People ask me this all the time…. Which tooth paste do you recommend? So today I am going to attempt to give you a simple straight forward answer – It does not matter!

That’s right… almost all of the toothpastes contain 3 main ingredients – Fluorides , abrasives like calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate and antibacterial agents like triclosan. Majority of the toothpastes also contain surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate which is nothing but a foaming agent.

Toothpaste companies have to stick to strict regulations put up by FDA which means they are all pretty similar.For example they have to contain 1000-1100 parts per million of fluoride which is what is the most important factor that helps to control dental decay. All of the ingredients that are advertised so extensively on our televisions are just flavoring agents. So it entirely depends on you if you want salt or clove or neem in your toothpaste because as far as dental science is concerned it does not matter.

There is an exception in this though. Desensitizing toothpastes like Sensodyne which are being advertised as regular use toothpastes should not be used unless indicated and they should not be used continuously. If you do have sensitivity which is different from pain in that the sensation goes away once the stimulus or the cause is removed then and only then must you consider using a desensitizing toothpaste. To know the recommended method of using a desensitizing toothpaste visit a dentist, (www.drspandanasdental.com).

But before you go to the store and pick up your desensitizing toothpaste do consider visiting a dentist because sometimes the cause of the sensitivity might be gum recession or a cavity that has entered the dentinal layer or your tooth for which you may need a filling or cervical tooth abrasions which have to be treated by a dentist,

Written By Dr.Spandana Sripada