours or detergents (SLS - sodium lauryl sulphate), it will be a bit harder to find a fluoride toothpaste in Australia.
But I don’t want you to miss out on the benefits of fluoride so I will make an exception and link to a product.
Non-fluoridated/herbal
The only people who should use a non-fluoridated toothpaste are kids under 3 years old who don’t know how to spit it out yet.
The herbal extracts, charcoal, lemon, coconut or other oils simply do not protect the enamel. Cleverly, Colgate has introduced a fluoridated natural range, so you could have it both ways if you prefer the flavour.
Of course, it’s a free world, you can use a fluoride-free toothpaste if you want, but it’s not hugely better than brushing with plain water.
[insert link]
Can I just use whatever is on sale?
Why, yes! I do love a good bargain. Besides, there isn’t really a particular brand that is superior and deserving of universal endorsement by the dental community.
Like I mentioned before, just make sure it has fluoride in it so it actually protects your teeth. If you have sensitive teeth, you can try the sensitive toothpastes.
Manual or electric?
In theory, a normal toothbrush can get your teeth just as clean as an electric toothbrush. But in reality, most people do a better job with the electric - it is just easier to use. (You can whip cream with a hand whisk or with an egg beater.)
The handle of electric toothbrushes are chunkier which makes it easier to hold, especially if you have arthritis or any hand problems.
If you’re feeling a little fancy-schmancy, you can splurge $350 for a rose gold, bluetooth-connected model with multiple brushing modes and a pretty travel case. Or you can get an acceptable basic model for $20-$50, with $7 replacement heads. The pressure sensor is useful if you can afford to spend a little more. Your call.
Soft, uneven bristles
Always use a soft bristle brush! They are more flexible so can reach between teeth and under the gum more easily.
Medium/hard bristles are more likely to damage the gums and tooth surface.
Bristles that are different lengths also reach between teeth better.
Perhaps something like this - Colgate SlimSoft or Oral B Vitality Gum Care.
Smaller brush head
I often think about this ad from my childhood and wish it were true. Everyone would clean their teeth better and I wouldn’t have so much back pain trying to see molars to do dental work!
Alas, not real.
The next best thing is to get a brush with a smaller head, so it can reach difficult areas like wisdom teeth, behind the lower front teeth and around gaps where a tooth has been removed.
What’s the best way to brush?
WHEN? Morning and night, for 2 minutes.
WHERE? All surfaces - outer (lip/cheek), inner (near tongue) and biting surfaces
WITH? A fluoride toothpaste and soft toothbrush.
HOW? Gently draw circles around each tooth, not scrubbing back/forth. Angle bristles slightly towards gums. If you’re using an electric brush, hold it on each tooth surface for 2 seconds before moving along.
Synchronised eyebrow movements optional.
Effective brushing comes down to technique - it is still possible to under-brush with an electric brush, or over-brush with a manual brush. And everyone has a unique set of teeth, so it’s best to ask your dentist to check where are you brushing well and what areas you are missing!
Tell me more!
I like your enthusiasm. Well, since you asked:
Should I brush after eating? Your teeth are a little softened by food acids immediately after eating, so ideally wait 30 minutes before brushing, but realistically in the mornings just do what you can. Twice a day is enough, but if you know there are areas where food gets caught, you should clean it out when you can. See “flossing”.
Is there such thing as brushing too hard? Yes. Like many things in life, moderation is the key. If you use a brush that is too hard, or apply too much pressure, scrub horizontally, use a gritty toothpaste, or brush more than 3 times a day, you are at risk of over-brushing. This can lead to gum and tooth damage such as “recession”.
What about eco-toothbrushes? There are more and more toothbrushes with biodegradable handles now, which is great but as far as I know most have nylon bristles that need to be plucked out before they decompose. The bristles are often not as ideal (harder and flat-trimmed). Bamboo handles are also more likely to get mouldy so you will have to replace it more frequently. It’s a personal choice, but I am yet to find one I love.
Can I recycle toothbrushes? In theory yes, but in Australia some local councils are sadly no longer able to recycle plastics. Colgate runs a dental recycling program, so you can check out TerraCycle to see if you have any local drop-off points, or ask your dentist to get involved!